Freight Glossary
TEU (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Unit) – Meaning & Examples
A standard unit of measurement for container capacity based on a 20-foot shipping container.
- Abbreviation
- TEU
- Full term
- Twenty-Foot Equivalent Unit
- Related terms
- TEU, twenty foot equivalent unit, container unit, container capacity
Twenty-Foot Equivalent Unit (TEU) is the standard measurement for container shipping capacity. One TEU equals one 20-foot standard container. A 40-foot container equals 2 TEU. TEU is used to measure vessel capacity, port throughput, and shipping statistics. The TEU concept enables standardized comparison across different container sizes and facilitates global shipping operations.
Twenty-Foot Equivalent Unit examples
- A container ship with 10,000 TEU capacity can carry 10,000 20-foot containers or 5,000 40-foot containers.
How TEU is used in freight operations
TEU appears in quotations, bookings, shipping documents, and tracking updates. Confirm how it applies to your shipment with your carrier, forwarder, or customs representative, because practice can differ by country and contract.
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Frequently asked questions
What is TEU?
A standard unit of measurement for container capacity based on a 20-foot shipping container.
What does TEU stand for?
TEU stands for Twenty-Foot Equivalent Unit.
What is an example of TEU?
A container ship with 10,000 TEU capacity can carry 10,000 20-foot containers or 5,000 40-foot containers.