Container Loading Calculator

A standard 20ft container has internal dimensions of approximately 5,900 cm (L) × 2,352 cm (W) × 2,392 cm (H) with a capacity of approximately 33 CBM and a maximum payload of 28,000 kg. A 40ft standard container has internal dimensions of 12,032 × 2,352 × 2,392 cm (~67 CBM, 28,800 kg payload). A 40ft High Cube adds 30 cm of height (2,698 cm) for about 76 CBM.

Standard payload limits: 20ft = ~28,000 kg, 40ft Standard = ~28,800 kg, 40ft High Cube = ~28,600 kg. The total gross weight limit (cargo + container) is typically 30,480 kg for most containers. Always check with your carrier as port and road weight restrictions may be lower than the container rating.

Loading Efficiency = (Volume of all cartons ÷ Container internal volume) × 100. Perfect efficiency (100%) is never achieved due to irregular shapes, stacking constraints, and safety requirements. A loading efficiency of 70–85% is considered good. Below 60% suggests the carton-to-container size ratio is poor and you should consider a smaller container.

Palletizing cargo in a container adds handling efficiency and reduces damage but reduces capacity by 10–20% due to pallet weight and floor space loss. For loose-load (floor-loaded) containers, you can fit significantly more cartons. Pallets are recommended when: cargo requires forklift handling, multiple SKUs need separation, or goods are fragile. Floor-load when maximizing cubic capacity is critical.

Cargo insurance protects against loss or damage during ocean transit. Carriers have very limited liability under Hague-Visby Rules (~$500 per shipping unit or SDR equivalent). Standard cargo insurance typically costs 0.1–0.5% of cargo value. All-risk marine cargo insurance (Institute Cargo Clauses A) provides the broadest coverage including theft, contamination, and general average.