What is a high cube container?
The most common high cube is the 40-foot, with an interior of about 12,032 × 2,352 × 2,698 mm and roughly 76.4 m³ of space, against 2,393 mm of height and 67.7 m³ in a standard 40-foot. The door opening gains height too, to about 2,585 mm. High cubes also come in a 45-foot length on some trades, while 20-foot high cubes exist but are rare.
Bookings and documents write it as HC, HQ or 40HC; all mean the same box. A high cube still counts as two TEU, like a standard 40-foot. It does not solve cargo that is taller than the door or wider than the box: that is out-of-gauge cargo and needs an open top or a flat rack. Refrigerated high cubes exist too, with smaller interiors because of the insulation.
On many trades a 40-foot high cube costs about the same as a standard 40-foot, so it is the usual choice for light, voluminous goods such as furniture, textiles or plastics. Check the extra height against the route: on some roads, bridges and rail lines, a high cube on a standard chassis exceeds height limits and needs a low chassis or a different routing.