A 40ft high cube container (40HC) is 40 feet long, 8 feet wide and 9’6″ tall, one foot taller than a standard 40ft, with about 2,690 cubic feet of space inside. Before you buy one, or fifty, pick the right grade and know what to check on the plate, doors, roof and floor when you pick up.
Buying for resale, a project or a fleet? Request a wholesale quote or call (888) 471-9099.
What a 40ft high cube is
Every 40ft container has the same footprint: 40 feet by 8 feet. The high cube adds height. It stands 9’6″ outside instead of 8’6″, so you get about a foot more headroom inside and a taller door opening. Price lists call it a 40HC or 40HQ. A plain “40ft” usually means the standard height.
You can confirm what you are looking at from the four-character size-type code painted on the doors, under the container number. Under ISO 6346, the first character is the length (4 means 40 feet) and the second is the height (5 means 9’6″, high cube). G1 means a general purpose container. So a 40ft high cube dry box is usually marked 45G1. For a side-by-side look at both heights, watch our 40ft standard vs high cube video.
40ft high cube specs
These are typical figures for a 40ft high cube dry container. Units from different factories vary a little, so use them as a guide and check the markings on the actual unit.
| Spec | 40ft high cube (typical) |
|---|---|
| Outside (L x W x H) | 40′ x 8′ x 9’6″ (12,192 x 2,438 x 2,896 mm) |
| Inside (L x W x H) | About 39’5″ x 7’8″ x 8’10” (12,032 x 2,350 x 2,700 mm) |
| Door opening (W x H) | About 7’8″ x 8’6″ (2,340 x 2,597 mm) |
| Inside volume | About 2,690 cu ft (76.3 cubic meters) |
| Empty weight (tare) | About 8,600 lb (3,900 kg) |
| Max gross weight | Varies by unit, for example 71,650 lb (32,500 kg) |
| Max payload | For example, about 63,000 lb (28,600 kg) |
| Size-type code | Usually 45G1 |
Two numbers matter most if you will load the box heavy: the max gross weight and the tare. Both are painted on the doors, and the max gross weight is also on the CSC plate. The gap between them is the most cargo the box is rated to carry.
New, one-trip or used: picking a grade
Grades are trade terms, not a legal standard, so ask every seller what theirs mean. These are the ones you will see most:
- New (one-trip): built at the factory, shipped once (usually with cargo inside), then sold. It looks close to new and has the most service life ahead of it.
- Cargo worthy: a used box that is still sound enough to carry cargo on a ship. If you plan to export with it, ask whether its CSC exam is current (more on that below).
- Wind and watertight: a used box that keeps out wind and rain but is not meant for ocean shipping. It is fine for storage on the ground.
- Refurbished: a used box brought back up. When Lummid refurbishes a used 40HC, the steel is brushed, the box is repainted in the color you ask for, and all joints and door hinges are greased.
Lummid offers 40ft high cubes new, one trip, used or cargo worthy. See our shipping containers page for every size we sell, and our guide to IICL, wind and watertight and cargo worthy grades for what each grade means at resale.
What to check at pickup
Wholesale buyers can’t pick their box at the depot, so check each unit at pickup, or right away on delivery. The same checks apply to one box or a whole lot:
- The CSC plate. This metal safety approval plate, usually on a door, shows the month and year the box was made, its maximum operating gross weight and its allowable stacking load. It tells you the age of the box at a glance.
- The exam date, if it will carry cargo. Under U.S. rules for approved containers in international transport, the first exam is due within five years of manufacture and then at least every 30 months. The next exam date is marked on or near the plate. Boxes in an approved continuous examination program (ACEP) show an ACEP number instead.
- Doors. They should open and close without forcing. Lock rods should turn freely, and the rubber door gaskets should be whole.
- Light test. Step inside, close the doors and look for daylight. Any light coming through means a hole or a bad seal.
- Roof. Look for dents that hold water and for rust holes. On a high cube the roof sits a foot higher, so ask for photos taken from above.
- Floor. Walk the whole floor. Soft spots, loose boards and strong smells from old spills are red flags.
- Frame and rust. Check the corner castings and bottom rails for cracks, bends and deep rust. Surface rust on the panels is cosmetic. Rust that goes through the steel is not.
When a 40HC fits and when a standard fits
The extra foot of height pays off for tall items: racking, machinery, stacked pallets, or bulky, light cargo that fills the box before it reaches its weight limit. Most shipping lines and leasing companies now run mostly high cube fleets, and the price gap over a standard 40ft is usually small.
A standard 40ft can still be the better pick when a site has a height limit, a low overhang or a low gate, or when the cargo is so dense that it hits the weight limit long before the box is full.
Buying 40HCs in volume
Lummid has been in the wholesale container market since 2000 and sells from stock held at depots across the U.S. and Canada. We work with resellers, depots, contractors, government buyers and businesses that need more than a box or two. See where we have equipment and how we work with resellers and bulk buyers.
For an accurate quote, tell us:
- How many units you need and which grade: new one-trip, used, cargo worthy or refurbished
- The city or region where you need them
- Any color you want on refurbished units
- Whether the boxes will ship cargo overseas or stay on the ground for storage
Questions buyers ask
How tall is a 40ft high cube container?
It is 9’6″ tall on the outside. Inside it is about 8’10”, and the door opening is about 8’6″ tall. A standard 40ft is 8’6″ tall outside.
How much does an empty 40ft high cube weigh?
About 8,600 pounds (3,900 kg) for a typical unit. The exact tare weight is painted on the doors, and it varies a little by manufacturer.
Can I ship cargo overseas in a used 40ft high cube?
Only if it is cargo worthy and its CSC exam is current. A wind and watertight box is meant for storage on the ground, not for ocean shipping.
Ready to price 40ft high cubes? Request a wholesale quote or call (888) 471-9099. Tell us the quantity, grade and location, and we will come back with what we can offer.
Sources
- ISO 668:2020, Series 1 freight containers: classification, dimensions and ratings
- BIC: ISO 6346 size and type codes
- Hapag-Lloyd: 40′ standard high cube container specifications
- IMO: International Convention for Safe Containers (CSC)
- 49 CFR 452.1: Periodic examination required (Cornell Law School LII)
- WNTI: How to interpret the information on the CSC plate of an ISO general purpose container