Containers and shipping
40ft high cube container dimensions
Independent site, not a government service. General information, not customs advice.
The high cube has the footprint of a 40 foot box with more height. Enter your cargo, and see how much extra room you really need.
Will my cargo fit this container?
Tightest limit used
85.2%
| Volume used | 85.2% |
| Payload used | 52.4% |
| Space left | 11.3 m³ |
Nominal figures from one carrier brochure of 2016. Check the plate on your own container.
A 40 foot high cube is the same length and width as a standard 40 foot box, but it stands 2,896 millimetres high on the outside instead of 2,591, a gain of 305 millimetres, or one foot. In the carrier sheet we read, its inside height is 2,700 millimetres against 2,395, the door opening is 2,340 by 2,597, and capacity rises to 76.3 cubic metres from 67.7. Payload hardly changes, at 28,600 kilograms in the series we show, because the tare of 3,900 kilograms is a little higher and the gross is the same. So the gain is for loads that are tall or light, as weight limits barely move. Some series on this sheet are 2,432 millimetres wide inside, and that changes what a double row of pallets can do on the floor. Check tunnel and road height limits for your route.
Pallets on a container floor
Pallets on the floor
20
| Inside floor | 12,032 × 2,352 mm |
| Fits under the door | Yes |
| Door height | 2,597 mm |
One orientation only. Mixed patterns can gain a pallet: measure before you book.
Tariff and rules read by Radif Partners · Editorial policy · Method and sources
Standard and high cube compared
| Measure | 40' general purpose | 40' high cube | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Outside height | 2,591 | 2,896 | 305 |
| Inside height | 2,395 | 2,700 | 305 |
| Door height | 2,292 | 2,597 | 305 |
| Capacity, m³ | 67.7 | 76.3 | 8.6 |
| Payload, kg | 28,800 | 28,600 | -200 |
Pallets and height
The second tool starts with a loaded height of 2,400 millimetres, which clears the door here but not in a standard box. A pallet stack gains its value here: a tall stack, or two layers of low pallets, may make use of the extra height, where your goods can bear it. Sizes are in the pallet dimensions page, with their caveat.
Limits to check
The extra foot also applies on the road. A high cube on a truck is taller than a standard box, so low bridges, tunnels and rail clearances need a check for your route, and we read no Indian rule on them. Ask your haulier, and ask whether your unloading dock can handle the height. Our only source for sizes is the carrier brochure; see the main dimensions page for how far to trust it.