A high cube (HC) container has the same length and width as a standard container, but an external height of 2.90 m (9'6") instead of 2.59 m (8'6"). The extra 30 cm or so raises the internal volume of a 40' container from 67 m³ to about 76 m³. It lowers the unit transport cost for light but bulky cargo.
What are the dimensions of a high cube?
External container dimensions are set by the ISO 668 standard. The width of all standard containers is 2.438 m; the only dimension that sets the high cube apart is its height. The most common HC type on the market is the 40 ft; 20 ft HCs are rare, while 45 ft HCs are used mainly in intra-European flows.
| Dimension (approx.) | 40' standard (DC) | 40' high cube (HC) |
|---|---|---|
| External height | 2.591 m | 2.896 m |
| Internal height | 2.39 m | 2.70 m |
| Door opening height | 2.29 m | 2.59 m |
| Internal volume | 67 m³ | 76 m³ |
| Maximum payload | 26.5–28.8 tonnes | 26.5–28.6 tonnes |
| Size-type code | 42G1 | 45G1 |
The figures in the table may vary slightly by manufacturer; the maximum gross weight and tare are shown on the CSC plate on the container door, and the internal dimensions in the shipping line's equipment sheet. The digit 5 as the second character of the code indicates a height of 9'6"; how to read the code is explained in container number. HC containers usually carry a yellow-and-black striped height marking along the top edge so they can be recognised from a distance. A comparison with other types is in container types and dimensions.
Which cargo benefits from it?
- Light and bulky products: Furniture, textiles, insulation foam, plastic packaging, automotive interior trim parts. With these goods the volume fills up before the weight limit is reached; 9 m³ of extra volume means more product for the same freight.
- Double-stacked pallets: Pallets 1.25 m high fit through the door of an HC stacked two high (2.50 m); in a standard 40' they stay single-stacked because the door height is 2.29 m. The number of pallets carried in the same container almost doubles.
- Long and tall parts: Machine parts or racking systems 2.4–2.55 m high can be carried in a closed container without needing an open top or flat rack.
On many lines the freight rate for a 40' HC is very close to that of a 40' standard; this is why HC is often the first choice for bulky cargo. For heavy, dense cargo, however, the limit is set by weight rather than volume, and a 20' container may make more sense (see the difference between 20' and 40' containers).
How does it affect the road height limit?
In Türkiye and the EU, the maximum height of vehicles including load is 4.00 m. On a standard flat container chassis, the container floor sits about 1.1–1.3 m above the ground. When a 2.896 m HC is placed on such a chassis, the total height reaches or slightly exceeds the 4.0 m limit. For this reason, HC transport mostly uses "gooseneck" chassis with a lowered front section or low-floor container chassis; the tunnel in the container's front floor sits on this chassis.
If the wrong chassis is chosen, the vehicle exceeds the legal height and a special permit is required; details are in road permits for container transport. On routes with low bridges, tunnels and overpasses, the route is planned accordingly. Practices on the chassis and tractor side are covered under container transport.
Common mistakes
- Planning the load to the internal height (2.70 m) and forgetting that the door opening is 2.59 m.
- Mixing up 40DV and 40HC in the booking; the wrong equipment is released at the terminal and a loading day is lost.
- Overlooking that weight can rise along with volume; when the cargo fills up to the roof, the weight limits of the container and vehicle must be checked.
- Not telling the carrier the chassis type for the haul from port to factory.