Container load calculator
See how many cartons fit a 20ft, 40ft, high cube or reefer container, and how many containers your shipment needs. Free, no login.
Optional. Enter your shipment size to see how many containers it takes.
| Container | Cartons / container | Volume used | Limited by |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20ft standard | 882 | 80% | Volume |
| 40ft standard | 1,890 | 84% | Volume |
| 40ft high cube | 2,160 | 85% | Volume |
| 45ft high cube | 2,430 | 85% | Volume |
| 20ft reefer | 819 | 87% | Volume |
| 40ft reefer high cube | 1,764 | 79% | Volume |
Reefer figures use the usable height below the load line and discount volume for airflow. Do not stack above the red line.
Save your work, run compliance checks, and generate export documents.
Container loading
How many cartons fit in a 20ft container?
It depends on the carton size. A 40 by 30 by 25 cm carton fits roughly 900 to 1000 in a 20ft container by volume, before weight limits. Enter your carton to see the number.
How is the fit calculated?
The tool loads identical cartons axis-aligned and picks the best of the six orientations, then caps the count by the container's payload weight. It reports whichever limit binds first.
What is the difference between a 40ft and a 40ft high cube?
A high cube is about 30 cm taller inside (2.70 m versus 2.39 m), so it holds more volume for the same floor space. It suits light, bulky cargo.
Why does a reefer hold less?
Refrigerated containers have thick insulated walls and a T-bar floor for airflow, so internal dimensions are smaller and cargo must stay below the load line.
Are these numbers exact?
They are planning estimates for uniform boxes. Mixed sizes, pallets and bracing change the real figure. Confirm with your forwarder before booking.
Plan the whole load
Create a free account to plan pallets and dispatches, manage consignments, and generate the documents that go with the load.
Create a free account →