What is a High Cube Container?
A high cube container is a shipping container that is taller than a standard container. While standard containers are typically 8 feet 6 inches high, high cube containers have a height of 9 feet 6 inches—offering one extra foot of vertical space for oversized or high-volume cargo.
These containers are commonly used in international ocean freight, intermodal rail transport, and long-distance trucking, particularly when shippers need to maximize internal space without increasing the container’s footprint.
Key Features
- Height: 9’6” (compared to 8’6” for standard containers)
- Length options: Commonly 40 feet or 45 feet
- Ideal for: Lightweight, high-volume goods; taller equipment; palletized cargo that requires stacking clearance
- Doors: Same dimensions and functionality as standard containers
Benefits of Using High Cube Containers
- Extra storage space for the same footprint
- More efficient for light, bulky goods like furniture, textiles, or plastic parts
- Reduces the need for multiple containers when vertical space can be optimized
- Compatible with most intermodal transportation systems
Example in Practice
A furniture manufacturer exports sofas to Europe. To save costs and reduce container count, they use 40’ high cube containers to fit more units vertically, which wouldn’t be possible in standard-height equipment.
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