40ft High Cube
The container-home builder's standard: after insulation and flooring you still keep an 8ft ceiling.
| EXTERNAL L×W×H | 40' 0" × 8' 0" × 9' 6" | 12.192 × 2.438 × 2.896 m |
|---|---|---|
| INTERNAL L×W×H | 39' 6" × 7' 8" × 8' 10" | 12.032 × 2.352 × 2.698 m |
| DOOR OPENING W×H | 7' 8" × 8' 6" | 2.343 × 2.585 m |
| TARE WEIGHT | 8,750 lb | 3,970 kg |
| MAX PAYLOAD | 58,450 lb | 26,510 kg |
| MAX GROSS | 67,200 lb | 30,480 kg |
| CAPACITY | 2,694 cu ft | 76.3 cbm |
| FLOOR AREA | 300 sq ft | 27.9 m² |
| PALLETS (GMA / EURO) | 21 / 25 |
The numbers that matter
A 40ft high cube gives you 300 sq ft of floor and 2,694 cubic feet (76.3 cbm) of space inside external dimensions of 40' 0" × 8' 0" × 9' 6". Empty it weighs 8,750 lb; loaded it may gross 67,200 lb. In cargo terms that is 21 US pallets or 25 Euro pallets in a single layer.
High cubes overtook standard 40-footers in new production years ago — most 40ft boxes built today are 9'6" tall.
What it costs
Used, cargo-worthy units currently trade at $2,500–5,000 in the US; new one-trip units at $4,000–7,000. Delivery adds 15–40% depending on distance — always compare delivered prices, not yard prices.
Quick answers
What are the exact dimensions of a 40ft high cube container?
External: 40' 0" × 8' 0" × 9' 6" (12.192 × 2.438 × 2.896 m). Internal: 39' 6" × 7' 8" × 8' 10".
How much does a 40ft high cube weigh?
Empty (tare) it weighs 8,750 lb (3,970 kg) and is rated to a max gross of 67,200 lb, leaving 58,450 lb of payload.
How much does a 40ft high cube cost?
In the US in 2026, used units run $2,500–5,000 and new (one-trip) units $4,000–7,000, before delivery (add 15–40%).