How many CBM fit in a container?
A 20ft container has about 33.2 m³ inside, a 40ft about 67.7 m³ and a 40ft high cube about 76.4 m³. Mixed cartons usually load to 80–90 % of that, so plan on roughly 27–30 m³ in a 20ft and 61–69 m³ in a 40ft high cube.
Capacity of each container
| Container | Inside L × W × H (mm) | Capacity | In cubic feet | Practical, 80–90 % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20GP | 5,898 × 2,352 × 2,393 | 33.2 m³ | 1,172 ft³ | 27–30 m³ |
| 40GP | 12,032 × 2,352 × 2,393 | 67.7 m³ | 2,392 ft³ | 54–61 m³ |
| 40HQ | 12,032 × 2,352 × 2,698 | 76.4 m³ | 2,696 ft³ | 61–69 m³ |
| 45HQ | 13,556 × 2,352 × 2,698 | 86 m³ | 3,038 ft³ | 69–77 m³ |
Why you never get the full capacity
- Cartons rarely divide the inside length, width and height exactly, so gaps remain along each wall.
- The corrugated side walls and door frame take a few centimetres.
- Doors need clearance to close, and cargo near them needs securing.
- Fragile or light cartons cannot always be stacked to the roof.
Cartons: a worked example
For 60 × 40 × 40 cm cartons (0.096 m³ each), the best simple block loading fits 255 in a 20GP, which is 24.5 m³ or 74 % of the box, and 660 in a 40HQ (83 %).
See it in 3D60 × 40 × 40 cm cartons in a 40HQ.Pallets use less of the volume
A 20GP takes 11 EUR pallets on the floor. Stacked to 1.6 m each they hold 16.9 m³ of pallet space, only 51 % of the container, because pallets cannot fill the width or the height. Double stacking helps only if each pallet is under half the inside height.
How much of a container do you need?
Add up the CBM of your shipment (the CBM calculator does it line by line), then compare with the practical capacity. As a rough guide, under about 15 m³ is usually cheaper as LCL, and above that an FCL quote is worth getting; see LCL vs FCL.
Tools used in this guide
Related guides
Common questions
How many CBM is a 20ft container?
About 33.2 m³ inside; plan on 27–30 m³ of cartons.
How many CBM is a 40ft container?
About 67.7 m³ for a standard 40ft and 76.4 m³ for a 40ft high cube.
How many cubic feet is a 40ft container?
About 2,392 ft³ for a standard 40ft and 2,696 ft³ for a high cube.
How many CBM fit in a 45ft container?
About 86 m³ in a 45ft high cube, practically 69–77 m³.