The 40ft shipping container is the workhorse of container architecture. At 320 sq ft of interior floor space it's large enough to be a comfortable living space, generous enough for serious storage, and — at less than twice the price of a 20ft — a significantly better deal per square foot. If you have the site space and delivery access, the 40ft is almost always the right choice over a 20ft.
In this guide
Dimensions: standard and high cube
40ft Standard
ISO 1A — most common typeExterior length
40' 0"
12.19 m
Exterior width
8' 0"
2.44 m
Exterior height
8' 6"
2.59 m
Interior length
39' 5"
12.03 m
Interior width
7' 8"
2.35 m
Interior height
7' 10"
2.39 m
Door opening width
7' 8"
2.34 m
Door opening height
7' 5"
2.28 m
Interior volume
2,390 cu ft
67.7 m³
Tare weight
8,267 lbs
3,750 kg
Max payload
59,040 lbs
26,780 kg
Floor area
~320 sq ft
29.7 m²
40ft High Cube
ISO 1AH — recommended for all living and working spacesExterior length
40' 0"
12.19 m
Exterior width
8' 0"
2.44 m
Exterior height
9' 6"
2.90 m
Interior length
39' 5"
12.03 m
Interior width
7' 8"
2.35 m
Interior height
8' 10"
2.70 m
Door opening height
8' 5"
2.58 m
Interior volume
~2,694 cu ft
76.3 m³
Tare weight
~8,818 lbs
4,000 kg
Standard vs high cube — which to choose
Interior height: 7'10" — below the 8ft that most people expect from a room. Fine for storage but can feel low in a living space.
Slightly easier to find used. Marginally cheaper. Roof sits below most underpasses (legal limit 13'6", container + flatbed is ~13'2").
Choose standard for: pure storage, budget builds, applications where you won't be standing up inside regularly.
Interior height: 8'10" — genuinely comfortable ceiling height, equivalent to a standard room. Makes a significant psychological difference in livability.
Extra height also makes insulation and MEP installation easier — you have more room to work above head height. Also improves passive cooling since hot air rises away from the occupied zone.
Choose high cube for: container homes, offices, retail, any space you'll spend time in regularly.
The price difference between standard and high cube is typically $300–$800 on a new container. For any occupied space, that's almost always worth it.
Current prices
| Type | Condition | Price range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40ft Standard | One-trip | $5,000–$8,000 | Best condition, recent factory use only |
| 40ft Standard | CWO (used) | $2,500–$4,500 | Most common used grade; structurally sound |
| 40ft Standard | WWT (used) | $1,800–$3,200 | Weatherproof but not shipping-certified |
| 40ft High Cube | One-trip | $5,500–$9,000 | Recommended for all living/working spaces |
| 40ft High Cube | CWO (used) | $3,000–$5,200 | Good used condition; check roof carefully |
Add delivery: $500–$2,000 depending on distance from your nearest container depot. Locations far from port cities (Houston, Los Angeles, Savannah, Newark, Seattle) typically pay more.
Prices fluctuate with global shipping supply
Container prices are tied to global shipping activity. When shipping demand is high (as it was in 2021–2022), used container prices can spike 40–80% above normal levels. When demand softens, prices drop. The ranges above reflect 2024–2025 market conditions.
Best uses for a 40ft container
- Container home — primary structure: a single 40ft gives you a workable one-bedroom home. Two 40ft containers side by side creates a comfortable two-bedroom. The high cube is strongly recommended for any living application.
- Large storage: at 2,390 cu ft the standard 40ft holds about the contents of a 3–4 bedroom house. It's the go-to choice for contractors, farms, and commercial operations.
- Container office: a 40ft high cube with windows cut in the long sides is a fully functional office for 2–4 people. Add HVAC, electrical, and insulation and it's more comfortable than many commercial office suites.
- Retail or restaurant: 40ft containers are popular for pop-up retail and food service. At 8ft wide, you can serve customers from one long side and have kitchen and prep on the other.
- Workshop or garage: fits a full workshop setup with room to work around machinery. The standard height fits most full-size trucks with the door open.
Delivery requirements for a 40ft container
This is where the 40ft differs most from a 20ft, and where most delivery problems happen. The tilt-bed truck needs 60–70ft of clear, straight access to slide the container off the rear. This means:
- No sharp turns within 70ft of the placement location
- No overhanging tree branches or power lines along the access route
- A firm surface that can support the truck's weight (roughly 60,000–80,000 lbs fully loaded)
- Adequate width for the truck — typically 12ft minimum clear width
If your site doesn't have this clearance, you'll need a crane for placement, which adds $800–$2,500. Many container suppliers have crane partners they work with regularly — ask when you request a delivery quote.
The placement surface needs to handle 8,267 lbs (empty) sitting on four corner pads, each roughly 6" × 6". Soft ground will shift seasonally, causing door alignment problems. Concrete deck blocks, gravel pads, or poured piers are the standard solutions.
Delivery inspection — 40ft-specific notes
The 40ft has the same inspection points as a 20ft (roof, floor, doors, walls, undercarriage, smell) with one addition: the middle of the roof and floor needs extra attention. At 40ft, the span between corner posts is long enough that center sections can sag or soften without the ends showing any sign of it. Walk the center of the roof if you safely can, and bounce in the middle of the floor before signing the delivery receipt.
Compare 40ft container prices in your area
Shipped.com shows live pricing on 40ft standard and high-cube containers from depots near you, including delivery estimates to your zip code.