All Shipping Glossary Terms
TareEquipment & Weight

Tare Weight

Definition: The empty, unladen weight of a shipping container or vehicle chassis without any cargo inside.

Detailed Freight Guide & Operational Context

Tare Weight is the weight of an empty shipping container itself, excluding any cargo, dunnage, packaging, or securing materials.

Every ISO container has its tare weight permanently stamped on the exterior door information panel (CSC plate), along with its maximum gross weight (Max Gross) and maximum payload capacity.

Tare weight is critical for calculating Verified Gross Mass (VGM) under SOLAS maritime safety rules: VGM = Net Cargo Weight + Packaging Weight + Container Tare Weight.

Real-World Example in Practice
A standard 20ft dry container has a tare weight of 2,200 kg (4,850 lbs) and a maximum gross weight of 30,480 kg, leaving a maximum allowable cargo payload of 28,280 kg.

Frequently Asked Questions about Tare

What is tare weight in container shipping?

Tare weight is the physical weight of an empty container before any cargo is loaded inside.

Where do you find the tare weight of a container?

Tare weight is printed on the exterior right-hand door of the container and on its official CSC safety approval plate.

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Related Shipping Terms

Container Payload

Payload

Measurement Ton (M/T, Freight Ton)

M/T

Twenty-Foot Equivalent Unit

TEU

Forty-Foot Equivalent Unit

FEU

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