46 guides
Container loading guides
Straight answers to the questions importers, exporters and forwarders ask before booking a container. Every figure is calculated with the same engine as our load calculator.
11 guides
Container sizes
Container sizes20 ft shipping container dimensionsA 20ft container is 5.90 m × 2.35 m × 2.39 m inside (19′ 4.5″ × 7′ 8.5″ × 7′ 10″), 33.1 m³, with a max payload of about 28,200 kg.
Container sizes40 ft shipping container dimensionsA 40ft container is 12.03 m × 2.35 m × 2.39 m inside (39′ 5.5″ × 7′ 8.5″ × 7′ 10″), 67.6 m³, with a max payload of about 26,700 kg.
Container sizes40ft high cube shipping container dimensionsA 40ft high cube container is 12.03 m × 2.35 m × 2.69 m inside (39′ 5.5″ × 7′ 8.5″ × 8′ 10″), 76.0 m³, with a max payload of about 26,500 kg.
Container sizes45ft high cube container dimensionsA 45ft high cube container is 13.56 m × 2.35 m × 2.69 m inside (44′ 6″ × 7′ 8.5″ × 8′ 10″), 85.7 m³, with a max payload of about 27,700 kg.
Container sizesReefer container dimensions (refrigerated shipping containers)A 20ft reefer is about 5.44 m × 2.29 m × 2.27 m inside (28.3 m³); a 40ft high cube reefer 11.58 m × 2.29 m × 2.50 m (66.3 m³).
Container sizesShipping container door dimensionsStandard container doors open about 2.34 m wide and 2.28 m high; high cube doors about 2.58 m high.
Container sizes10 ft shipping container dimensionsA 10ft container is 2.83 m × 2.35 m × 2.39 m inside (9′ 3.5″ × 7′ 8.5″ × 7′ 10″), 15.9 m³, with a max payload of about 8,860 kg.
Container sizesOpen top container dimensions (20ft and 40ft)A 20ft open top container is about 5.90 m × 2.35 m × 2.34 m inside; a 40ft open top about 12.03 m × 2.35 m × 2.34 m.
Container sizesFlat rack container dimensions (20ft and 40ft)A 20ft flat rack is about 5.64 × 2.44 × 2.23 m with ~42 t payload; a 40ft flat rack about 11.65 × 2.35 × 2.27 m with ~49 t.
Container sizes20ft high cube container dimensionsA 20ft high cube container is about 5.90 × 2.35 × 2.69 m inside (37.3 m³), 9′ 6″ tall outside, with a 2.58 m door, 2,300 kg tare and about 28,180 kg payload.
Container sizesSide door (open side) container dimensionsA 20ft open side container is about 5.90 × 2.29–2.34 × 2.29–2.38 m inside, with doors along one long side.
7 guides
Pallets
PalletsHow many pallets fit in a 20ft container?A 20ft container fits 11 Euro pallets or 9 standard US pallets in a single tier, and double if pallets are under 114 cm tall.
PalletsHow many pallets fit in a 40ft container?A 40ft container fits 25 Euro pallets in theory (23–24 in practice) or 20 US pallets per layer.
PalletsStandard pallet size and dimensionsThe standard US pallet is 48 × 40 in (1219 × 1016 mm); the Euro pallet is 1200 × 800 mm.
PalletsHow many boxes fit on a pallet?A Euro pallet loaded to 1.5 m holds 12 cartons of 60×40×40 cm; a US pallet to 60 in holds 15.
PalletsHow many pallets fit in a reefer container?A 40ft high cube reefer fits 23 Euro pallets or 20 US pallets in one layer; a 20ft reefer 10 Euro or 9 US pallets.
PalletsHow much does a pallet weigh?A standard 48×40 wood pallet weighs 30–48 lb (avg.
PalletsPallet stacking patterns explainedColumn, interlocking (brick), pinwheel and row patterns for stacking cartons on a pallet, plus straight, turned and pinwheel pallet patterns for trailers.
3 guides
Trucks & trailers
Trucks & trailersHow many pallets fit on a 53 foot trailer?A 53 ft dry van fits 26 standard 48×40 pallets loaded straight, or up to 30 turned.
Trucks & trailers53 ft trailer dimensions (dry van)A 53 ft dry van is about 52′ 6″ × 98 in × 108 in inside, roughly 3,870 cubic feet, with about 40,000–45,000 lb of cargo capacity.
Trucks & trailers53 ft container dimensions (domestic intermodal)A 53 ft domestic container is about 52′ 6″ × 99 in × 109 in inside (about 3,970 cu ft) and weighs about 10,000 lb.
3 guides
Cartons
CartonsHow many boxes fit in a 20ft container?A 20ft container holds about 262 cartons of 60×40×40 cm or 472 of 50×40×30 cm.
CartonsHow many boxes fit in a 40ft container?A 40ft standard container holds about 550 cartons of 60×40×40 cm; a 40ft high cube about 660.
CartonsHow many boxes fit in a 40ft high cube container?A 40ft high cube holds about 660 cartons of 60×40×40 cm and 2,240 of 30×30×30 cm.
4 guides
Containers
Containers40HQ vs 40GP: which 40ft container should you book?A 40HQ is 30 cm taller than a 40GP and holds about 8.5 m³ more.
Containers20ft vs 40ft container: which one do you need?A 40ft container has about twice the volume of a 20ft (67.6 vs 33.1 m³) but a lower payload.
ContainersHigh cube container: meaning, height and sizesA high cube (HC/HQ) container is 9′ 6″ (2.90 m) tall instead of 8′ 6″, about 2.69 m high inside.
ContainersTypes of shipping containersThe main types of shipping containers (dry, high cube, reefer, open top, flat rack, open side, tank) with sizes, uses and ISO codes like 22G1 and 45G1.
2 guides
Volume
5 guides
Volume & weight
Volume & weightHow to calculate CBM for shippingCBM = length × width × height in meters.
Volume & weightHow many kg is 1 CBM in freight?In sea freight LCL, 1 CBM counts as 1,000 kg (W/M).
Volume & weightDimensional weight calculatorFree dimensional (volumetric) weight calculator for air freight and courier: L × W × H ÷ 6000 or ÷ 5000 (cm/kg), or ÷ 166 / ÷ 139 (in/lb), with chargeable weight.
Volume & weightWhat is CBM? CBM meaning in shippingCBM stands for cubic meter (m³), the unit used to price sea freight.
Volume & weightCBM to CFT converter (cubic meters to cubic feet)Convert CBM to CFT and CFT to CBM: 1 CBM = 35.3147 cubic feet; 1 cubic foot = 0.0283 CBM.
5 guides
Weight
WeightHow much does a shipping container weigh?An empty 20ft shipping container weighs about 2,200 kg (4,850 lb) and a 40ft about 3,750 kg (8,267 lb).
WeightHow many 25 kg bags fit in a 20ft container?About 1,128 bags of 25 kg: a 20ft container reaches its 28,200 kg weight limit before it is full.
WeightWhat is tare weight? Meaning and definitionTare weight is the weight of an empty container, vehicle or package.
WeightHow much does a 20ft shipping container weigh?An empty 20ft shipping container weighs about 2,200 kg (4,850 lb).
WeightHow much does a 40ft shipping container weigh?An empty 40ft container weighs about 3,750 kg (8,267 lb); a 40ft high cube about 3,900 kg (8,598 lb).
4 guides
Shipping basics
Shipping basicsLCL vs FCL: meaning and when to book a full containerLCL means less than container load; FCL means full container load.
Shipping basicsWhat is a TEU? Meaning and TEU calculatorTEU (twenty-foot equivalent unit): a 20ft container is 1 TEU, a 40ft is 2 TEU or 1 FEU.
Shipping basicsLTL vs FTL: meaning and differencesLTL means less than truckload; FTL means full truckload.
Shipping basicsShipping container terms explainedWhat conex, sea can, ISO container and intermodal container mean, plus container codes like GP, DV, HC, HQ, RF, OT and FR, and weights like tare, payload and VGM.
2 guides
Method
MethodHow to calculate how many cartons fit in a containerStep-by-step method to calculate container loading: measure cartons, check CBM and weight, count cartons per layer and layers, and handle rotation and stacking.
MethodHow to load a shipping container properlyPractical container loading rules: plan the load, spread weight evenly, heavy goods low, fill gaps, secure cargo, and document it.