FRP Panel Sizes and Container Shipping Limits: What Can Actually Ship

A standard dry shipping container on a terminal apron — FRP panel sizes are limited by container dimensions

Two numbers decide what you can order. The first is what our production line can make. The second is what a container can carry. They are not the same figure — and most FRP panel sizes run into the second one first.

FRP Panel Sizes: What Our Production Line Can Make

Our line produces panel width up to 3,400mm. We make length to order, and the line handles lengths well beyond what a standard container holds. Thickness is made to your insulation and structural requirements.

A wide, single-piece panel is therefore a production question, not a capability question. Whether it reaches you, however, is a shipping question.

SpecificationProduction limit
Panel widthUp to 3,400mm
Panel lengthMade to order
Panel thicknessMade to order

Why Container Dimensions Decide What Ships

A rigid sandwich panel cannot be rolled. It has to be loaded flat, and once it is flat, the critical measurement is its width against the container’s internal width — not its length. Carriers publish those internal dimensions for each container type: see Averitt’s ocean container specifications, and DSV’s dry container dimensions for a like-for-like breakdown.

The practical result is that a standard container carries panels up to 11,800mm long and 2,200mm wide. Width, not length, is where most FRP panel sizes meet the limit, because a 2,200mm ceiling is far more restrictive than an 11,800mm one.

SpecificationShips in a standard container
Panel lengthUp to 11,800mm
Panel widthUp to 2,200mm

FRP panel sizes vs container limits — a rigid 3,400mm sandwich panel cannot be loaded flat, while a rolled gelcoat panel fits a standard container

Why Gelcoat Panels Are Not Limited the Same Way

FRP gelcoat panels can be rolled, and we supply them in roll form. A roll is loaded with its axis along the container’s length, so its cross-section occupies only a fraction of the container’s width. Panel width, as a result, is not capped by container dimensions in the same way.

This is why gelcoat panels are available up to 3,400mm wide, while rigid sandwich panels ship at a maximum width of 2,200mm. The difference is transport form, not production capability. See the standard FRP gelcoat panels and the roll form they are supplied in.

Does Core Material Change the Shipping Limit?

No. PU, XPS, honeycomb, PET, and plywood core panels are all rigid and all ship flat, so the same container limits apply to every core. Core choice changes insulation performance, weight, and structural rigidity — not the maximum shippable panel size.

When Your Panel Exceeds the Shipping Limit

Three routes, depending on the application:

  • Split and join on site — specify panels within 2,200mm and join them during installation. Standard practice for modular building walls and cold storage.
  • Design around modular units — size units to the container so assembled modules are joined after delivery. Common for truck bodies and refrigerated transport.
  • Alternative shipping — where a single oversized panel is unavoidable, confirm the arrangement with our team before you specify.

How to Choose — Which Limit Applies to You

Most FRP panel sizes need no adjustment at all. Match your situation to the table below.

Your situationWhat to do
Panels within 2,200mm wide and 11,800mm longOrder made-to-order sizes — no constraint applies
Design needs panels wider than 2,200mmSplit and join, or confirm alternative shipping
Panels longer than 11,800mmSplit into sections
Ordering gelcoat panelsWidth is not capped by container dimensions — specify up to 3,400mm
Not sureSend your layout and destination port and we will confirm the shippable sizes

Frequently Asked Questions

Can FRP panel sizes be customized?
Yes. We make both width and length to order. Our production line runs panels up to 3,400mm wide, and the shipping limit per panel in a standard container is 11,800mm long by 2,200mm wide.

What is the largest panel that ships in a standard container?
Up to 11,800mm long and 2,200mm wide per panel. A rigid sandwich panel cannot be rolled, so it must be loaded flat.

Why can a 3,400mm panel not simply be shipped?
Because a rigid sandwich panel cannot be rolled or folded. Once loaded flat, its width is measured against the container’s internal width — which is where the 2,200mm limit comes from.

Are FRP gelcoat panels subject to the same limit?
No. We supply gelcoat panels in roll form and load them with the roll axis along the container length, so panel width is not capped by container width. This is why gelcoat panels are available up to 3,400mm wide.

What if my design requires panels larger than the container allows?
Tell us your panel sizes and destination port. We will confirm the shippable sizes for your project and, where a single oversized panel is unavoidable, the alternative shipping arrangements available.

Get in Touch

We’d love to hear about your project — reach out anytime.

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