Container Load Calculator — Packages Per 20ft, 40ft & 40HC

Calculate how many cartons or pallets fit in a standard shipping container. Optimise loading configuration for 20ft, 40ft and 40ft High Cube containers.

Quick answer: A 40HC container: 76 CBM, 12.0m × 2.35m × 2.69m interior. Fit = (Container Length ÷ Carton Length) × (Width ÷ Carton Width) × (Height ÷ Carton Height).

🏗️ Container Load Calculator

Container Type

Carton Length (cm)

Carton Width (cm)

Carton Height (cm)

Carton Weight (kg)

Cartons Per Container

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Volume Fill %

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Total Cargo Weight

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How to Use This Calculator

Select container type — 40HC is the most common for general cargo. 20ft for dense, heavy goods.
Enter carton dimensions — in centimetres — standard shipping carton sizes.
Enter carton weight — to check whether payload weight is reached before volume fills.
Review configuration — the calculator shows how many cartons fit in each direction for optimisation.

Worked Example

40×30×25 cm cartons at 12 kg each in a 40HC (1203×235×269 cm interior).

Along length: 1203 ÷ 40 = 30 cartons
Across width: 235 ÷ 30 = 7 cartons
Stack height: 269 ÷ 25 = 10 layers
Total: 30 × 7 × 10 = 2,100 cartons
Weight: 2,100 × 12 = 25,200 kg (95% of 26,500 kg max)

Frequently Asked Questions

A 40ft High Cube container has interior dimensions of approximately 12.03m × 2.35m × 2.69m (L×W×H), with 76 CBM volume and 26,500 kg payload capacity. A standard 40ft is similar but only 2.39m high (67 CBM). The extra 30cm of height in an HC makes a significant difference for tall or stackable cargo.

Rotate cartons to find the best orientation. Try different carton-to-container dimension ratios — sometimes rotating 90° fits significantly more. Dense heavy items should go on the floor. Ensure weight is evenly distributed (max 4 tonnes per running metre). Use cargo planning software for complex mixed loads.