A one trip 40ft high cube container combines the two things most buyers want: the extra foot of height of a high cube and near-new condition at a lower price than factory new. It has made a single loaded voyage after leaving the factory, then been taken out of service and sold. Prime Cargo Box supplies this one trip 40ft high cube container wind and watertight, CSC plated and ready to load, store or convert.
High cubes are the most common 40ft container in world trade, so one trip units are usually easy to source. This page explains what to expect, the full specification and the points to check before delivery.
What Makes It a One Trip High Cube?
Most new containers are built in large factories and filled with export cargo for their first journey, which is cheaper than moving them empty. Once that cargo is delivered, many are sold into the local market. A container sold at that stage is called one trip, because it has carried just one load.
The high cube part refers to height. A standard 40ft container is 8 ft 6 in tall; a high cube is 9 ft 6 in tall, giving roughly 2.70 m of clear internal height instead of 2.39 m. Put the two together and you have a one trip 40ft high cube container: a modern, near-new box with about 76 m³ of space.
One Trip 40ft High Cube Container Specifications
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Container type | 40ft high cube dry container (40′ HC) |
| Condition | One trip, near new |
| External length | 40 ft (12.19 m) |
| External width | 8 ft (2.44 m) |
| External height | 9 ft 6 in (2.90 m) |
| Internal length | Approx. 39 ft 5 in (12.03 m) |
| Internal width | Approx. 7 ft 8 in (2.35 m) |
| Internal height | Approx. 8 ft 10 in (2.70 m) |
| Door opening | Approx. 7 ft 8 in wide x 8 ft 6 in high (2.34 x 2.59 m) |
| Cubic capacity | Approx. 2,694 cu ft (76.3 m³) |
| Tare weight | Approx. 8,600 lbs (3,900 kg) |
| Maximum gross weight | 67,200 lbs (30,480 kg) or 71,650 lbs (32,500 kg), depending on build |
| Payload | Approx. 26,580 to 28,600 kg, depending on the gross rating |
| Construction | Corten steel, corrugated walls and roof |
| Floor | Marine-grade plywood |
| Doors | Double cargo doors at one end, four locking bars |
| Certification | CSC safety approval plate |
Exact weights depend on the factory. Shipping lines publish similar figures for their own fleets, such as this Hapag-Lloyd 40ft high cube specification. We confirm the plate figures of your unit on the quote.
Condition You Can Expect
- Straight walls, roof and frame with no repairs
- Original factory paint, possibly with light scuffs from loading
- Clean floor with at most a few forklift marks
- Doors that open easily and gaskets that seal fully
- The original owner’s logo and container number may still be on the sides
Every container has a unique owner code and number registered with the Bureau International des Containers. Leaving those markings in place does no harm, but we can paint over them if you prefer a plain finish.
Why Choose a One Trip 40ft High Cube Container?
Value and space. Compared with a new unit, you save money for a container that looks and performs almost the same. Compared with a standard 40ft, you get about 8.6 m³ of extra volume on the same footprint and the same delivery. Compared with a used high cube, you avoid dents, rust repairs and tired seals.
The extra height pays off in day-to-day use. Pallets can often be stacked two high, tall machinery fits through the 2.59 m door opening, and if you insulate and line the walls you still keep a normal ceiling height.
Popular Uses
Here is how customers use a one trip 40ft high cube container:
- Exporting light, bulky cargo where volume matters more than weight
- Storing pallet racking, machinery and tall equipment
- Workshops, site offices and storage rooms with insulation
- Farm storage for hay, feed and equipment
- Warehouse overflow with goods stacked high
For conversions, our container modification service can add doors, windows, insulation and power to a one trip 40ft high cube container before delivery.
Loading a One Trip 40ft High Cube Container
The extra height changes how you load. A standard pallet with a 1.2 m load stacks two high in a one trip 40ft high cube container with room to spare, while in a standard 40ft the second pallet often won’t clear the door frame. That can turn 24 pallet positions into nearly 48 for light goods.
Weight is the limit to watch. With a payload of roughly 26.5 to 28.6 tonnes, dense goods such as tiles, steel or bagged cement will hit the weight limit long before the container is full. For those loads, a standard-height box is usually the better buy. For furniture, packaged consumer goods, textiles or machinery with tall parts, the high cube is hard to beat.
Spread heavy items evenly along the floor, keep the heaviest weight over the middle rather than at one end, and use the lashing points on the bottom rails to secure anything that could shift during transport.
Compare the 40ft High Cube Grades
| Grade | Condition | Price |
|---|---|---|
| New | Unmarked, never used | Highest |
| One trip | One voyage, near new | Middle |
| Used | Years in service, visible wear | Lowest |
See the new 40ft high cube container if you need perfect paint, or the used 40ft high cube container for budget storage. If height isn’t important, the 40ft one trip shipping container in standard height costs a little less.
Browse all options in our 40ft high cube containers category.
Delivery and Height Clearance
On a truck, a high cube stands about 30 cm taller than a standard container, so look for low bridges, gateways, carports, tree branches and power lines along the route. The truck also needs a long, straight approach and firm ground to unload a 12.2 m unit. Like every 40ft box, it has no forklift pockets and is lifted from the corner castings.
On site, prepare a level base about 12.5 m by 2.5 m using concrete, compacted gravel or solid blocks under the corners. Level matters: a twisted frame makes doors stiff and stops them sealing. Our shipping and delivery policy explains how we quote and schedule.
Using It for Export
Because it is less than a couple of years old and carries a valid CSC plate, a one trip 40ft high cube container is ready to be loaded and shipped again. Many buyers send their own goods abroad in it, then keep it at the other end as storage. Your freight forwarder will need the container number and tare weight, both shown on the doors, and the booking should state that it is a shipper-owned container.
What to Ask Before Buying
One-trip is a trade description, and not every seller uses it strictly. Before buying a one trip 40ft high cube container from any supplier, ask for the manufacture date on the CSC plate, which should be recent, photos of the actual container inside and out, and confirmation that there are no repairs. We include all three with every quote, so you know exactly what you are getting.
How to Order a One Trip 40ft High Cube Container
- Send your details. Quantity, delivery address or port and intended use.
- Get your quote. Unit price, delivery cost and the container’s plate ratings.
- Confirm access. We check route height and ground conditions.
- Pay and receive. See our billing and payment policy.
Looking After It
A near-new container needs very little maintenance. Keep the roof clear of standing water and leaves, grease the door hinges and locking bars once or twice a year, and keep soil away from the bottom rails. To limit condensation, add vents and keep goods on pallets. A few minutes a year keeps a one trip 40ft high cube container in good shape for a long time.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is a one trip 40ft high cube container?
9 ft 6 in (2.90 m) outside and about 8 ft 10 in (2.70 m) inside, one foot taller than a standard 40ft container on the same footprint.
Is a one trip 40ft high cube container as good as new?
Structurally yes. It may show light marks from its single voyage and the original owner’s markings.
Can I ship goods in it?
Yes. It carries a CSC plate and is accepted by shipping lines. Because it is so young, the plate is normally well within its examination period, so there is no need for a fresh survey before the container is loaded and shipped again.
How much does it hold?
About 76.3 m³, or around 24 to 25 pallets on the floor, with room to stack many loads two high.
Do you deliver worldwide?
Yes. Contact Prime Cargo Box for a delivered price on a one trip 40ft high cube container.
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