Illustrative image New 40ft High Cube Shipping Container (9′6″ Tall)
A new 40ft high cube shipping container is the tall 40-footer: a one-trip steel box that stands 9′6″ (2.90 m) instead of 8′6″, on the same 40 × 8 ft footprint, with about 2,690 cu ft (76.2 m³) inside. It’s one of the most common containers on ocean routes, and at $3,900 this week a new one costs less than a new standard-height 40ft ($5,350), before delivery and sales tax.
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This week the dearest listing for a new 40ft high cube cost $2,610 more than the cheapest, for the same one-trip box, so it pays to see more than one delivered price.
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Where the extra foot helps
- Headroom: about 8′10″ (2.69 m) inside instead of about 7′10″, which leaves room for insulation, a raised floor and a finished ceiling in an office, studio or home build.
- Taller loads: the doors open about 7′8″ × 8′6″ (2.34 × 2.59 m), a foot taller than on a standard 40ft, for racking, machinery or anything stood upright.
- Volume, not floor: about 310 cu ft (8.8 m³) more space, about 2,690 cu ft (76.2 m³) in all, but the same about 305 sq ft (28.3 m²) of floor and room for the same 20 standard US pallets (48 × 40 in) in one layer, so the gain only counts once you stack or build up.
- On the road: the overhead clearance the truck needs is in the specs table.
For both heights side by side, door and inside sizes included, see the new 40ft standard-height container.
New or used 40ft high cube?
A used 40ft high cube starts at $1,980 this week in wind & watertight grade ($2,130 cargo worthy), $1,920 less than new. New gets you a box that has made one crossing instead of years of service, with clean paint and floor: worth it for a conversion or a container on display. For storage alone, the used 40ft high cube does the job.
Every unit listed here in this size and condition is one-trip: built overseas, then loaded with cargo for its only voyage here (what one-trip means).
Good for: insulated offices and workshops, and storage stacked higher than a standard container allows.
Specs in feet and metric
| Measurement | Feet, inches, pounds | Metric |
|---|---|---|
| Outside (L × W × H) | 40′ × 8′ × 9′6″ | 12.19 × 2.44 × 2.90 m |
| Inside (L × W × H) | about 39′5½″ × 7′8½″ × 8′10″ | about 12.03 × 2.35 × 2.69 m |
| Door opening (W × H) | about 7′8″ × 8′6″ | about 2.34 × 2.59 m |
| Inside volume | about 2,690 cu ft | about 76.2 m³ |
| Floor area (inside) | about 305 sq ft | about 28.3 m² |
| Pallets on the floor, one layer | 20 standard US pallets (48 × 40 in) | |
| Empty weight (tare) | about 8,200–8,600 lb | about 3,700–3,900 kg |
| Max. payload | about 63,300 lb | about 28,700 kg |
| Max. gross weight | up to 71,650 lb | up to 32,500 kg |
| Tilt-bed truck access | 100–120 ft (30–37 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 (1AAA, the 40ft high cube); inside size, door and weights from ocean carrier and container lessor fleet specs. 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. Plan the route in with its height in mind: on the trailer it sits a foot higher than a standard 40ft.
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)
- Shipping container office kit (from $8,301)
Man door, shelving or an installed roll-up door? Ask for a quote. To keep heat and damp out: insulated containers.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a 40ft high cube cost?
New, from $3,900 this week before delivery and sales tax. The 71 listings we recorded ran from $3,040 to $5,650, with ours close to the middle. A new standard-height 40ft starts higher, at $5,350. Used, a 40ft high cube starts at $1,980. This week’s prices.
What does high cube mean on a shipping container?
It means the tall version: 9′6″ (2.90 m) outside instead of 8′6″ (2.59 m), with the same length and width. Listings shorten it to HC or HQ, as in 40HC or 40HQ, and the size also exists in 20ft and 45ft.
What does a 40 ft high cube container look like?
Like a standard 40ft, only a foot taller, which is hard to judge by eye. Look up instead: ISO 6346 calls for a height mark on each side and yellow-and-black hazard stripes along the top of any container over 8′6″.
Are all 40ft containers high cube?
No: a 40ft comes in two heights, the standard 8′6″ (2.59 m) and the high cube 9′6″ (2.90 m). Bought new, the high cube is the cheaper of the two this week. New 40ft standard height.
What is the difference between a 40ft and a 40HQ container?
40HQ is another name for the 40ft high cube, so the difference is height: a foot more outside, about 8′10″ of headroom inside instead of 7′10″, and about 310 cu ft more space. Both heights compared.
How wide is a 40ft high cube container?
8 ft (2.44 m) outside, like every standard shipping container, and about 7′8½″ (2.35 m) inside. The door opening is about 7′8″ (2.34 m) wide.
What are the dimensions of a 40 feet high cube in cm and mm?
Outside: 1,219 × 244 × 290 cm (12,192 × 2,438 × 2,896 mm). Inside: about 1,203 × 235 × 269 cm, or about 76,200 liters of space. Door opening: about 234 × 259 cm. 40ft container dimensions.
How much weight can a 40ft high cube carry?
About 63,300 lb (28,700 kg) of cargo, for a max gross weight up to 71,650 lb (32,500 kg); the exact ratings are on the container’s CSC plate and doors. Containers are delivered empty. If you ever haul one loaded, the federal 80,000-lb (36,287 kg) gross weight limit on Interstate highways, truck included, usually caps the load first.
Do 20 ft shipping containers come in a high cube?
Yes, though they’re much less common than 40ft high cubes. The 20ft high cube stands the same 9′6″ tall; it has a weekly price new, and used ones are quoted on request.
from $3,900 Best price
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Illustrative image See all 40ft containers or new (one-trip) containers.