How many boxes fit in a 40ft high cube container?
A 40ft high cube (40HQ) holds about 660 cartons of 60 × 40 × 40 cm, 1,150 of 50 × 40 × 30 cm or 2,240 of 30 × 30 × 30 cm. Its inside space is 1203 × 235 × 269 cm, about 76.0 m³, and typical carton loads use 65–70 m³.
Cartons per 40HQ by size
| Carton size | CBM each | 40HQ |
|---|---|---|
| 30 × 30 × 30 cm 11.8 × 11.8 × 11.8 in | 0.027 m³ | 2,240 80% full |
| 40 × 30 × 30 cm 15.7 × 11.8 × 11.8 in | 0.036 m³ | 1,840 87% full |
| 40 × 40 × 40 cm 15.7 × 15.7 × 15.7 in | 0.064 m³ | 900 76% full |
| 50 × 40 × 30 cm 19.7 × 15.7 × 11.8 in | 0.060 m³ | 1,150 91% full |
| 50 × 50 × 50 cm 19.7 × 19.7 × 19.7 in | 0.125 m³ | 480 79% full |
| 60 × 40 × 40 cm 23.6 × 15.7 × 15.7 in | 0.096 m³ | 660 83% full |
| 60 × 40 × 50 cm 23.6 × 15.7 × 19.7 in | 0.120 m³ | 570 90% full |
| 70 × 50 × 50 cm 27.6 × 19.7 × 19.7 in | 0.175 m³ | 375 86% full |
| 80 × 60 × 60 cm 31.5 × 23.6 × 23.6 in | 0.288 m³ | 220 83% full |
Why the high cube fits more
A 40HQ has the same floor as a 40ft standard container but is 30 cm taller inside. With 40 cm cartons that is 6 layers instead of 5. With 50 cm cartons, the extra height adds a fifth layer. The table above uses full 3D plans, so it also counts cartons turned on their side to fill the top gap.
Loading tips for a 40HQ
- Keep the heaviest cartons at the bottom and toward the middle of the container length.
- Check carton strength: seven or eight layers of cartons put a lot of weight on the bottom row.
- The door opening is about 258 cm high, lower than the inside height, so loaders need a little headroom for the top layer.
Frequently asked questions
How many cartons fit in a 40HQ?
About 660 cartons of 60 × 40 × 40 cm. Smaller cartons fit in larger numbers; see the table.
What is the CBM of a 40HQ container?
About 76.0 m³ inside; typical carton loads use 65–70 m³.
Is a 40HQ worth it over a 40GP?
For light cargo, usually yes: the same 67.6 m³ floor plus about 8.5 m³ of extra height, often for a similar freight rate.