40ft High Cube Container Calculator
Work out how many 1200 x 1000 mm pallets or boxes fit in a 40ft High Cube container, using its extra 305 mm of height for taller stacks, with utilisation and a load diagram.
How the 40ft High Cube fit is calculated
A 40ft High Cube (HC) container has a usable interior of 12032 x 2352 x 2698 mm. Length and width match the standard 40ft, but the height is 305 mm greater (2698 vs 2393 mm), the High Cube's entire advantage is vertical. The floor calculation is therefore identical to the standard 40ft:
`` along length = floor(12032 / item length) across width = floor(2352 / item width) floor count = along length x across width ``
The difference shows up in the layer count, floor(2698 / stack height), and in the internal volume.
Worked example (page defaults)
The defaults are a 1200 x 1000 mm industrial pallet, loaded 1300 mm tall, taller goods that suit a High Cube.
- Along length:
floor(12032 / 1200) = 10 - Across width:
floor(2352 / 1000) = 2 - Floor count: 10 x 2 = 20 pallets
- Floor utilisation:
20 x 1.20 x 1.00 / 28.30 = 84.8% - Height layers:
floor(2698 / 1300) = 2, so up to 40 pallets stacked
With these 1300 mm units the HC just fits two layers (2 x 1300 = 2600 mm of the 2698 mm), leaving 98 mm clearance. In a standard 40ft the same 1300 mm goods would only allow floor(2393 / 1300) = 1 layer, so the High Cube doubles the count here. That is the case the HC is built for: tall, stackable cargo that a standard 40ft cannot double.
40ft High Cube interior reference
| Measure | Standard 40ft | 40ft High Cube |
|---|---|---|
| Usable length | 12032 mm | 12032 mm |
| Usable width | 2352 mm | 2352 mm |
| Usable height | 2393 mm | 2698 mm |
| Floor area | 28.30 m2 | 28.30 m2 |
| Internal volume | ~67.7 CBM | ~76.4 CBM |
The extra 305 mm of height adds about 8.6 CBM of cube without changing the floor plan, so the HC pays off only when goods are tall enough to use it. For shorter, denser pallets the standard 40ft container load calculator gives the same floor result with less unused height. To size cargo volume before loading, use the CBM calculator; for a smaller box compare the 20ft container load calculator. This tool models footprint and stacking fit only, in a single orientation.