The 45ft shipping container is a giant in the cargo world, providing a massive volume capacity for businesses with large-scale storage or transport needs. While the 40-foot container is the industry standard, that extra five feet of length in the 45-foot model offers significant cost and space advantages.
However, deciding on the correct type requires understanding a key distinction: the difference between a 45FT high-cube vs. standard unit. The subtle difference in height has major implications for logistics, cost, and final application.
Key Technical Comparison
When discussing shipping containers, “standard” refers to the height, and the 45-foot container is predominantly sold in the “high cube” format globally. However, there are technical differences in height that matter for project planning.
| Feature | Standard Height Container | High-Cube Container |
| External Height | $8′ 6”$ ($2.59 \text{ m}$) | $9′ 6”$ ($2.89 \text{ m}$) |
| Interior Height | Approx. $7′ 10”$ ($2.39 \text{ m}$) | Approx. $8′ 10”$ ($2.65 \text{ m}$) |
| Extra Height | N/A | $\mathbf{1 \text{ foot}}$ |
| Total Volume | Lower | Significantly greater |
| Availability | Less common (usually a 40ft option) | Most common for 45ft |
The high-cube option gives you approximately $344$ more cubic feet of volume than a 40-foot standard container, making it ideal for low-density, high-volume cargo.
Why Choose the 45FT High-Cube?
The high cube container is the default and most beneficial choice for the $45\text{ft}$ length due to its extra volume.
- Maximum Volume Efficiency: If your cargo is light but bulky (e.g., furniture, stacked boxes, or large quantities of packaged goods), the high-cube allows you to maximize the amount of product you ship in a single trip. This can drastically lower the cost-per-unit shipped.
- Modification Comfort: If you plan to convert the container into a habitable space—such as an office, workshop, or 45ft shipping container home—the extra foot of vertical space is crucial. It provides better head clearance, allows for proper insulation and false flooring, and makes the space feel far less cramped.
- Taller Cargo: Any equipment or products that exceed the 7′ 10” internal height of a standard unit will require the high-cube. This includes large machinery, specific industrial components, or pre-fabricated modular elements.
The Challenge of Extra Long Container Transport
While the extra volume is a significant advantage, choosing an extra long container transport requires awareness of unique logistical challenges that do not affect the smaller 20ft or 40ft units:
- Chassis Requirements: The 45ft length often requires a specialized or extendable chassis for road transport, which can increase trucking costs and limit the pool of available carriers.
- Road and Infrastructure Limits: Due to the combination of the extra length and the high-cube height, these units are often subject to stricter regulations regarding bridge clearance and turning radii on smaller roads.
- Port Handling: Though they are ISO-standardized, 45ft containers are less common than $40\text{ft}$ units, and some older or smaller port terminals may not have the optimal equipment or space to handle them as efficiently, potentially leading to additional fees or delays.
The Verdict
For nearly all applications—especially storage, bulk transport of lightweight goods, and structural modifications—the 45FT High-Cube is the preferred and often only viable option for that length.
Before committing to this size, however, always verify the final transport route and the capacity of your destination (or delivery site) to handle the extra long container transport. The slightly higher initial cost is almost always offset by the massive increase in cubic volume provided by the 9′ 6” high-cube height.
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