40ft reefer container (high cube) dimensions
Inside size, door opening, capacity and weight limits of a 40ft reefer container (high cube), in metric and imperial units. The figures are typical values from a major carrier's fleet; each container differs slightly.
Quick facts
Pallets on the floor: one layer, laid out as in the pallet calculator. Where the fit is tight, one or two fewer is common in practice. Source: inside sizes, doors and weights from container specifications published by Hapag-Lloyd; outside sizes are the ISO 668 standard dimensions. Dimensions and weights vary by carrier, container age and manufacturer, so confirm with your shipping line before planning a tight load.
Other container sizes
Guides on this topic
Which container do I need?
Heavy, dense cargo such as tiles, metal parts or liquids usually reaches the weight limit before the space is full, so a 20ft container is often enough. Light, bulky cargo such as furniture, garments or plastics fills the space first, so a 40ft or 40ft high cube gives more room for a similar price.
How much really fits
Cartons never fill every centimetre. In practice about 25 to 28 m³ of cartons fit in a 20ft container, 55 to 58 m³ in a 40ft and 65 to 68 m³ in a 40ft high cube. Use the CBM calculator with your carton sizes to check before booking.
Weight limits on the road
The maximum gross weight is the container's own limit. Road rules in the loading and delivery countries are often lower, and the shipper must declare the verified gross mass (VGM) of every container under the SOLAS convention before it is loaded on a ship.
Common questions
What are the inside dimensions of a 40ft reefer container (high cube)?
About 11.60 m long, 2.29 m wide and 2.42 m high inside (38'1" × 7'6" × 7'11"), with a capacity of about 67.7 m³. The door opening is about 2.29 m wide and 2.56 m high.
What are the outside dimensions of a 40ft reefer container (high cube)?
12.192 m long, 2.438 m wide and 2.896 m high (40'0" × 8'0" × 9'6"), the ISO 668 standard outside size. The inside is smaller because of the walls, floor and roof: about 11.60 × 2.29 × 2.42 m.
How much weight can a 40ft reefer container (high cube) carry?
Typically up to 34,000 kg gross, which leaves about 29,580 kg for cargo after the container's own tare weight of about 4,420 kg. Road weight limits in the loading and delivery countries are often lower, and the exact figures are on the plate on the container door.
How many cartons fit in a 40ft reefer container (high cube)?
It depends on the carton size, the weight and whether the cartons can be turned or stacked. Enter your carton size and weight in the container load calculator to see how many fit by space and by weight.
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