ISO 45G1 / L5G1 · 9′6″ tall
High Cube Container
A high cube (HC) container is a standard dry container with one extra foot of height: 2.896 m (9′6″) externally instead of 2.591 m (8′6″). Length, width, doors and corner fittings are otherwise identical, so it stacks and ships exactly like a standard box.
The format has taken over the fleet — most new 40 ft containers built today are high cubes, and 45 ft containers are almost exclusively 9′6″. The 20 ft high cube exists but is rare.
The door opening grows with the box: 2.340 m wide × 2.585 m high against 2.280 m on a standard unit. Those 30 extra centimetres of door clearance are often the deciding spec for tall crates, garment-on-hanger systems and machinery on skids.
Weight-wise the penalty is trivial. A 40 ft HC tares at about 3,900 kg versus 3,740 kg for a standard forty, and because most HC units are rated to 32,500 kg max gross, payload actually rises to around 28,600 kg. In almost every dimension that matters, the high cube dominates — which is exactly why the industry converged on it.
| Metric | Imperial | |
|---|---|---|
| External dimensions | ||
| Length | 12.192 m | 40′ |
| Width | 2.438 m | 8′ |
| Height | 2.896 m | 9′6″ |
| Internal dimensions | ||
| Length | 12.032 m | 39′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 * | 3,900 kg | 8,598 lb |
| Max gross weight | 32,500 kg | 71,650 lb |
| Max payload * | 28,600 kg | 63,052 lb |
| Capacity (volume) | 76.4 m³ | 2,698 ft³ |
| Pallets (one tier) | 25 EUR pallets | 21 US pallets |
| TEU | 2 | — |
* Typical value — varies by manufacturer
| 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
High cube vs standard: what the extra foot buys
Internal height grows from 2.393 m to 2.698 m. On a 40 ft box that adds 8.7 m³ — from 67.7 to 76.4 m³ — enough to fit a third tier of many cartons, or double-stacked pallets loaded to 1.34 m each.
Sea freight usually prices HC and standard identically, so for light, voluminous cargo the high cube is free capacity. The only caution is road transport in height-restricted countries: a 9′6″ box on a standard chassis can exceed 4.3–4.4 m overall limits and may need a low-loader (gooseneck) chassis.
For conversions — homes, offices, workshops — the extra foot is not a bonus but a requirement. After insulating floor and ceiling, a standard 8′6″ box drops below 2.2 m of headroom, while a high cube keeps roughly 2.4–2.5 m. That is why virtually every container-building guide starts from a 40 ft high cube.
How to identify a high cube
Check the ISO type code on the door: the first two characters give length and height, and codes beginning “45”, “L5” or “95” indicate 9′6″ height (e.g. 45G1 = 40 ft high cube dry). Most operators also paint a black-and-yellow caution stripe on the top side rails of high cube units.
From the outside without the code, look at the corner posts against a neighbouring stack: 9′6″ units stand a visible head taller than 8′6″ boxes, and on trucks the caution stripe warns crane and bridge operators of the extra height.
Frequently asked questions
How much taller is a high cube container?
Exactly one foot (305 mm): 2.896 m vs 2.591 m externally, and about 2.698 m vs 2.393 m inside.
Is a high cube container worth it?
Usually yes. Ocean rates for a high cube are normally the same as for a standard container of equal length, so the extra 8.7 m³ (on a 40 ft) is effectively free capacity. The only caution is road transport in countries with 4 m height limits, where the taller box may need a lowered chassis. For conversions, the extra foot of ceiling makes it the default choice.
How much does a high cube container cost?
In 2025–26, used 40 ft high cubes typically sell for $1,800–3,500 and one-trip units for $3,500–5,500 — usually a few hundred dollars above a standard-height forty. Prices vary by market and location, with the best supply near major ports.
Is shipping a high cube more expensive?
Ocean freight rates are normally the same as for a standard container of equal length — both count as the same TEU. Road legs can cost more where a lowered chassis is required.
Do 20 ft high cube containers exist?
Yes (ISO code 25G1), but they are uncommon. Most operators jump straight from the standard 20 ft to the 40 ft high cube.
What is the internal height of a high cube container?
About 2.698 m (8′10″), against 2.393 m in a standard container. The door opening is 2.585 m high, versus 2.280 m on a standard box.