40' Reefer High Cube
Typical ISO code: 45R1
Practical reference values
- length
- ~11.6 m
- width
- ~2.29 m
- height
- ~2.4 m usable (up to the load line)
- volume
- ~67 m³ (~65 m³ usable)
- EUR pallets
- 23 EUR pallets
- payload
- ~22 t on the road (40 t, without genset)
The 40' reefer high cube container is the usual choice for large volumes of temperature-controlled cargo at sea, including fruit shipped under controlled atmosphere. The unit maintains the set temperature throughout the transport.
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)
- Goods are loaded at transport temperature; the container does not cool warm cargo.
- Some versions (for example for deep freezing) are narrower and take fewer pallets.
- On the road it travels on a lowered chassis, with a genset.
Suitable for
- Fruit and vegetables
- Meat, fish and frozen products
- Large volumes of chilled food
- large temperature-controlled volumes
- fruit in a controlled atmosphere
Not suitable for
- cargo that needs > 2.4 m of usable height
Comparison with related types
| Parameter | 40' Reefer High Cube | 20' Reefer | 20' Flat Rack |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internal length | ~11.6 m | ~5.45 m | ~5.6 m (between the corner posts) |
| Internal width | ~2.29 m | ~2.29 m | ~2.2 m (between the posts) |
| Internal height | ~2.4 m usable (up to the load line) | ~2.15 m usable (up to the load line) | ~2.2 m (height of the end walls) |
| Volume | ~67 m³ (~65 m³ usable) | ~28 m³ (~27 m³ usable) | n/a (no side walls or roof) |
| EUR pallets (120 × 80 cm) | 23 EUR pallets | 10 EUR pallets | not relevant (OOG cargo) |
| Reference payload | ~22 t on the road (40 t, without genset) | ~25 t on the road (40 t, without genset) | ~25 t on the road (40 t) |
Detailed specifications
Detailed specifications
| Parameter | Value | Basis | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internal length | ~11.6 m | shipping line | S-MAERSK-RF, S-CMA-RF, S-HL-SPEC |
| Internal width | ~2.29 m | shipping line | S-MAERSK-RF, S-CMA-RF, S-HL-SPEC |
| Internal height | ~2.4 m usable (up to the load line) | shipping line | S-MAERSK-RF, S-CMA-RF, S-HL-SPEC |
| Volume | ~67 m³ (~65 m³ usable) | shipping line | S-MAERSK-RF, S-CMA-RF, S-HL-SPEC |
| Tare | ~4.6 t | shipping line | S-MAERSK-RF, S-CMA-RF, S-HL-SPEC |
| Container maximum payload | ~29 t | shipping line | S-MAERSK-RF, S-CMA-RF, S-HL-SPEC |
| Reference payload | ~22 t on the road (40 t, without genset) | Honexpres calculation | S-DAF-XFC410-FT, S-KRONE-BOXTU4 |
| EUR pallets (120 × 80 cm) | 23 EUR pallets | Honexpres calculation | |
| Industrial pallets (120 × 100 cm) | 20 industrial pallets | Honexpres calculation | |
| Door (width × height) | 2.29 × ~2.5 m | shipping line | S-MAERSK-RF, S-CMA-RF, S-HL-SPEC |
| Temperature | −30…+30 °C (usual; some lines −40 °C) | shipping line | S-HL-SPEC |
- Internal height: Maersk 2.415–2.45 m; CMA CGM 2.394 m; Hapag-Lloyd 2.42–2.47 m; internal ~2.55 m.
- Tare: Maersk 4.52–4.80 t; CMA CGM 4.74 t; Hapag-Lloyd 4.30–4.80 t.
- Container maximum payload: Gross 34 t; Maersk 29.48 t; CMA CGM 29.26 t; Hapag-Lloyd 29.2–29.7 t.
- Reference payload: 40 − 7.3 − 5.03 − 4.6 = 23.07 t; minus 1 t.
- Door (width × height): Maersk 2.276 × 2.471 m; CMA CGM 2.290 × 2.569 m.
- Temperature: Hapag-Lloyd: −40…+30 °C (2016).
Representative models (manufacturers and lines)
| Inside (mm) | 11,580 / 2,275 / 2,415 |
|---|---|
| Door (mm) | 2,276 / 2,471 |
| Volume (m³) | 67.5 |
| Tare (kg) | 4,520 |
| Payload (kg) | 29,480 |
| Max. gross (kg) | 34,000 |
| Super freezer width (mm) | 2,188 |
Source: Maersk — Our fleet: equipment specifications, reefer containers (PDF) · accessed 2026-09-26
| Inside (mm) | 11,584 / 2,294 / 2,557 |
|---|---|
| Usable height (mm) | 2,394 |
| Door (mm) | 2,290 / 2,569 |
| Volume nominal (m³) | 68 |
| Volume usable (m³) | 65.3 |
| Tare avg (kg) | 4,740 |
| Payload (kg) | 29,260 |
| Max. gross (kg) | 34,000 |
Source: CMA CGM Group — Reefer technical specifications · accessed 2026-09-26
| Inside length (mm) | 11,578 / 11,599 |
|---|---|
| Inside width (mm) | 2,280 / 2,294 |
| Max. stow height (mm) | 2,420 / 2,474 |
| Volume (m³) | 66.7 / 67.9 |
| Tare (kg) | 4,300 / 4,800 |
| Max. gross (kg) | 34,000 |
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
- The Maersk Super Freezer is 2.19 m wide → fewer pallets.
- Genset mandatory on the road (mass UNVERIFIED).
- On the road it is carried on a gooseneck chassis (height 2.896 m).
Sources and verification
Confidence level: high — Three lines agree within ±5 cm on length and width.
- CMA CGM Group — Reefer technical specifications · CMA CGM Group · accessed 2026-09-26
- 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
- Maersk — Our fleet: equipment specifications, reefer containers (PDF) · Maersk · accessed 2026-09-26
- OG 43/1997 republished, consolidated 17.09.2026 (hosted by CNAIR) · CNAIR · accessed 2026-09-23
- Wikipedia — Intermodal container (cites ISO 668) · Wikipedia · accessed 2026-09-23
Reference dataset 2026.09.27-1
What is controlled atmosphere?
A system that also regulates the composition of the air in the container, not just the temperature, to slow fruit ripening. It is requested at booking, if the line offers it.
Services using this type
Temperature-controlled transport
controlled temperature all the way
Sea freight (FCL / LCL)
full containers (FCL) or groupage (LCL)
Alternatives
20' Reefer
~5.45 m · ~2.29 m · ~2.15 m usable (up to the load line) · ~28 m³ (~27 m³ usable) · 10 EUR pallets · ~25 t on the road (40 t, without genset)
20' Flat Rack
~5.6 m (between the corner posts) · ~2.2 m (between the posts) · ~2.2 m (height of the end walls) · n/a (no side walls or roof) · not relevant (OOG cargo) · ~25 t on the road (40 t)