Standard and high cube containers differ mainly in height, not in length or footprint.
Standard containers are cheaper, widely available and ideal where height is restricted.
High cube containers offer extra internal height, making them better for living spaces, workshops and bulky items.
For non-shipping uses, the extra height of a high cube often improves comfort, storage and flexibility.
Pricing is usually similar, so the right choice depends more on use case, site restrictions and availability than cost.
A standard shipping container, but taller: the premise behind ‘high cube’ units might be simple, but it makes this type of container particularly well suited to a range of applications.
In this guide we’ll take a deep dive into high cube containers: what they are, how they differ from standard, and why you might choose to invest in one.
First things first: to understand how high cube containers differ from standard, we first need to get to know the standard.
20ft and 40ft ‘general purpose’ shipping containers account for the overwhelming majority of all containers.
Standard container specifications
External dimensions: 6.06m/12.19 (L) x 2.44m (W) x 2.59m (H)
Internal dimensions: 5.90m/12.03 (L) x 2.35m (W) x 2.39m (H)
Door opening dimensions: 2.34m (W) x 2.28m (H)
Internal floor area: 13.88m²/28.37m²
Internal volume: 33.1m³/67.7m³
Advantages of standard containers
Cheaper: Lower purchase price and potentially lower transport/delivery costs.
Readily available: A wide range of new and used options are typically available.
More placement options: Able to be positioned beneath structures and in height-restricted areas.
What is a high cube container?
An extra 305mm of height: that’s the only difference between a high cube container and a standard container.
High cube container specifications
While the length, width and footprint of the container stays the same, high cube containers differ slightly from standard in terms of:
External height: 2.90m
Internal height: 2.69m
Door opening height: 2.59m
Internal volume: 37.4m³/76.4m³
Advantages of high cube containers
High cube containers are popular in the shipping industry for a few different reasons:
Ability to transport larger items: High cube containers can hold taller goods, while a greater cubic capacity grants more efficient cargo stacking.
Lower cost per unit shipped: Shipping costs are driven more by container slots than volume. Fitting more goods into the same slot with a high cube container reduces the cost per cubic metre of cargo.
Ideal for high-volume, low-density cargo: As global trade has shifted from dense raw materials to lower density consumer goods like furniture and electronics, volume has become a bigger constraint than weight, making high cube containers the better option.
For end users looking to utilise a container for non-shipping purposes, the extra height offers a number of other benefits:
Extra storage space: More vertical room for stacking and shelving.
Extra headroom: A luxurious high ceiling look for office and living space conversions.
Extra depth: For container pool or underground storage and bunker conversions.
Use case comparison
In which situations should you choose a standard container, and where might a high cube be better?
Storage use cases
Standard container: Perfect for dense and densely packed items like pallets, tools, equipment, vehicles and raw materials.
High cube container: Ideal for tall items, racking systems and stackable, low density goods.
Living space use cases
Standard container: Cost-effective, readily available, and with the internal height of a standard home (~2.4m)
High cube container: A luxuriously high ceiling that can make a tiny home feel far more spacious.
Workspace use cases
Standard container: Great for site offices, backyard workshops and home studios.
High cube container: Better for workspaces with bulky equipment or greater storage needs.
Cost and availability considerations
How do standard and high cube containers compare in terms of price? Short answer: there usually isn’t a significant difference:
20ft standard container (new): $4000-$6000
20ft high cube container (new): $4500-$6500
Transport and delivery costs generally don’t differ between the two types of container either, although you’ll need to double check this with your chosen delivery company.
The main difference between the two is in availability. While standard containers are a dime a dozen in most markets, high cube containers can be slightly rarer, particularly if you’re holding out for a particular size, condition or price.
Which should you choose?
Before making the final call on container height, factor in the following considerations:
Your budget
Your intended use
The availability of your preferred container
Local planning rules
Height restrictions and overhead obstacles
Impact on neighbours and the local landscape
No matter which container you decide to invest in, at shipping-containers.com.au our nationwide network of dealers means that you could secure yours in a matter of days.
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Andreas Atrott is the founder of shipping-containers.com.au, operated by Containerbase Pty Ltd (Hemmant, Queensland, Australia). He combines long-standing industry expertise with a hands-on approach to container sales, modifications, and custom solutions. He also conducts applied field research on the thermal and humidity behaviour of shipping containers in subtropical climates, publishing open datasets and reports under the Container Performance Research Series. His research dataset is available at https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21466036 (ORCID: 0009-0007-9305-8058). His goal is to make buying and using shipping containers straightforward, reliable, and tailored to customer needs.
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