40' High Cube
Typical ISO code: 45G1
Practical reference values
- length
- ~12.0 m
- width
- ~2.35 m
- height
- ~2.7 m
- volume
- ~76 m³
- EUR pallets
- 25 EUR pallets
- payload
- ~22 t on the road (40 t)
The 40' high cube container has the same length as a standard 40' but is taller. It is the right choice for bulky goods and tall pallets. The gain is in volume, not in mass.
Practical reference values. We confirm the exact dimensions in the quote. Honexpres organises transport with this vehicle, on request.
Shipping lines publish slightly different values; per-line values are in the detailed specifications. On the road, the cargo weight may be limited by the total combination mass (40 t).
Request a sea freight quote with this container Road haulage of the container from the port
How the pallets fit
Indicative Honexpres drawing generated from the reference dimensions. Not a manufacturer drawing.
How it is loaded
- through the end doors (forklift, pallet truck)
- Loaded through the end doors, like the standard container.
- On the road it travels on a lowered chassis so the overall height stays within legal limits.
- For very heavy goods it offers no advantage over a standard 40'.
Suitable for
- Bulky, light goods
- Tall pallets
- Furniture, textiles, packaging
- bulky cargo
- tall pallets up to ~2.55 m
Not suitable for
- very heavy cargo (the gain is in volume)
Comparison with related types
| Parameter | 40' High Cube | 40' Dry Van | 45' High Cube (ISO width) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internal length | ~12.0 m | ~12.0 m | ~13.56 m |
| Internal width | ~2.35 m | ~2.35 m | ~2.35 m |
| Internal height | ~2.7 m | ~2.39 m | ~2.7 m |
| Volume | ~76 m³ | ~67 m³ | ~86 m³ |
| EUR pallets (120 × 80 cm) | 25 EUR pallets | 25 EUR pallets | 27 EUR pallets |
| Reference payload | ~22 t on the road (40 t) | ~23 t on the road (40 t) | ~22 t on the road (40 t) |
Detailed specifications
Detailed specifications
| Parameter | Value | Basis | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internal length | ~12.0 m | shipping line | S-ONE-DRY, S-HL-SPEC |
| Internal width | ~2.35 m | shipping line | S-ONE-DRY, S-HL-SPEC |
| Internal height | ~2.7 m | shipping line | S-ONE-DRY, S-HL-SPEC |
| Volume | ~76 m³ | shipping line | S-ONE-DRY, S-HL-SPEC |
| Tare | ~3.8 t | shipping line | S-ONE-DRY, S-HL-SPEC |
| Container maximum payload | ~28.5 t | shipping line | S-ONE-DRY, S-HL-SPEC |
| Reference payload | ~22 t on the road (40 t) | Honexpres calculation | S-DAF-XFC410-FT, S-KRONE-BOXTU4 |
| EUR pallets (120 × 80 cm) | 25 EUR pallets | Honexpres calculation | |
| Industrial pallets (120 × 100 cm) | 22 industrial pallets (calculation) | Honexpres calculation | |
| Door (width × height) | 2.34 × 2.59 m | shipping line | S-ONE-DRY, S-HL-SPEC |
- Tare: ONE 3.70 t; Hapag-Lloyd 3.83–3.95 t (4.30 t with steel floor).
- Container maximum payload: ONE 28.80 t; Hapag-Lloyd 28.20–28.67 t (gross 32.5 t).
- Reference payload: 40 − 7.3 − 5.03 (gooseneck, for the height) − 3.8 = 23.87 t; minus 1 t.
Representative models (manufacturers and lines)
| Inside (mm) | 12,032 / 2,350 / 2,695 |
|---|---|
| Door (mm) | 2,340 / 2,585 |
| Volume (m³) | 76.2 |
| Tare (kg) | 3,700 |
| Payload (kg) | 28,800 |
| Max. gross (kg) | 30,480 / 32,500 |
Source: ONE — Dry containers: specifications · accessed 2026-09-26
| Inside (mm) | 12,032, 2,342 / 2,432, 2,700 |
|---|---|
| Door (mm) | 2,340 / 2,597 |
| Volume (m³) | 76.3 / 76.4 |
| Tare (kg) | 3,830 / 4,300 |
| Payload (kg) | 28,200 / 28,670 |
| Max. gross (kg) | 32,500 |
Source: Hapag-Lloyd — Container Specification (PDF) · accessed 2026-09-26
Legal limits Requires legal validation
Requires legal validation
- Maximum mass on the road: 40 t combination; 44 t intermodal (in Romania only on category R roads)
- Maximum height: 4.00 m on the road (container + chassis)
- Maximum gross mass (ISO): 36,000 kg ISO 668 (Amd. 2016); the real value is on the CSC plate
- VGM (verified gross mass): VGM mandatory for sea export (SOLAS VI/2, from 1 July 2016)
09 §1.1–1.2 (96/53, 2015/719) · 09 §1.4 (OG 43) · 09 §3.1 (ISO 668, CSC plate) · 09 §3.4 (VGM, SOLAS) · 09 §3.5 (road weights)
Exceptions and limitations
- External height 2.896 m: on the road it is carried on a gooseneck chassis to stay under 4.00 m (INFERENCE; Hapag-Lloyd draws attention to the over-height on land).
- The proposal COM(2023) 445: 4.30 m for HC in intermodal transport — a PROPOSAL, not law.
Sources and verification
Confidence level: high — ONE and Hapag-Lloyd agree.
- DAF XFC 410 FT 4x2 Tractor — specification sheet · DAF Trucks UK · accessed 2026-09-26
- Directive (EU) 2015/719 · Publications Office UE · accessed 2026-09-23
- Directive 96/53/EC, consolidated 14.08.2019 · Publications Office UE · accessed 2026-09-23
- Hapag-Lloyd — Container Specification (PDF) · Hapag-Lloyd · accessed 2026-09-26
- IMO — Verification of the gross mass · IMO · accessed 2026-09-23
- Krone Box Liner SDC 27 eLTU4 (gooseneck 40') — datasheet · Krone · accessed 2026-09-26
- OG 43/1997 republished, consolidated 17.09.2026 (hosted by CNAIR) · CNAIR · accessed 2026-09-23
- ONE — Dry containers: specifications · Ocean Network Express (ONE) · accessed 2026-09-26
- Wikipedia — Intermodal container (cites ISO 668) · Wikipedia · accessed 2026-09-23
Reference dataset 2026.09.27-1
Can a 40' HC travel on any chassis?
No: on an ordinary chassis it can exceed the maximum height allowed on the road. A lowered chassis is used. See the container chassis.
Services using this type
Container haulage
containers from the port or terminal, by road
Sea freight (FCL / LCL)
full containers (FCL) or groupage (LCL)
Rail and intermodal transport
rail and rail–road combinations
Alternatives
40' Dry Van
~12.0 m · ~2.35 m · ~2.39 m · ~67 m³ · 25 EUR pallets · ~23 t on the road (40 t)
45' High Cube (ISO width)
~13.56 m · ~2.35 m · ~2.7 m · ~86 m³ · 27 EUR pallets · ~22 t on the road (40 t)