Illustrative image 40ft Standard Height Shipping Container (New, 8′6″)
A new 40ft standard container is a one-trip, 40-foot steel box that stands 8′6″ (2.59 m) tall, a foot lower than a high cube. This week it starts at $5,350, before delivery and sales tax. A new 40ft high cube costs $1,450 less ($3,900), so unless the lower height matters at your site, look at that one first.
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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
New standard-height 40ft boxes are scarcer than new high cubes and cost more this week, so it can pay to ask sellers to quote both heights.
$450Average gap between the highest
and lowest quote on the same request
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compare prices.
Standard height or high cube?
| 40ft standard, new | 40ft high cube, new | |
|---|---|---|
| Outside height | 8′6″ (2.59 m) | 9′6″ (2.90 m) |
| Headroom inside | about 7′10″ (2.39 m) | about 8′10″ (2.69 m) |
| Door opening height | about 7′6″ (2.28 m) | about 8′6″ (2.59 m) |
| Inside volume | about 2,380 cu ft (67.4 m³) | about 2,690 cu ft (76.2 m³) |
| Starting price this week | $5,350 | $3,900 |
The standard height earns its place when the container has to fit under something lower than a high cube, like a carport, a roof overhang or low branches. The trade-off is the door: at about 7′6″ (2.28 m) tall, it won’t take anything that needs a high cube’s 8′6″ opening.
Fewer sellers carry it new: this week only one of the sellers we track listed a new 40ft standard, against three for the new 40ft high cube.
Good for: clean-looking storage on a business lot, a site office or shop where the lower 8′6″ roofline matters, and lining up with other standard-height containers.
Specs in feet and metric
| Measurement | Feet, inches, pounds | Metric |
|---|---|---|
| Outside (L × W × H) | 40′ × 8′ × 8′6″ | 12.19 × 2.44 × 2.59 m |
| Inside (L × W × H) | about 39′5½″ × 7′8½″ × 7′10″ | about 12.03 × 2.35 × 2.39 m |
| Door opening (W × H) | about 7′8″ × 7′6″ | about 2.34 × 2.28 m |
| Inside volume | about 2,380 cu ft | about 67.4 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 8,000–8,300 lb | about 3,640–3,750 kg |
| Max. payload | about 63,500 lb | about 28,800 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 (type 1AA, 40ft standard); specs published by an ocean carrier and two container leasing companies. 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.
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 brand new 40ft shipping container cost?
This week, a new standard-height 40ft starts at $5,350 and a new high cube at $3,900, before delivery and sales tax. The 38 listings we recorded for the new standard ran from $4,499 to $6,699 depending on the depot, and about half were at or below $5,350. Used, a 40ft standard starts at $1,900 in wind & watertight grade. Compare every 40ft container.
What is the difference between a 40ft and a 40ft high cube?
One foot of height: a high cube stands 9′6″ instead of 8′6″, which adds about 310 cu ft on the same floor. The table above compares the two, door included.
What is the size of a standard 40ft container?
Outside, 40′ × 8′ × 8′6″ (12.19 × 2.44 × 2.59 m). Inside, about 39′5½″ × 7′8½″ × 7′10″ (12.03 × 2.35 × 2.39 m), with about 305 sq ft (28.3 m²) of floor and about 2,380 cu ft (67.4 m³) of space; the door opening is about 7′8″ × 7′6″ (2.34 × 2.28 m).
What is a one-trip container?
A new container that made one voyage with cargo, usually from Asia, and was sold at the end of it instead of going into years of shipping service. It should arrive with straight walls, a clean floor and doors that seal well, maybe with a few scuffs from the trip. Nothing in law defines “one-trip,” so ask for it to be written on your quote. More on one-trip containers.
from $5,350 Best price
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