Home / Logistics Knowledge / Container Types & Sizes / 45ft High Cube Container (45HQ/45HC)
The 45HQ is about 1.52 m (5 ft) longer than a 40HQ with about 10 CBM more volume — the largest common dry box. It is route-restricted, appearing mainly on China–US and China–Europe lanes, and not every port can supply one.
The 45HQ is about 1.52 m (5 ft) longer than a 40HQ with about 10 CBM more volume — the largest common dry box. It is not a globally universal type: supply concentrates on the trans-Pacific (US) and Asia–Europe lanes, and many regional lanes simply have no boxes, so confirm with the carrier before booking.
For a trading company the 45HQ suits long, high-volume bulky cargo — mattresses, sofas, long building materials and large e-commerce items — where the extra 1.5 m fits pieces over 2.2 m long. Europe also runs a "45-foot pallet-wide" variant, wider internally to take two EUR pallets side by side, common for continental consolidation.
Full name: 45-foot High Cube (Dry Cargo) Container
A single piece must be no longer than the 13,556 mm internal length, no wider than 2,352 mm and no higher than 2,698 mm; the door opening is 2,340 mm wide × 2,585 mm high. For long bars, check destination trucking and road access for a 45ft unit.
| Dimension | mm | cm | m | ft & in | in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Length | 13556 | 1355.6 | 13.556 | 44 ft 5.7 in | 533.7 |
| 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 | 13716 | 1371.6 | 13.716 | 45 ft 0.0 in | 540.0 |
| 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) | 4.65 – 4.95 | 4,650 – 4,950 | 10,251 – 10,913 |
| Maximum payload (net cargo) | 27.70 | 27,700 | 61,068 |
| Maximum gross weight (box + cargo) | 32.50 | 32,500 | 71,650 |
New (one-trip) 45HQ 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) 45HQ 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 45HQ, 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).
Supply is concentrated on the Europe and US lanes; new / one-trip units are pricier than a 40HQ at about USD 5,000–9,000, and the second-hand market is thin with scattered quotes.
Because most are carrier-owned or leased, used 45HQ boxes are scarce, around USD 2,500–6,000 — confirm with a live quote.
Maersk, MSC, CMA CGM, COSCO, OOCL, Hapag-Lloyd, ONE and Evergreen all build to the same ISO standards, so the external dimensions of a 45HQ 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 45HQ 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 45HQ takes about 28–30 EUR pallets or 500–600 standard cartons. Long, bulky everyday goods — mattresses, sofas, large furniture, long building profiles and oversized e-commerce items — use the extra 1.5 m of length best.
The 45HQ is the longest box, so spread heavy cargo across the whole floor and avoid concentrating it mid-length where the floor sags. Its 32,500 kg gross exceeds a standard 40ft, but road limits still bind.
Load over-length cargo along the box length with end blocks; when the box is not full, fill side and end gaps with dunnage bags, heavy items down and light items up, and add a door net.
The 45HQ suits high-volume bulky and over-length cargo: mattresses, sofas, furniture, building profiles, large e-commerce items and long equipment packing. It fits loads of roughly 70–76 CBM.
A 45HQ has tighter destination trucking and road rules than a 40ft; many European countries regulate 45ft road use and some US inland points refuse it. Confirm the destination can land and deliver before booking.
A Foshan mattress order to Europe, each packed 2.2 m long and 73 CBM in total, fills a 45HQ neatly where European 45ft road access is mature. A 40HQ would force a split into two shipments.
External dimensions are 13,716 x 2,438 x 2,896 mm (45 ft x 8 ft x 9 ft 6 in). Internal dimensions are about 13,556 x 2,352 x 2,698 mm and the door opening is 2,340 mm wide by 2,585 mm high.
About 1.5 m longer, adding roughly 9.6 CBM: 86.0 CBM against 76.4 CBM. Width and height are the same. The maximum gross mass is also higher, 32,500 kg, giving about 27.7 tonnes of payload.
Mainly on Europe, transatlantic and selected Asia-Europe services, and at ports and inland depots that handle 45ft equipment. Availability has to be confirmed lane by lane, because not every carrier, terminal or trucking company works with 45ft boxes.
Tare weight is about 4,650-4,950 kg, payload about 27,700 kg and maximum gross mass 32,500 kg, higher than a 40HC. The extra length means more tare, so the payload gain is smaller than the volume gain.
It depends on the country. In Europe a 45ft box exceeds the standard 13.6 m semi-trailer length, so it needs suitable equipment and, in some countries, a permit. In North America 53 ft trailers are standard, so a 45ft container is unremarkable there.
Roughly one pallet row more than a 40ft: about 28-30 Euro pallets (1,200 x 800 mm) or 22-23 standard 48 x 40 in pallets single-stacked. Confirm the loading plan against your actual pallet dimensions, because the gain in floor area is about 12%.
Yes, 2,352 mm internally. The pallet-wide 45ft used in Europe is a separate variant at about 2.5 m internal width, which allows two 1,200 mm pallets side by side instead of a mixed pattern.
Light, high-volume cargo where the extra 9.6 CBM pays: furniture, foam, plastics, packaging, apparel and e-commerce volume. The extra 1.5 m of length is also useful for long items that will not fit a 40ft.
Supply is thin and concentrated on Europe and US trades. New and one-trip units run about USD 5,000-9,000, more than a 40HQ, and used boxes are scarce at roughly USD 2,500-6,000 with scattered quotes. Confirm with a live offer before planning around it.
L5G1: L identifies a 45-foot container, G a general purpose dry box and 1 a door opening at one end. Because 45ft units are outside the mainstream fleet, always confirm the type code on the booking.
About 27.7 tonnes on a 32,500 kg gross mass. As with every container, the road limit at origin and destination usually governs the real figure, and 45ft inland haulage is often weight-restricted.
Yes. VGM applies to all containers, and with 86 CBM of volume it is easy to pass the weight limit without filling the box. Declare the verified gross mass before the cut-off and keep the weighing ticket.
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