Container loading calculator
Packed in simple blocks, 40 × 30 × 20 cm cartons fit 1,199 in a 20GP, 2,225 in a 40GP and 2,208 in a 40HQ, where 12 kg cartons reach the 40HQ's typical 26,500 kg payload before it is full. Switch to pallets to count EUR, UK or US pallets per container.
Link a result: ?l=40&w=30&h=20&wt=12&cont=40hq or ?mode=pallets&pallet=eur&ph=110
109 per tier × 11 tiers, 14,388 kg, 28.78 m³ of cartons.
- Weight
- 14,388 kgof 28,000 kg typical payload
- Volume used
- 87 %28.78 of 33.2 m³
- Limited by
- Space2,333 by weight
- Containers needed
- –
All four containers
| Container | Fits | Volume used | Payload used | Limit |
|---|
How the container maths works
The 20GP example, line by line.
- Container, typical internal
5898 × 2352 × 2393 mm - Carton standing on its 40 × 30 face
20 cm vertical: ⌊2393 ÷ 200⌋ = 11 tiers - Floor, plain pattern
⌊5898 ÷ 400⌋ × ⌊2352 ÷ 300⌋ = 14 × 7 = 98 - Floor, two-block split
14×1 + 19×5 = 109 per tier - By space
109 × 11 = 1,199 - By weight
⌊28,000 ÷ 12⌋ = 2,333 - Cartons in a 20GP
lower of the two = 1,199
Six orientations, block by block
For each way the carton can stand (each of its three edges vertical), the floor is planned like a pallet layer: both rotations, plus every two-block split along the length and the width. That floor plan is repeated in whole tiers up to the roof. The best of these is kept. Tick This way up to allow only the carton's own height to stand vertical.
Weight
The calculator then checks the typical maximum payload. If the cartons that fit by space would be too heavy, it reports the number that fits by weight instead, and says so.
Theory against the real box
This is a geometric answer for one carton size. Real loading usually achieves 80 to 90 % of the theoretical volume because of wall corrugations, door frames, bracing and loading clearance.
Typical container dimensions
Internal length, width and height in millimetres. These are typical values that vary by shipping line and box.
| Container | Inside L × W × H, mm | Capacity, m³ | Typical max payload, kg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20GP 20 ft standard | 5,898 × 2,352 × 2,393 | 33.2 | 28,000 |
| 40GP 40 ft standard | 12,032 × 2,352 × 2,393 | 67.7 | 26,700 |
| 40HQ 40 ft high cube | 12,032 × 2,352 × 2,698 | 76.4 | 26,500 |
| 45HQ 45 ft high cube | 13,556 × 2,352 × 2,698 | 86 | 25,600 |
Pallets per container
Single-stack floor positions, calculated from the footprints with a two-block pattern. Real loads may come out one or two lower.
| Pallet | 20GP | 40GP | 40HQ | 45HQ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EUR / EPAL 1200×800 | 11 | 25 | 25 | 27 |
| ISO / UK 1200×1000 | 9 | 22 | 22 | 24 |
| US GMA 1219×1016 | 9 | 20 | 20 | 24 |
| Asia 1100×1100 | 10 | 20 | 20 | 24 |
| Australia 1165×1165 | 10 | 20 | 20 | 22 |
Next steps
Common questions
How many cartons fit in a 20ft container?
It depends on the carton. 40 × 30 × 20 cm cartons fit about 1,199 in a 20GP by simple block loading, which uses 87 % of its typical 33.2 m³. Enter your carton for your own answer.
How many pallets fit in a 40ft container?
On the floor, by geometry: 25 EUR pallets (1200 × 800 mm), 22 UK pallets (1200 × 1000 mm) or 20 US 48 × 40 in pallets in a typical 40GP or 40HQ. Real loads can come out one or two lower because of corrugated walls, door frames and loading clearance.
Why is my real load smaller than the calculator says?
Real containers lose space to corrugated side walls, door frames, floor and roof clearance, bracing and the gap a forklift or loader needs. Planners often count on 80 to 90 % of the theoretical volume for mixed cartons.
What does 'limited by weight' mean?
The cartons that fit by space would exceed the container's typical maximum payload. Heavy goods such as tiles, metal parts or liquids often fill a 20GP by weight long before it is full by volume. Road weight limits in your country can be lower still.
Can I double-stack pallets in a container?
Only if two loaded pallets fit under the internal height and the lower load can carry the upper one. A 20GP or 40GP is about 2.39 m inside, so each loaded pallet must be under about 1.19 m; a high cube gives about 2.69 m.