Plastic Crate Dimensions and Standard Sizes: Full Lookup Table

Reviewed and updated by ICD - Week 43/2026

The most common industrial plastic crate size in Vietnam has a 610 x 420 mm base and is 100 mm (1T) to 390 mm (3T9) tall, holding about 20 to 85 liters; the second group is the EU system with 600 x 400 mm and 400 x 300 mm bases, which fill a 1200 x 800 mm pallet under the ISO 3394 modules. Start choosing a size from the pallet deck and shelf bay you already use, and only then move to height and capacity.

Quick summary:

I am Le Van Thang, and I have worked at ICD Vietnam since 2011. The mistake I meet most often when advising on industrial plastic crates is not about material but about size: crates that do not fit the shelf bay, or that overhang the pallet so a forklift scrapes them as it passes. These mistakes are avoidable if you measure the shelf, measure the pallet and check the lookup table before ordering. This article collects the outer size, inner size and capacity of the crate, tray, lidded crate and square bin models on the ICD Vietnam product pages, with a way to work out how many crates fit in a pallet layer.

Two crate size systems common in Vietnam

Industrial plastic crates in Vietnam follow two base systems: the 610 x 420 mm base of the common crate range, and the EU module base of 600 x 400 mm with its divisors of 400 x 300 and 300 x 200 mm. The two look almost the same, differing by only 10 and 20 mm, but they sit on a pallet very differently.

The 610 x 420 mm base is the most familiar size in supply markets and domestic warehouses, with all six heights from 1T to 3T9, in both closed-wall (solid) and mesh-wall (open) versions. It sits best on a 1100 x 1100 mm pallet, with 4 crates per layer in a pinwheel pattern. The EU system is common in foreign-invested factories that follow European supply chains, because a 600 x 400 mm base divides a 1200 x 800 mm pallet deck into 4 cells with no spare edge.

The origin of the EU system is the ISO 3394:2012 standard: shipping package sizes are built from three plan modules of 600 x 400 mm, 600 x 500 mm and 550 x 366 mm, matching pallet decks of 1200 x 800, 1200 x 1000, 1100 x 1100 and 1219 x 1016 mm. The 610 x 420 mm base belongs to none of those modules. So placing 610 x 420 mm crates on a 1200 x 800 mm pallet gives only 2 crates if you stay inside the edge, while 600 x 400 mm crates fit 4 tightly and cover 100% of the deck.

ICD Vietnam plastic crate dimension lookup table by range

The table below collects every crate, tray and square bin model whose dimensions are given on the ICD Vietnam product pages, checked on 16 October 2026. The external size is the overall size; the internal column is filled only when the product page gives a measurement. A capacity marked ~ is my own calculation: where the internal size exists I multiply the three internal dimensions, and where it does not I take 85% of the external volume; square bins and lidded crates are listed at their nominal capacity.

The 610 x 420 mm base range

This range has six heights of 100, 150, 190, 250, 310 and 390 mm, read in the Vietnamese tac system as 1T, 1T5, 1T9, 2T5, 3T1 and 3T9, holding from about 22 to 85 liters. Each height comes in two versions: the closed-wall solid crate for components and dry goods, and the mesh-wall open crate for fruit, vegetables and seafood that need drainage. In ICD Vietnam product names, the 1T9 crate is also called a 4-rib crate; when customers call a crate by its rib count, I still ask for the height in mm, because every supplier counts ribs differently.

Large crates and the wheeled range

When a single 3T9 crate is not enough, the next step is a large crate with a base of 780 x 500 mm or more. ICD Vietnam has a 780 x 500 x 430 mm crate (5-wheel version for delivery carts), the HS022 open crate at 850 x 630 x 525 mm, and a giant 1030 x 670 x 540 mm crate with 5 wheels. Wheeled baskets suit pushing and pulling in a workshop or short delivery legs without a forklift; when full, a crate this size already exceeds what one person can lift.

The EU crate range

The EU range has bases that are multiples or divisors of 600 x 400 mm, so it fills a 1200 x 800 mm pallet deck with no gap strip. The smallest size, 300 x 200 mm, fits 16 boxes per layer, the 400 x 300 mm size fits 8 boxes and the 600 x 400 mm size fits 4 crates; the heights of 120, 147, 230, 280 and 340 mm let you pick the right depth for the goods without changing the base. The 147 and 280 sizes originate in the Euro container range under the VDA 4500 recommendation of the German automotive industry. The numbers in model names such as EU 4622 or 600-280 are explained in the article on how to read plastic crate model codes.

High-capacity lidded plastic crates

Lidded crates are named by capacity, not by base. ICD Vietnam has sizes of 10, 15, 30, 45, 55, 90, 120, 140 and 220 liters; the two largest sizes with dimensions on the product page are No.214 at 140 liters (785 x 560 x 470 mm) and No.853 at 220 liters (1020 x 605 x 460 mm). The sizes from 10 to 120 liters do not yet list dimensions on the product page, so when you need to fit them into a shelf, send the shelf bay measurements and we will check against a real sample before you order.

Beveled-front component trays

Beveled-front component trays come in five sizes from A5 (198 x 135 x 90 mm) to A9 (482 x 308 x 178 mm), with an internal capacity of about 2 to 20 liters, used on racks and work tables. The beveled mouth helps you see and pick components when the tray sits on a shelf, but it also narrows the interior at the mouth. For A8 and A9, measure the goods against the tray floor, not the mouth dimensions.

What are the dimensions of 200, 500 and 1000 liter plastic bins?

The 200 liter square plastic bin from ICD Vietnam measures 910 x 760 x 410 mm, the 300 liter size is 1120 x 910 x 410 mm, the 500 liter size is 1085 x 820 x 770 mm, and the 1000 liter IBC tank is 1200 x 1000 x 1155 mm, exactly the deck of a 1200 x 1000 mm pallet. The 200 and 300 liter sizes share a height of 410 mm and differ in base, so they are easy to place side by side on the floor. An IBC tank has a steel cage around it and a base for the forklift to lift, and sits on pallet racking like a standard load. Models from 100 liters upward are grouped in the large plastic bins category.

How much do external and internal dimensions differ?

For the ICD Vietnam models that have internal measurements, the interior is smaller than the external size by about 18 to 65 mm in length, 24 to 43 mm in width and 4 to 10 mm in height, depending on wall thickness and rim. For example, the A5 tray differs by only 18 x 24 x 4 mm, while the B5 crate differs by 65 x 42 x 10 mm. External size is used to work out space on the pallet and shelf; internal size is used to check whether the goods fit.

How to calculate plastic crate capacity

Theoretical capacity is length x width x height in cm, giving cm³, then divided by 1,000 to get liters. For example, a 610 x 420 x 310 mm crate: 61 x 42 x 31 = 79,422 cm³, or about 79 liters.

Real capacity is always smaller than that figure because thick walls, base ribs, rounded corners and stacking rims take up space. The surest way is to multiply the three internal dimensions instead of the external size; when the product page has no internal size, take about 85% of the theoretical capacity as an estimate. For the 3T1 crate above, the estimate comes to about 67 to 70 liters. When you work out how many crates to buy for a warehouse, use the real capacity so you do not come up short.

How many plastic crates fit on one pallet?

The number per layer depends on whether the crate base divides the pallet deck evenly: 600 x 400 mm crates fit 4 on a 1200 x 800 mm pallet and 5 on a 1200 x 1000 mm pallet, covering 100%; 610 x 420 mm crates fit only 2-4 depending on the pallet.

The figure below compares two ways of loading the same 1200 x 1000 mm pallet, seen from above. 600 x 400 mm crates cover the whole pallet deck; to fit 4 crates of 610 x 420 mm you have to overhang by about 10 mm at each end of the long side, and if you stay inside the edge you get only 3 crates.

The figures in the table assume loading entirely inside the pallet edge. When a crate overhangs, the load from the upper tier pushes down on a wall section that has no pallet deck under it, which easily deforms the crate in the lower tier and snags when it goes into a rack. You can calculate for the crates and pallets you use with the tool below.

Guide to choosing a plastic crate size by purpose

Choosing a crate size means weighing three factors at once: the pallets and shelves you already have, how workers handle the crates, and the goods inside. Work backwards when you decide: the pallet and shelf decide the crate base, the workflow decides the maximum weight, and finally the goods decide the height and whether the walls are solid or open.

On shelves and pallets, measure the shelf bay width and the pallet deck first, then pick a base that divides the pallet deck evenly using the table above. A warehouse that uses 1200 x 800 mm pallets should choose the EU system; a warehouse that uses 1100 x 1100 mm pallets suits the 610 x 420 mm crate. Never buy a crate wider than the shelf bay: it sounds obvious, but it is still a mistake I meet every year.

On handling, if workers lift by hand, keep a loaded crate light. The NIOSH lifting equation (from the US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) sets 23 kg as the limit under ideal conditions: the crate close to the body, lifted at hip height, with no twisting. Real warehouses are usually less than ideal, so the limit is lower; for heavy goods, choose a low crate such as 1T9 or 2T5, and when you use carts, wheeled baskets or a forklift you can move up to the large sizes.

On goods, small components such as screws, chips and buttons suit A4 to A8 trays or 1T and 1T5 solid crates. Mid-size semi-finished goods such as spare parts and garments suit 1T9 to 2T5 crates. Bulky goods such as fabric rolls and block-form materials use 3T1 and 3T9 crates or lidded crates from 55 liters up.

The three steps below sum up how I still guide customers before they settle on a model. After you have chosen a size, take 10 to 20 sample crates and run them on a real shelf and pallet before you place a large order.

Frequently asked questions about plastic crate dimensions

What do 1T, 2T and 3T mean in plastic crate names?

T stands for tac, a Vietnamese unit where 1 tac equals 100 mm. A 1T crate is 100 mm tall, 2T5 is 250 mm, 3T1 is 310 mm and 3T9 is 390 mm; the base is usually 610 x 420 mm. Some suppliers call crates by their rib count (the number of horizontal ribs on the wall); for example, in ICD Vietnam product names, 1T9 is the 4-rib crate, but this counting is not consistent, so always ask for the height in mm.

How many 610 x 420 mm crates fit on a 1200 x 1000 mm pallet?

3 per layer if you stay inside the pallet edge, or 4 (2 rows x 2 columns) if you accept an overhang of about 10 mm at each end of the long side. This base fits better on a 1100 x 1100 mm pallet (4 per layer in a pinwheel pattern); if the warehouse uses 1200 x 1000 mm pallets, 600 x 400 mm crates give 5 per layer and cover the whole deck. The number of tiers depends on the warehouse height and on the stacking load stated for the exact crate model.

Can plastic crates be ordered in a custom size?

Yes, but a custom size needs a new mold, so it only makes sense at large volumes. For small and mid-size orders, picking the closest ready-made size in the lookup table is much faster and cheaper. Send the dimensions of your goods and shelves, and ICD Vietnam will check ready-made sizes first before discussing a custom option.

What are the dimensions of a 220 liter plastic crate?

The ICD No.853 220 liter lidded crate measures 1020 x 605 x 460 mm outside, with a square shape. This is the largest size in the lidded range; for something bigger, choose the 300 liter square bin (1120 x 910 x 410 mm) or the 500 liter one (1085 x 820 x 770 mm).

What are the dimensions of a 100 liter plastic crate?

The ICD-T100 square bin has a capacity of 100 liters; the product page does not yet give its external dimensions, so ask for the measurements before you plan the shelf. If you need a lidded crate around this size, the ICD Vietnam lidded range has a 90 liter size (No.747, 700 x 490 x 410 mm) and a 120 liter size (No.213, 745 x 530 x 450 mm).

What are the dimensions of a 1000 liter plastic bin?

The ICD Vietnam 1000 liter IBC tank measures 1200 x 1000 x 1155 mm, with a base equal to a 1200 x 1000 mm pallet deck, so it is handled by forklift and can sit on pallet racking. The tank has a steel cage around it, a filling cap on top and a drain valve.

Should I measure external or internal dimensions when buying plastic crates?

You need both. External dimensions are used to work out the number of crates per pallet and per shelf bay; internal dimensions are used to check that the goods fit. For the ICD Vietnam models that have measurements, the interior is smaller than the external size by about 18 to 65 mm in length and 4 to 10 mm in height.

What is the internal size of a 600 x 400 mm EU crate?

According to the Euro container size table, a 600 x 400 mm crate has an interior of about 544 x 364 mm. At ICD Vietnam, the EU 46148 box (600 x 400 x 148 mm) is listed with an interior of 565 x 365 x 135 mm; the interior also depends on the mold, so when you pack goods close to the limit, ask for the measurements of the exact model you plan to buy.

Contact ICD Vietnam for plastic crate sizing advice

References

• Base modules of 600 x 400, 600 x 500 and 550 x 366 mm and pallet deck sizes: ISO 3394:2012, Dimensions of rigid rectangular packages.
• Interior of the 600 x 400 mm Euro crate, VDA 4500 standard: Wikipedia, Euro container.
• The 23 kg lifting limit under ideal conditions: NIOSH, Applications Manual for the Revised NIOSH Lifting Equation.
• External and internal dimensions of crate, tray, square bin and IBC tank models: ICD Vietnam product pages, checked on 16 October 2026.