Illustrative image 20ft High Cube Shipping Container (New, 9′6″ Tall)
Yes, 20ft high cube containers exist: a 20ft high cube (20HC, also listed as 20HQ) stands 9′6″ (2.90 m) tall, a foot more than a standard 20ft, on the same 20 × 8 ft footprint, and holds about 1,320 cu ft (37.4 m³). It’s a less common size than the standard 20ft. This week a new (one-trip) 20ft high cube starts at $4,620, before delivery and sales tax.
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More choice. Less legwork.
One free request goes to up to 5 sellers serving your address, each checked for licensing and insurance, and you compare their quotes or accept none. How it works
Fewer depots carry the taller 20ft, so check that each quote is for a high cube, 9′6″ tall, and not a standard 8′6″ box.
$450Average gap between the highest
and lowest quote on the same request
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compare prices.
What the extra foot gets you
| 20ft high cube | 20ft standard | 40ft high cube | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Outside height | 9′6″ (2.90 m) | 8′6″ (2.59 m) | 9′6″ (2.90 m) |
| Inside height | about 8′10″ (2.69 m) | about 7′10″ (2.39 m) | about 8′10″ (2.69 m) |
| Door opening | about 7′8″ × 8′6″ (2.34 × 2.59 m) | about 7′8″ × 7′6″ (2.34 × 2.28 m) | about 7′8″ × 8′6″ (2.34 × 2.59 m) |
| Inside volume | about 1,320 cu ft (37.4 m³) | about 1,170 cu ft (33.1 m³) | about 2,690 cu ft (76.2 m³) |
| Floor | about 150 sq ft (13.9 m²) | about 150 sq ft (13.9 m²) | about 305 sq ft (28.3 m²) |
| Straight approach for the truck | 60–80 ft (18–24 m) | 60–80 ft (18–24 m) | 100–120 ft (30–37 m) |
| New, from (this week) | $4,620 | $2,750 | $3,900 |
For tall items, the door is the real limit: it opens about 8′6″ (2.59 m) high, some 4 in below the ceiling, against about 7′6″ on a standard 20ft. On the floor nothing changes, with room for the same 9 standard US pallets (48 × 40 in) in one layer, so the extra foot pays off when you stack, put up tall shelving or line the walls and ceiling with insulation.
This week the extra foot costs $1,870 over a new standard 20ft ($2,750). A new 40ft high cube starts lower, at $3,900, with the same height and twice the floor: if your site has room for the longer truck, compare both before you choose.
Good for: tall shelving, a workshop or an insulated office on a 20ft footprint, and tall items stored upright, like crated machinery or signs.
New here means one-trip: it was shipped once with cargo from the factory, then sold, so expect no more than a few handling marks from that trip (what one-trip means).
Specs in feet and metric
| Measurement | Feet, inches, pounds | Metric |
|---|---|---|
| Outside (L × W × H) | 19′10½″ × 8′ × 9′6″ | 6.06 × 2.44 × 2.90 m |
| Inside (L × W × H) | about 19′4″ × 7′8½″ × 8′10″ | about 5.90 × 2.35 × 2.69 m |
| Door opening (W × H) | about 7′8″ × 8′6″ | about 2.34 × 2.59 m |
| Inside volume | about 1,320 cu ft | about 37.4 m³ |
| Floor area (inside) | about 150 sq ft | about 13.9 m² |
| Pallets on the floor, one layer | 9 standard US pallets (48 × 40 in) | |
| Empty weight (tare) | about 5,100–5,400 lb | about 2,300–2,460 kg |
| Max. payload | about 47,500–62,100 lb | about 21,500–28,170 kg |
| Max. gross weight | 52,910–67,200 lb | 24,000–30,480 kg |
| Tilt-bed truck access | 60–80 ft (18–24 m) of straight approach, 10–14 ft (3–4.3 m) wide; 14–16 ft (4.3–4.9 m) of overhead clearance, about 20 ft (6 m) where the container tilts off; ground that’s firm, dry and level (5° slope at most) | |
Sources: ISO 668 (1CCC, the 20ft high cube) for the outside size; inside size, door and weights from a US maker and container sellers, which differ slightly by manufacturer. Your container’s exact weights are marked on its doors.
Delivery
Away from the seller’s depot, delivery is usually priced by distance, about $4–$6 per mile. It rides on the same tilt-bed truck as a standard 20ft but stands a foot taller on the trailer, so check for low branches and wires along the way in.
Delivery cost and site checklist · container foundation options
Options & accessories
Add-ons you can order with this container (see all):
- Shipping container lock box ($94)
- Heavy-duty container door lock (from $200)
- Shipping container leveling kit ($195)
- Shipping container vents (from $104)
- Shipping container roll-up door kit (from $617)
Man door, shelving or an installed roll-up door? Ask for a quote. To keep heat and damp out: insulated containers.
Frequently asked questions
Do 20ft high cube containers exist?
Yes, but they’re much less common than standard 20fts: the dry fleets of the big ocean carriers and leasing companies don’t include them. That’s why fewer depots have one, new or used, and yours may come from a depot farther away, which shows in the delivered price. The weekly price here is for a new one. A used 20HC is quoted on request, and the quotes from sellers near you will show whether one is within reach. A 40ft high cube has the same 9′6″ height and is far more common.
How much does a 20 foot high cube shipping container cost?
$4,620 is this week’s starting price for a new 20ft high cube, before delivery and sales tax. The 56 listings we recorded ran from $3,299 to $6,420, and roughly half of them were at or below our price. A new standard-height 20ft starts at $2,750. This week’s prices.
What is the size of a 20ft high cube container?
Outside: 19′10½″ × 8′ × 9′6″ (6.06 × 2.44 × 2.90 m), or 606 × 244 × 290 cm. Inside: about 19′4″ × 7′8½″ × 8′10″ (5.90 × 2.35 × 2.69 m), or about 590 × 235 × 269 cm, and the door opens about 7′8″ × 8′6″ (2.34 × 2.59 m). Inside figures vary slightly by manufacturer. 20ft container dimensions.
How much can a 20ft high cube hold?
About 37.4 cubic meters (cbm), which is roughly 1,320 cu ft or 37,400 liters. It’s rated for about 47,500 to 62,100 lb (21,500–28,170 kg) of cargo depending on the manufacturer, and weighs 5,100–5,400 lb (2,300–2,460 kg) empty.
How much does it cost to ship a 20ft high cube to my site?
Near the seller’s depot, delivery usually costs $300–$600, and farther out it’s priced by distance; since fewer depots stock this size, yours may come from farther away (delivery). Shipping goods overseas in a container is ocean freight, a different service that we don’t offer.
from $4,620 Best price
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