Large Containers: 40ft vs. 45ft High Cube Compared

When a 20ft isn't enough, the choice is usually between a 40ft high cube and a 45ft high cube. Both are tall, long and built for big jobs. The 45ft adds five feet of length, but it's less common and needs even more room to deliver.

Here's how the two compare, so you can choose between the large shipping containers for sale with confidence.

Side by side

Figures are typical and vary by manufacturer.

Space

The 45ft gives you about 13% more space than a 40ft high cube, all of it in length. Width and height are the same. That extra five feet is useful for:

• Long items such as pipe, lumber, poles and trailers
• A few more pallets on the floor
• Extra room in a large conversion

If you need much more space than a 40ft, two containers may suit you better than one 45ft.

Delivery and site space

Both need far more delivery room than a 20ft, and the 45ft needs the most:

• Straight approach: plan on at least the 100–120 feet a 40ft needs, and more for a 45ft
• Turning room: longer trucks need wider turns into your site
• Level ground: a long container twists if the ground isn't level, making the doors bind
• Local rules: some places limit container length, especially in residential zones

Measure carefully and send photos with your quote request.

Weight

A 45ft high cube weighs noticeably more empty than a 40ft high cube. That matters if you plan to move it later or put it on a raised platform. For storage on the ground, both are well within what a firm, level base can carry.

Availability and price

40ft high cubes are among the most common containers in the world, so there's usually plenty of choice, new and used. 45ft containers are built in smaller numbers, so:

• There may be fewer units near you
• Lead times can be longer
• Prices vary more

Ask about availability early if you have your heart set on a 45ft.

Which jobs suit each

40ft high cube

• Warehouse and retail overflow
• Moving the contents of a large home
• Container homes, cabins and multi-room offices
• Farm equipment and large inventories
• See 40ft high cube containers

45ft high cube

• Long materials: pipe, lumber, poles
• Distributors that need the most space in one unit
• Large conversions that need extra floor area
• See 45ft high cube containers

Conversions: what the extra five feet gives you

In a home, office or workshop build, five extra feet of length can make a real difference:

• A bathroom or storage closet without shrinking the main room
• A separate entry area or mudroom
• One more desk in an office, or a small meeting table
• Extra workbench length in a workshop

The width stays the same, so layouts are still long and narrow. For many conversions, a 40ft high cube is enough, and its wider availability and easier delivery make it the usual choice. Choose the 45ft when the layout really needs the length. See custom and office conex for how builds are quoted.

One 45ft or two 20ft?

Two 20ft containers give you a little less floor space than one 45ft, but:

• They're easier to deliver on tight sites
• You get two sets of doors
• You can separate different kinds of storage
• You can move them one at a time later

One 45ft gives you a single, long open space and one delivery.

Quick decision guide

• Need long items to fit? 45ft.
• Tight site or limited approach? 40ft, or two 20ft units.
• Building a home or office? 40ft high cube is the usual choice; 45ft for extra floor area.
• Want the most choice and fastest delivery? 40ft high cube.

FAQ

How much bigger is a 45ft container than a 40ft?

Five feet longer, with about 13% more space. Width and height are the same as a 40ft high cube.

Are 45ft containers always high cube?

Almost always. The 45ft size is built as a high cube, 9′ 6″ tall.

Do 45ft containers cost much more than 40ft?

They often cost more, and prices vary more, because they're less common.

Can a 45ft container be delivered to a residential property?

Sometimes, but it needs a long, straight approach and level ground, and some areas restrict container length. Check before ordering.

Which is easier to resell, a 40ft or a 45ft?

Usually a 40ft high cube, because more buyers want them and more sites can take them. A 45ft can take longer to sell, especially in areas where long containers are hard to deliver.