Los Angeles & 
Foshan
Glossary · Shipping
What is 20GP / 40GP / 40HQ (20GP, 40GP and 40HQ containers)?
The three standard dry containers in sea freight: the 20-foot and 40-foot general purpose boxes and the taller 40-foot high cube.
GP stands for general purpose, a standard dry container, and HQ (or HC) for high cube, which is about one foot taller. Typical published internal dimensions are about 5.90 × 2.35 × 2.39 m (around 33 CBM) for a 20GP, 12.03 × 2.35 × 2.39 m (around 67 CBM) for a 40GP and 12.03 × 2.35 × 2.70 m (around 76 CBM) for a 40HQ. Exact figures vary from one container to another.
Usable volume is lower than these totals, because cartons and pallets leave gaps. The 40HQ is the usual choice for bulky, light goods such as furniture or playground parts, since the extra height costs little more than a 40GP. Dense goods such as stone or machinery often reach the weight limit before the space limit.
US road weight limits can be stricter than the container's own rating, so ask your forwarder for the payload that works for your route and inland delivery before planning a heavy load.
Sources: Blue Water Shipping: container specifications . Checked October 2026.
Read next
Start here
Send us a photo. Get factory prices in 8–36 hours.
Tell us what you need, how many and where it goes. We reply 24/7, from Los Angeles and Foshan.