Home / Logistics Knowledge / Container Types & Sizes / 40ft High Cube Container (40HQ/40HC)
The 40HQ shares the 40GP's length and width but is about 30 cm taller (9'6"), adding roughly 13% more volume. It is the most widely used, most flexible box in FCL, and ocean freight is usually the same as a 40GP — the cheapest way to move light, bulky goods.
The 40HQ has the same length and width as a 40GP and differs only in height — the exterior goes from 8'6" to 9'6" (about 30 cm taller), adding about 8.7 CBM (about 13%) of volume. It is the most widely used and flexible box in FCL today.
For a trading company the 40HQ is the default: ocean freight is usually the same as a 40GP, and the extra height lets you stack one more layer of bulky goods — furniture, appliances, toys and garments almost always cost less per cubic metre this way. The door is also taller (2,585 mm), so slightly taller pieces fit. On a bill of lading it may appear as 40HQ, 40HC or the type code 45G1 — all the same box.
Full name: 40-foot High Cube (Dry Cargo) Container
A single piece must be no longer than 12,032 mm, no wider than 2,352 mm and no higher than the 2,698 mm internal height; the door opening is 2,340 mm wide × 2,585 mm high. The door is 30 cm taller than a 40GP, which is its key advantage for tall cargo.
| Dimension | mm | cm | m | ft & in | in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Length | 12032 | 1203.2 | 12.032 | 39 ft 5.7 in | 473.7 |
| Width | 2352 | 235.2 | 2.352 | 7 ft 8.6 in | 92.6 |
| Height | 2698 | 269.8 | 2.698 | 8 ft 10.2 in | 106.2 |
| Door opening width | 2340 | 234.0 | 2.340 | 7 ft 8.1 in | 92.1 |
| Door opening height | 2585 | 258.5 | 2.585 | 8 ft 5.8 in | 101.8 |
| Dimension | mm | cm | m | ft & in | in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Length | 12192 | 1219.2 | 12.192 | 40 ft 0.0 in | 480.0 |
| Width | 2438 | 243.8 | 2.438 | 7 ft 12.0 in | 96.0 |
| Height | 2896 | 289.6 | 2.896 | 9 ft 6.0 in | 114.0 |
| Door opening width | 2340 | 234.0 | 2.340 | 7 ft 8.1 in | 92.1 |
| Door opening height | 2585 | 258.5 | 2.585 | 8 ft 5.8 in | 101.8 |
| Item | Tonnes (t) | Kilograms (kg) | Pounds (lb) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tare weight (empty) | 3.85 – 4.05 | 3,850 – 4,050 | 8,488 – 8,929 |
| Maximum payload (net cargo) | 26.58 | 26,580 | 58,599 |
| Maximum gross weight (box + cargo) | 30.48 | 30,480 | 67,197 |
New (one-trip) 40HQ containers have just left the factory or carried a single load: flat panels, tight door seals and no corrosion, which makes them the right choice for food, precision goods and long-term leasing. Used (multi-trip) 40HQ boxes have years of ocean service behind them and may show dents, light rust and worn flooring, but a structurally sound unit that passes a cargo-worthy survey still ships perfectly normally.
On a high cube the extra height puts more load on the door gear and the roof bows, so check the door alignment and the roof for dents as well as the floor. A high cube that has been over-filled often shows a bulging roof, which is a sign of a hard life.
For a 40HQ, most exporters simply take the carrier’s “cargo worthy” unit, because the shipping line is responsible for the box being fit for carriage at the moment it is picked up. If you buy your own container instead, pricing is graded by age and condition: CW (cargo worthy), WWT (wind and water tight) and AS-IS (sold as seen).
New / one-trip units about USD 4,000–8,000 on the US market, roughly USD 500–900 more than an equivalent 40GP.
Cargo-worthy used units about USD 1,800–5,500; this is one of the most actively traded second-hand boxes.
Maersk, MSC, CMA CGM, COSCO, OOCL, Hapag-Lloyd, ONE and Evergreen all build to the same ISO standards, so the external dimensions of a 40HQ match the standard exactly and the box can be stacked and interchanged on board and on the chassis without adaptation.
Across carriers, the practical differences for a 40HQ are in box age and condition (new units are assigned to the mainline services), the builder (CIMC, Singamas, CXIC, Maersk Container Industry and others), small variations in the tare and payload figures stamped on the plate, and the configuration of special equipment — reefer unit brand, tarpaulin type on an open-top, folding versus fixed end walls on a flat-rack. Mention heavy, over-height or specialised cargo at booking so the carrier allocates the right unit.
High cubes are concentrated on the mainline trades, so on a thinner route expect a standard-height 40ft unless you book early.
A 40HQ takes about 26–28 EUR pallets or 450–550 standard cartons. Bulky everyday goods — furniture, large appliances (fridges, washing machines), toys, textiles and plastics — fit best, with the extra 30 cm giving one more stacking layer.
Because the box is taller the centre of gravity rises more easily, so keep heavy items on the floor, spread along the length, and never stack heavy goods high. For tiles or stone, work from the road weight limit first.
A full bulky load mostly holds itself by tight packing, but still add dunnage bags at the top and door. When the box is not full, unitise with dunnage bags, timber and straps to stop shifting in a seaway.
The 40HQ is built for light, bulky cargo: furniture, appliances, toys, garments, footwear, lighting, sanitaryware, plastics, paper products and e-commerce general cargo. It fits loads of roughly 60–68 CBM.
Stand appliances upright with edge protectors and the compressor toward the wall, leaving a vent gap; ship garments on hanging bars or flat-packed with heavy cartons below light ones; timber packaging must meet ISPM 15 with an IPPC mark.
A Shenzhen e-commerce general-cargo order to the US at about 66 CBM and 7 tonnes gross fills a 40HQ exactly, with the lowest cost per cubic metre. A 40GP could not take it, forcing a second shipment.
External dimensions are 12,192 x 2,438 x 2,896 mm (40 ft x 8 ft x 9 ft 6 in). Internal dimensions are about 12,032 x 2,352 x 2,698 mm and the door opening is 2,340 mm wide by 2,585 mm high, about 30 cm taller than a standard 40ft door.
Yes. 40HC, 40HQ, 40' HC and "40 high cube" all mean the same box; HQ is simply the common abbreviation in bookings and rate sheets. Some carriers also write 40HDR or 40HC for the same unit.
It is one foot (about 30 cm) taller, which adds roughly 8.7 CBM: 76.4 CBM against 67.7 CBM. Length and width are identical, so the floor plan and the pallet count are unchanged.
The tare weight is about 3,850-4,050 kg, payload about 26,580 kg and maximum gross mass 30,480 kg. The extra height adds a little tare weight compared with a standard 40ft but does not change the gross limit.
Nominal volume is 76.4 CBM, with 68-72 CBM usable in practice. It is the cheapest way to move light, bulky goods by volume.
About 26-28 Euro pallets (1,200 x 800 mm) or 20 standard 48 x 40 in pallets single-stacked, essentially the same floor plan as a standard 40ft. The extra 30 cm of height is what matters: two stacked pallets of about 1.1 m each, 2.2 m in total, fit under the 2,698 mm internal height.
On the water, yes. On the road it is 30 cm taller, so low bridges, tunnels, weight-restricted structures and some rail clearances can rule it out. For inland destinations away from the main corridors, check the route before you book.
Light and bulky cargo: furniture, foam and mattresses, plastics, empty packaging, textiles, flat-pack furniture and e-commerce volume. If the cargo is dense, the extra height is wasted and a standard 40ft is the better buy.
When the shipment cubes out before it weighs out. If the cargo would fill a standard 40ft by volume but stays well under 26 tonnes, the 40HC adds about 13% more space for a small premium.
New and one-trip units are about USD 4,000-8,000 on the US market, roughly USD 500-900 more than an equivalent 40GP. Cargo-worthy used high cubes run about USD 1,800-5,500 and are among the most actively traded second-hand boxes.
On many lanes the ocean freight is the same as for a standard 40ft, because carriers rate the equipment by slot rather than by internal height. Some trades and some terminals do apply a small high-cube premium, so compare both in the quote.
45 identifies a 40-foot high cube, G a general purpose dry container and 1 a door opening at one end. Note the difference from 42G1, which is the standard-height 40ft.
About 26.6 tonnes on a 30,480 kg gross mass, essentially the same as a standard 40ft. Road axle limits again cap the practical figure at roughly 24-26 tonnes in most of Europe and North America.
Yes, VGM applies to every container. The higher internal volume makes it easy to overload a high cube accidentally, so weigh the packed box rather than estimating from volume.
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