What Is GP or HC Shipping Container

For those new to shipping containers, the terms GP and HQ may seem odd and confusing. What does it mean? What is the difference between the two terms, and what is the difference between the two shipping containers?

To keep this simple, the terms GP and HC refer to the height of the container model and nothing else.

The term GP means General Purpose and a GP shipping container is 8' 6" (2.6 m) high.

The term HQ means High Cube and an HC shipping container is 9' 6" (2.9 m) high.

There are absolutely no other differences in the structure or design of these containers, only the height difference. Unless you see a GP and HC sitting side-by-side, you probably won't be able to see the difference.

Credit: Green Quest Engineering

Other Basics Regarding Shipping Containers

Which size shipping containers are the most popular? Statistically, the 20GP and the 40HC are the most popular sizes used globally. There are various opinions as to why, but the reason for the 40HC is most logical.

The cost to ship a 40GP and a 40HC is nearly the same. However, the 40HC carries more products and payload, thus the greater demand for the 40HC.

The 20HC also carries more payload than the 20HC; however, more 20GP is in use, and the 20HC is more difficult to find. There is no easy answer to this.

For container home use and overall Container technology uses, the 20HC and 40HC are in the most significant demand because the ceiling height is better accepted to meet Building Codes in most countries.

The use of 20GP units is often seen as container technology Tech pods for housing equipment and technical systems where the smaller size has more benefits, and the extra 1' ceiling height is not essential.

Summary: the 20GP and 40HC models are more popular for shipping and logistics, but the 20HC and 40HC are in greater demand for Container home construction, offices, and Tech pods.

Credit: Green Quest Engineering

Sideview of the 10', 20', and 40' shipping containers

Credit: Green Quest Engineering

The bottom view, or underside, of the basic ISO shipping containers is important to see and understand other slight differences in the shipping containers.

Beginning with the 40' size shipping container, the bottom of the container adds what is known as a "goose-neck," which allows safer handling and moving of the longer-size shipping containers by truck. The goose-neck is the only main difference in the shipping container models.

Other shipping containers with a goose-neck underside design are the 45HC, 48HC, and 53HC models.

All 42 models of ISO shipping containers can be viewed at the Shipping Container Drawings website.