Container Loading Tool
Calculate how many units fit in a shipping container by volume and weight.
Calculator
No signup required. Results are indicative—verify for your standards.
Box dimensions (m) and container specs
By volume: 1080 boxes · By weight: 1766 boxes
Loadable quantity: 1080 boxes (constraint: Volume)
Formula
Units by volume = Container internal volume (m³) / Unit volume (m³) × Packing efficiency. Units by weight = Container payload (kg) / Unit weight (kg). Actual units = min(by volume, by weight).
Example calculation
40ft HC container: 76.3 m³ internal volume, 26,500 kg payload. Box 0.5×0.4×0.3 m = 0.06 m³, 15 kg. By volume: 76.3/0.06×0.85 ≈ 1,081 boxes. By weight: 26,500/15 = 1,767 boxes. Constraint = volume → 1,081 boxes.
Engineering notes
Standard container dimensions: 20ft (33.1 m³, 28,200 kg payload), 40ft (67.6 m³, 26,700 kg), 40ft HC high cube (76.3 m³, 26,500 kg). Packing efficiency with regular cartons is typically 75–90%. Allow for pallets (120×100 cm footprint each) if palletised shipment.
When to use this calculator
- Export planning — determine number of containers required for a production run before booking freight
- Pricing — calculate per-unit container cost to include in export price or CIF quotation
- Packaging optimisation — test whether changing carton dimensions improves container utilisation
- Production lot sizing — align production batch sizes with full container loads to avoid partial containers
- Import cost allocation — distribute container freight cost across units for import duty and landed cost calculation
Frequently asked questions
- What are the internal dimensions of standard shipping containers?
- 20ft standard: internal L×W×H = 5.898×2.352×2.390 m, volume 33.1 m³, max payload 28,200 kg. 40ft standard: 12.032×2.352×2.390 m, 67.6 m³, 26,740 kg. 40ft High Cube: 12.032×2.352×2.698 m, 76.3 m³, 26,500 kg. 20ft Reefer: 5.444×2.268×2.235 m, 27.6 m³. Always verify with the specific shipping line as dimensions vary slightly by manufacturer.
- Why is packing efficiency less than 100%?
- Theoretical volume utilisation is 100% only for perfect cubes filling a perfect rectangular space. In practice: irregular product shapes leave gaps; pallet overhang and underhang waste space; weight distribution requirements prevent stacking to full height; fragile goods need void fill; structural support requirements limit stacking. Realistic packing efficiency: uniform cartons on pallets 75–85%, irregular shapes 60–75%, machinery and equipment 50–70%.
- What is the difference between gross weight, net weight, and tare weight for containers?
- Tare weight: the weight of the empty container itself (20ft: ~2,200 kg, 40ft: ~3,800 kg). Net weight: weight of cargo only. Gross weight (VGM): tare + net — the total weight of container plus cargo. Gross weight must not exceed the container's maximum gross weight (MGW): 20ft 30,480 kg, 40ft 32,500 kg typically. VGM (Verified Gross Mass) must be declared under SOLAS regulations before loading on a ship.