Review active configurations built under stringent ISO 1496/1 and BV verification, engineered for extreme intermodal stress, cold-chain precision, and bulk payloads.
Dimensional precision dictates freight efficiency. An extra foot (305 mm) in vertical headroom converts to roughly 12% to 15% supplemental volumetric capacity, essential for voluminous non-dense cargo, modular conversions, and thermal lining installation.
| Container Model & Type | External Dimensions (L × W × H) | Internal Dimensions (L × W × H) | Door Opening (W × H) | Cubic Capacity | Tare Weight / Max Payload |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20ft Standard Dry (GP) | 6,058 × 2,438 × 2,591 mm (20'0" × 8'0" × 8'6") |
5,898 × 2,352 × 2,393 mm (19'4" × 7'9" × 7'10") |
2,340 × 2,280 mm (7'8" × 7'6") |
33.2 m³ (1,172 cu ft) | 2,200 kg / 28,280 kg (MGW: 30,480 kg) |
| 20ft High Cube (HC) | 6,058 × 2,438 × 2,896 mm (20'0" × 8'0" × 9'6") |
5,898 × 2,352 × 2,698 mm (19'4" × 7'9" × 8'10") |
2,340 × 2,585 mm (7'8" × 8'6") |
37.4 m³ (1,322 cu ft) | 2,350 kg / 28,130 kg (MGW: 30,480 kg) |
| 40ft Standard Dry (GP) | 12,192 × 2,438 × 2,591 mm (40'0" × 8'0" × 8'6") |
12,032 × 2,352 × 2,393 mm (39'6" × 7'9" × 7'10") |
2,340 × 2,280 mm (7'8" × 7'6") |
67.7 m³ (2,390 cu ft) | 3,750 kg / 26,730 kg (MGW: 30,480 kg) |
| 40ft High Cube (HC) | 12,192 × 2,438 × 2,896 mm (40'0" × 8'0" × 9'6") |
12,032 × 2,352 × 2,698 mm (39'6" × 7'9" × 8'10") |
2,340 × 2,585 mm (7'8" × 8'6") |
76.4 m³ (2,698 cu ft) | 3,900 kg / 26,580 kg (MGW: 30,480 kg) |
| 40ft High Cube Reefer | 12,192 × 2,438 × 2,896 mm (40'0" × 8'0" × 9'6") |
11,583 × 2,286 × 2,555 mm (38'0" × 7'6" × 8'4") |
2,290 × 2,535 mm (7'6" × 8'3") |
67.6 m³ (2,387 cu ft) | 4,600 kg / 29,400 kg (MGW: 34,000 kg) |
| 45ft High Cube Pallet-Wide | 13,716 × 2,490 × 2,896 mm (45'0" × 8'2" × 9'6") |
13,556 × 2,438 × 2,698 mm (44'5" × 8'0" × 8'10") |
2,416 × 2,585 mm (7'11" × 8'6") |
89.2 m³ (3,150 cu ft) | 4,850 kg / 29,150 kg (MGW: 34,000 kg) |
Across global containerized supply chains, high cube boxes have evolved from an alternative profile into the dominant operational asset for carriers, leasing consortiums, and specialized industrial designers.
Global ocean freight manifests indicate over 65% of manufactured dry cargo volume now travels inside 40ft High Cube containers. The structural move reflects optimized stowage metrics on modern ultra-large container vessels (ULCVs) and automated terminal handling systems calibrated for taller profiles.
Grid-scale Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) and hydrogen generation stations mandate 9'6" heights. The 2,896 mm ceiling enables top-mounted liquid-cooling manifolds, dynamic HVAC ventilation, explosion-relief hatches, and dense battery-rack integration that 8'6" standard shells cannot fit.
The global modular construction sector relies on high-cube dimensional baselines. Factoring in finished ceiling heights, sub-floor utility raceways, and internal acoustic batting, only a 9'6" high-cube shell delivers the required finished ceiling height (exceeding 2.4 meters) mandated by North American and European residential codes.
Operating from manufacturing bases in Tianjin and Suzhou, CIMIC integrates robotic fabrication, automated submerged arc welding, and coastal port logistics to cut per-unit export costs.
Direct integration with domestic metallurgy centers ensures uninterrupted supplies of Corten-A steel coil. Automated uncoiling, laser profiling, and multi-station corrugated panel hydraulic pressing lines achieve tolerances within ±1.0 mm across 40ft lengths.
Factory-applied multi-stage grit blasting to SA 2.5 clean steel standards precedes two-component zinc-rich epoxy priming and polyurethane marine topcoats. This automated coating matrix withstands salt spray, cyclic humidity, and direct marine exposure beyond 15 years.
Positioned approximately 100 kilometers from Tianjin Xingang port, completed units avoid prolonged domestic rail legs. Fast terminal gating enables efficient "One-Way Free Use" export shipping or dry ocean repositioning, keeping final landed equipment costs low.
Direct from factory wholesale pricing depends on raw Corten sheet indexes, insulation specs, refrigeration units (Daikin, Carrier, Thermo King), and certification level. Review reference pricing metrics below.
| Equipment Category | Structural Specification | Certification Baseline | Indicative MOQ | Estimated Factory Price (FOB Tianjin/Qingdao) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20ft HC Dry Container | SPA-H Steel, 28mm Apitong Marine Plywood, Lock Box | ISO 668, CSC, BV, ABS | 4 Units | $2,200 – $2,850 USD |
| 40ft HC Dry Container | SPA-H Steel, 4 Locking Bars, High Vent Inlets | ISO, CSC, BV Approved | 2 Units | $3,400 – $4,150 USD |
| 40ft HC Reefer (New) | SS Interior, PU Foam (45kg/m³), Carrier/Daikin/TK | ISO 1496-2, CSC, ATP | 1 Unit | $14,500 – $18,900 USD |
| 40ft HC Used Reefer | Grade-A Wind & Watertight, PTI Passed, Carrier ML3 | Active CSC Safety Plate | 1 Unit | $5,200 – $7,800 USD |
| 40ft HC Insulated Container | Passive Thickened PU Rigid Foam, No Machining Unit | ISO, BV Certified | 2 Units | $6,200 – $8,100 USD |
| 20ft/40ft Side Open / Roll-Up | Custom Full-Length Bi-Fold Doors or Rolling Shutters | CSC Special Approval | 2 Units | $4,500 – $8,900 USD |
| Offshore DNV-GL Containers | Enhanced Pad-eyes, Heavy Profile Framing, Slings | DNV 2.7-1 / EN 12079 | 1 Unit | Project Quotation (Tailored) |
*Disclaimer: Realized FOB transaction costs fluctuate based on international raw steel commodities, currency indexes, and custom engineering blueprints. Official quotations are valid for 30 calendar days.
Direct answers to the most common engineering, operational, and import compliance questions asked by procurement teams and project engineers.
The decisive difference is an added 305 mm (1 foot) in external and internal height. A 40ft Standard (GP) stands at 2,591 mm (8'6"), providing 67.7 m³ of interior space, whereas a 40ft High Cube measures 2,896 mm (9'6") tall, providing 76.4 m³. This extra vertical clearance adds roughly 8.7 cubic meters of space without changing the container's footprint on chassis trailers or container vessels.
In most jurisdictions, yes. However, when mounted on standard flatbed trailers, a 9'6" high-cube can bring total road height close to maximum legal over-the-road clearances (typically 4.0m to 4.2m in Europe and 13'6" in the US). To remain within legal limits, road transport networks typically use specialized "gooseneck" chassis, which drop the container's base into a lower carriage frame.
Reefer and insulated boxes incorporate 75mm to 100mm of high-density polyurethane (PU) foam along the sidewalls, ceiling, and doors, plus a raised T-bar aluminum circulation sub-floor. Consequently, interior usable dimensions shrink from 2,352 mm width to roughly 2,286 mm, and vertical clearance decreases from 2,698 mm to approximately 2,555 mm. Selecting high cube over standard GP is essential for reefer loads to offset this internal loss and maintain pallet capacities.
All factory-built units come with valid CSC (International Convention for Safe Containers) safety approval plates, verified and certified by classification societies such as Bureau Veritas (BV), ABS, or Lloyd's Register. For custom offshore modules, production aligns with DNV 2.7-1 / EN 12079 structural criteria, including verified non-destructive testing (NDT) weld reports and pull-test certificates.
Catalog-standard configurations (such as standard 20HC and 40HC dry boxes or standard reefers) generally ship within 10 to 20 days. Custom ODM projects requiring specialized cutouts, side-door access, heavy-duty floor reinforcements, or electrical integrations typically run on a 4 to 6 week engineering and tooling cycle from finalized structural CAD approval.
Yes. We regularly coordinate with global freight forwarders and shipping lines to load cargo inside your purchased units as Shipper-Owned Containers (SOC). This arrangement saves you repositioning freight charges from China, as the cargo covers the shipping cost, delivering the container directly to your destination port or depot.
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