ISO L5G1 · 2.25 TEU
45 ft High Cube Container Dimensions
The 45 ft high cube (ISO type L5G1) stretches the 40 ft high cube by 1.524 m, reaching 13.716 m of length and about 86 m³ of capacity. The extra 1.5 m of floor adds two more EUR pallet positions, taking a single tier from 25 to 27.
It rides on the same corner-casting positions as a 40 ft box (the extra length overhangs on reinforced end frames), so it fits standard ships and chassis. In Europe, a pallet-wide variant with 2.5 m internal width carries 33 EUR pallets — the container answer to a semi-trailer.
Doors match the 40 ft high cube at 2.340 m wide × 2.585 m high, so loading equipment and cargo clearances carry over unchanged. Height throughout is the full 9′6″ — there is no standard-height 45-footer in meaningful circulation.
The weight budget is where the stretch shows: at roughly 4,800 kg tare, the 45 is the heaviest ISO dry box, and payload dips to about 27,700 kg at 32,500 kg max gross. For dense cargo that changes nothing (you would weigh out in any forty anyway); for light cargo the extra 9.6 m³ over a 40 ft HC is the whole point.
| Metric | Imperial | |
|---|---|---|
| External dimensions | ||
| Length | 13.716 m | 45′ |
| Width | 2.438 m | 8′ |
| Height | 2.896 m | 9′6″ |
| Internal dimensions | ||
| Length | 13.556 m | 44′6″ |
| Width | 2.352 m | 7′9″ |
| Height | 2.698 m | 8′10″ |
| Door opening | ||
| Width | 2.340 m | 7′8″ |
| Height | 2.585 m | 8′6″ |
| Specification | ||
| Tare weight * | 4,800 kg | 10,582 lb |
| Max gross weight | 32,500 kg | 71,650 lb |
| Max payload * | 27,700 kg | 61,068 lb |
| Capacity (volume) | 86.0 m³ | 3,037 ft³ |
| Pallets (one tier) | 27 EUR pallets | 24 US pallets |
| TEU | 2.25 | — |
* Typical value — varies by manufacturer
What fits in a 45 ft container
86 m³ with a payload of about 27,700 kg. One floor tier holds 27 EUR pallets or 24 US pallets; the pallet-wide version raises that to 33 EUR pallets, matching a 13.6 m road trailer.
45-footers are common in intra-European short-sea and rail service and in US domestic moves, less so on deep-sea trades where the 40 ft HC dominates.
That trade-lane pattern matters when you buy or book one. On deep-sea routes many carriers treat the 45 as its own equipment type with its own (higher) rate and thinner availability; on intra-European lanes it is a first-class citizen precisely because it goes head-to-head with trucking. If your freight today moves in 13.6 m trailers, the pallet-wide 45 is the direct container substitute.
For static use, 31.9 m² of floor makes the 45 the largest readily available ISO box — popular for workshops and farm storage where the domestic 48/53 ft sizes (a North American speciality) cannot be sourced.
45 ft vs 40 ft high cube
| 45 ft high cube container | 40 ft high cube container | |
|---|---|---|
| ISO type code | L5G1 | 45G1 |
| External dimensions — Length | 13.716 m45′ | 12.192 m40′ |
| External dimensions — Width | 2.438 m8′ | 2.438 m8′ |
| External dimensions — Height | 2.896 m9′6″ | 2.896 m9′6″ |
| Internal dimensions — Length | 13.556 m44′6″ | 12.032 m39′6″ |
| Internal dimensions — Width | 2.352 m7′9″ | 2.352 m7′9″ |
| Internal dimensions — Height | 2.698 m8′10″ | 2.698 m8′10″ |
| Tare weight | 4,800 kg10,582 lb | 3,900 kg8,598 lb |
| Max gross weight | 32,500 kg71,650 lb | 32,500 kg71,650 lb |
| Max payload | 27,700 kg61,068 lb | 28,600 kg63,052 lb |
| Capacity (volume) | 86.0 m³3,037 ft³ | 76.4 m³2,698 ft³ |
| EUR pallets | 27 | 25 |
| TEU | 2.25 | 2 |
Frequently asked questions
What are the dimensions of a 45 ft container?
External: 13.716 × 2.438 × 2.896 m (45′ × 8′ × 9′6″). Internal: 13.556 × 2.352 × 2.698 m. Capacity: about 86 m³ (3,040 ft³).
How much does a 45 ft container weigh?
Tare weight is about 4,800 kg (10,580 lb) — the heaviest of the ISO dry boxes. With a max gross of 32,500 kg, payload is roughly 27,700 kg.
How much does a 45 ft container cost?
In 2025–26, used 45 ft high cubes typically sell for $2,500–4,500. Supply is thinner than for 40 ft units, so prices swing more by region — they are easiest to find in Europe and North America. As always, prices vary by market, location and condition.
How many square feet is a 45 ft container?
About 342 ft² (31.9 m²) of internal floor — 13.556 m long by 2.352 m wide. That is roughly 12% more floor than a 40 ft container.
How many pallets fit in a 45 ft container?
27 EUR pallets or 24 US pallets in one tier. The European pallet-wide variant (2.50 m internal width) takes 33 EUR pallets — the same as a standard semi-trailer.
Is a 45 ft container 2 TEU or 2.25 TEU?
Statistically it is usually counted as 2.25 TEU, but it occupies a 40 ft slot plus overhang on ships, and carriers typically price it as its own equipment type.