The standard 40ft HC or High Cube container or dry van is one of the most used containers for shipping goods in international maritime transport.

Dimensions of a 40ft High Cube Container

Exterior Dimensions HK: 40’L x 8’W x 9’6″H

Exterior dimensions international system: 12.19 meters long x 2.44 meters wide x 2.895 meters high

Interior Dimensions HK: 39’6″L x 7’9″W x 8’10″H

Useful capacity (volume): 76.4 m3

In the case of Euro pallets, which measure 1.2 x 0.8 meters, and as long as the load does not protrude from the sides, the base of a 40-foot HC container can accommodate up to 25 stacks of Euro pallets.

As a general rule, the best way to place pallets inside the container is to arrange one row lengthwise and another widthwise (more information).

Maximum load of a 40-foot High Cube container
An empty 40-foot High Cube container has a weight or tare of 4,150 kg and can carry a load of about 29 tons (29,000 kg).