High-Cube Container (HC)
A High-Cube (HC) container is a shipping container that is one foot taller than standard — 9ft 6in instead of 8ft 6in — giving roughly an extra cubic metre of internal volume for the same floor area. By far the most common form is the 40ft high-cube (40HC), and 45ft containers are also high-cube.
High-cubes are used for voluminous but light cargo that fills up (cubes out) before it hits the weight limit — the extra height carries more without extra weight. They are visually identified by a black-and-yellow striped marking along the top. The trade-off is height: HC boxes need attention to road and door clearances, and some routes restrict them.
For light, bulky cargo, the extra foot of a high-cube is free volume — more goods per container without more weight, cutting the per-unit shipping cost. That is why 40HC has become the default 40ft box on many trades. The only catch is the extra height, which matters for road clearances and warehouse doors.
How much bigger is a high-cube?
It is one foot taller (9ft 6in vs 8ft 6in), adding roughly a cubic metre of volume for the same floor space.
When should I choose a high-cube?
For light, voluminous cargo that fills the container before reaching its weight limit — the extra height carries more.