Most Popular

40ft High Cube Container (40HC)

One foot taller than standard — 9'6" high and 76 CBM of space. The world's most popular shipping container for e-commerce, furniture, and volumetric cargo.

12.19 m
External Length
2.44 m
External Width
2.90 m
External Height (9'6")
76 CBM
Volume
26,460 kg
Max Payload
4,000 kg
Tare Weight

What Is a 40ft High Cube Container?

The 40ft High Cube (40HC or 40HQ) is a standard 40-foot container with one extra foot of height — 9'6" (2.90m) externally compared to the 8'6" (2.59m) of a standard 40ft GP. This creates approximately 9 additional CBM of usable space (76 CBM vs 67 CBM).

💡 Industry Trend: Today, the 40HC has largely replaced the standard 40ft GP on most trade lanes. Major carriers including Maersk, MSC, CMA CGM, and COSCO now deploy more High Cube equipment than standard-height 40ft containers. When booking a 40ft, you are increasingly likely to receive a High Cube.

Full Dimensions & Specifications

MeasurementImperialMetric
External Length40'0"12.192 m
External Width8'0"2.438 m
External Height9'6"2.896 m
Internal Length39'5½"12.032 m
Internal Width7'8⅝"2.352 m
Internal Height8'10"2.700 m
Door Opening Width7'8⅛"2.340 m
Door Opening Height8'5⅜"2.585 m
Internal Volume2,694 ft³76.3 m³
Tare Weight8,818 lbs4,000 kg
Max Payload58,360 lbs26,460 kg
Max Gross Weight67,200 lbs30,480 kg
ISO Size/Type Code45G0 / 45G1

What Can You Ship in a 40ft High Cube?

🛋️

Furniture

Tall wardrobes, bunk beds, sofas — items that wouldn't clear the lower 7'10" GP door

🛒

E-commerce Goods

Mixed consumer goods, retail pallets, Amazon FBA shipments

🚲

Vehicles & Cycles

Motorcycles, bicycles, golf carts on racks

🧴

FMCG

Bulk consumer goods, household products, personal care

📦

Oversized Pallets

Standard Euro pallets stacked 2-high — possible with 2.70m internal height

👗

Garments on Hangers

Hanging garments up to 2.5m tall without wrinkling

Advantages of a 40ft High Cube

One Point to Note: Road Clearance

The 40HC is 1 foot taller than standard. At 9'6" (2.90m), it exceeds the 8'6" standard profile. In most countries this is not an issue for road transport, but some older bridges, tunnels, or port gates have height restrictions. In India, for example, 40HC on road transport is generally accepted, but always check with your CHA or inland transporter for specific routes.

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