An extra 30cm of internal height turns a container into a far more usable space. High cubes (2.9m external height) are the pick for workshops, conversions, racking and anything you'll walk around inside.
| Option | From |
|---|---|
| Used (cargo-worthy) | $3,400 |
| New (single-trip) | $5,500 |
| Hire | Call for rate |
Price guide only — Brisbane-depot floor pricing; regional prices vary with local stock and freight. Call 1300 235 972 for today's exact price, delivered.
Grades, plainly: As-is units are sold as seen and are not sold watertight — watertight applies to cargo-worthy and new grades only. Your quote always names the grade, and photos of the actual unit are available on request before delivery.
| External | Internal | |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 12.19m | 12.03m |
| Width | 2.44m | 2.35m |
| Height | 2.90m | 2.69m |
| Door opening | 2.34m wide × 2.58m high | |
| Capacity | 76.4m³ | |
| Tare weight | 3,900kg | |
Full comparison across all sizes on our dimensions page.
A high cube is the same length and width as a standard container, but 2.90m tall outside instead of 2.59m. Inside that is about 2.69m of clear height, and the door opening rises to 2.58m. The difference sounds small until you use it: a tall person can work without ducking once the walls and roof are lined, pallets can be stacked two high where a standard box takes one and a bit, and tall machinery that just misses a standard door goes straight in. The internal volume grows to about 76 cubic metres in a 40ft high cube.
If the container is going to become an office, studio, gym, crib room or workshop, start with a high cube. Insulation and lining take up height from the ceiling and the floor, and in a standard container that leaves a room that feels like a corridor. Most fit-outs also start from a new single-trip unit, because clean, straight panels and a sound floor make everything after easier. Be aware that container floors are treated during manufacture to meet quarantine rules, so fit-outs for people to work in usually lay a new floor over the top. Check with your council before converting — use and zoning decide whether approval is needed, and our council guide explains how to ask.
On the back of a truck, a high cube stands about 30cm taller than a standard container, so we check the route for low bridges, awnings and lines, and the drop spot for anything overhead. The rest of the delivery is the same as any 40ft: a long, firm run for a sidelifter or tilt-tray and room to set it down. The access checklist is on our delivery page. 20ft high cubes exist and can be sourced, but 40ft high cubes are far more common and usually better value.
High cubes come new (single-trip) and used cargo-worthy, and occasionally as-is. For storage, a used cargo-worthy high cube is inspected and sold wind and watertight, and the extra height costs surprisingly little. For a conversion, pay for new. As-is high cubes are not sold watertight and are only worth considering for rough storage.
Local access notes, common uses and how delivery is quoted for each area:
The honest breakdown of when a used container is the smart money — and the situations where new is worth every dollar.
Real-world price ranges for new and used containers, what moves the market, and how to make sure you're comparing quotes properly.
The genuinely useful answer: usually no for temporary storage, often yes for permanent placement — and how to check your council in ten minutes.
External height is 2.90m vs 2.59m standard — giving you roughly 2.69m of internal clearance instead of 2.39m. That 30cm matters more than it sounds once you're inside.
Yes — 20ft high cubes exist and we can source them, though 40ft high cubes are far more common and usually better value.
Slightly — total travel height is higher on the truck, so we check bridge and powerline clearance on your route. It's rarely a problem.
Measure the outside height: 2.90m for a high cube, 2.59m for a standard. Many high cubes also carry yellow-and-black hazard striping along the top edge of the door end, but measuring is the sure way.
Width and length are the same as a standard 40ft, so gates are no different. Height is the thing to check — the container sits higher on the truck and the tray or sidelifter needs clear air above the drop spot.
Quotes within the hour*
Tell us what you need and we'll come back with a straight price — container plus delivery to your site, no surprises.
*During business hours. After hours, first thing next morning.