Container Load Calculator
The Container Load Calculator helps you determine how many units of your product will fit in standard shipping containers. It accounts for product dimensions, container sizes, and stacking limits to optimize container utilization.
Container & Product Specs
Results
Enter product dimensions to calculate
Formula
Units per Container = (Container Volume / Product Volume) × Utilization FactorContainer utilization is typically 80-90% of theoretical maximum due to stacking patterns, pallet requirements, and irregular product shapes.
Variable Definitions
20-foot Container
Internal: 19.4' × 7.7' × 7.9' (1,172 cu ft)
40-foot Container
Internal: 39.5' × 7.7' × 7.9' (2,390 cu ft)
40-foot High Cube
Internal: 39.5' × 7.7' × 8.9' (2,694 cu ft)
Example Calculation
Scenario: Loading boxes measuring 12" × 12" × 12" into a 40ft container: - Box volume: 1 cu ft - Container usable volume: 2,390 × 85% = 2,032 cu ft - Units per container: ~2,032 boxes With palletization (48" × 40" pallets, 4 high): - Boxes per pallet: 4 × 3 × 4 = 48 boxes - Pallets per 40ft: 20 pallets - Total: 960 boxes
How to Interpret Your Result
Optimizing container loads: • Target 85%+ volume utilization for cost efficiency • Consider weight limits: 20ft ~44,000 lbs, 40ft ~59,000 lbs • Account for pallet requirements if applicable • Floor loading (no pallets) maximizes volume but increases handling • Consider product fragility when stacking