The container industry may seem complex and overwhelming to an outsider, however in the past 60 years the industry has remained relatively unchanged. The containers used for overseas shipping have changed very little in design and structure over the years and the size options are still rather limited.
What is the definition of a High Cube (HC) Shipping Container?
The Advantages of a 40 Foot High Cube vs a 40 Foot Standard Container
These Used or “retired” containers are then sold in the market for storage or other, non shipping, purposes. When shopping for containers it is best to get pricing for both, as you may find that you can purchase the High Cube for a few hundred dollars more, or in some instances the same cost, as a standard Dry Van. The price difference for the newer “One-Trip” container is greater than for the used containers, usually $800 to $1,000 difference.
The dimensions of the door opening between the High Cube and standard Dry Van containers is another difference. Although the door widths are comparable, the extra door height of a High Cube is key when storing tall or oversized items that need extra clearance. The height of the door opening for a 40’ standard Dry Van is 7’5”, while the High cube is 8’6”. This is also an advantage if you are converting the container into some sort of dwelling.
The internal height difference can also be an advantage for the High Cube container. The internal height of the 40’ Dry Van is 7’9”, while that of the High Cube is 8’10”. The extra head space is the reason that we highly recommend going with a High Cube if your plan is to convert it to an office or any sort of dwelling.
The Advantages of a 20 Foot High Cube vs a 20 Foot Standard Dry Van Container
The difference between the 20’ standard Dry Van container and 20’ High Cube or High Boy container is in the height. The High Cube offers an extra foot of height, extra cubic capacity, and a taller door opening. Unlike the 40’ High Cube, the 20’ High Cube is not offered in the used condition and can only be purchased in a One-Trip Container condition.
The 20′ Dry Van Container size is 20′ L x 8′ W x 8′ 6″ H. and the 20′ High Cube Containers size is 20′ L x 8′ W x 9′ 6″ H. The High Cube offers an extra foot in height which translates into a larger cubic capacity as well as a taller door opening. The internal height of a 20’ Dry Van container is 7’9”, while the 20’ High Cube is 8’10”.
The extra headspace is ideal when converting the container into an office or any type of dwelling. The door opening of a 20’ Dry Van is 7’5” while that of the 20’ High Cube is 8’6”. The taller door opening makes it convenient when loading items that may require extra height clearance.
It is important to note that the 20’ High Cube container is only offered in the newer One-Trip condition. The reason for this is that the shipping companies do not typically use these 20 High Cubes for shipping overseas so there are very few “retired” containers of this size available for sale as used.
When shopping for a 20’ container, we recommend getting pricing for both the new and used 20’ Dry Vans and High Cube Containers as the difference in costs vary from location to location and the extra space and better condition you get from purchasing a One-Trip 20’HC compared to a used 20’ Dry Van may be worth the extra cost.
Choosing one of these containers shouldn’t be that difficult, at the end of the day, it is to what will work best for your storage or shipping needs. For quotes on rental or buying new or used containers, contact our dedicated staff at On-Site Storage Solutions at (888) 405-8772; we’ll be delighted to offer you the container that best meets your requirements.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
A high cube container is a type of shipping container that has an extra foot of height compared to standard containers. This additional height offers more vertical space and greater capacity for transporting larger or taller cargo items.
A high-cube shipping container is 9 feet 6 inches (2.89 meters) tall. This is one foot taller than standard shipping containers, which have a maximum height of 8 feet 6 inches (2.59 meters).
Standard shipping containers have a height of 8 feet 6 inches (2.59 meters).While, high cube containers offer more vertical space with a height of 9 feet 6 inches (2.90 meters).
The dimensions of a 40-foot-high cube container are approximately 12.025 meters in length, 2.352 meters in width, and 2.585 meters in height.
Standard shipping containers have a standard width of 7.8ft (2.3m) and height of 7.9ft (2.3m) available in two lengths, which are 20ft (5.9m) and 40ft (12.03m). There are also other sizes available, 10 ft, 40 ft high cube, 45 ft, and 53 ft in length.
