Calculator
Plan your container load.
See volume and payload limits side by side for 20ft, 40ft and high cube equipment, plus whether two 20ft containers would be more economical than one 40ft.
| Equipment | Usable vol. | Max payload | Required | Limited by |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20' DV5.90 × 2.35 × 2.39 m | 28.2 m³of 33.2 m³ | 28,200 kg | 0 | n/a |
| 40' DV12.03 × 2.35 × 2.39 m | 57.5 m³of 67.7 m³ | 26,700 kg | 0 | n/a |
| 40' HC12.03 × 2.35 × 2.69 m | 64.9 m³of 76.4 m³ | 26,500 kg | 0 | n/a |
| 45' HC13.56 × 2.35 × 2.69 m | 73.1 m³of 86.0 m³ | 25,600 kg | 0 | n/a |
Enter a volume and a weight to see how many containers the cargo needs, and whether the volume or the payload runs out first.
Nominal internal capacities for standard equipment; individual containers vary and the tare stencilled on the door is the one that counts. Payload figures are typical maxima. The road weight limit at either end is often lower than the container rating, so confirm both before planning to load to the maximum.
The method
How the calculation works.
The method behind the result, step by step.
Total the cargo volume
Add up the packed volume of every piece in cubic metres, measured to the outside of the pallet. This is the figure a container's nominal capacity is compared against.
Total the gross weight
Add the gross weight of every piece including pallets, crating and dunnage. Net product weight is for customs only.
Apply a realistic stuffing factor
Real cargo never fills a container's nominal internal volume. Around 85 per cent is typical for palletised freight; loose cartons stuff higher, awkward or non-stackable shapes considerably lower.
Compare against both limits
Divide the usable volume into the cargo volume, and the container's maximum payload into the cargo weight. Whichever gives the larger number is the binding constraint, and it is the one that determines how many containers you actually book.
Check the road weight limit as well
The container's rating is often not the binding limit. Road weight limits at origin or destination are frequently lower, so a legally loaded box at one end can be over the limit for the truck at the other.
Beyond the calculation
Three factors that can change the result.
Two 20ft boxes can beat one 40ft
A forty-foot container holds roughly twice the volume of a twenty for well under twice the freight, which is why it is the default. Dense cargo breaks that logic: the payload limits on the two sizes are much closer than the volumes are, so heavy freight reaches the weight limit in a forty long before it fills it. Splitting the same cargo across two twenties buys a second payload allowance and a second road weight limit, and is often the cheaper answer.
High cube adds height only
A forty-foot high cube adds roughly a foot of internal height over a standard forty for a modest premium, and nothing else: the floor dimensions are identical. It pays for itself when cargo stacks and does not when the constraint is footprint. It is also worth confirming height clearance at both ends before booking one.
Review a part-full final container
If the calculation lands at 1.2 containers, the second box is mostly air that you are paying full freight to move. It is usually worth pricing the balance as LCL alongside one full container before committing to a second FCL, and on some lanes the difference is substantial.
Questions
Common questions.
More definitions in the freight glossary.
How many cubic metres fit in a 40ft container?
The nominal internal volume of a standard forty-foot container is about 67.7 m³, and a forty-foot high cube is about 76.4 m³. In practice, plan on using around 85 per cent of that with palletised cargo. Nominal capacity assumes a perfectly packed box with no wasted space.
How much weight can a 40ft container carry?
Typically around 26,700 kg of payload for a standard forty-foot, and about 28,200 kg for a twenty-foot. The twenty is rated for more cargo weight despite being half the size. The binding limit is frequently the road weight limit at one end, so check both.
Should I use two 20ft containers or one 40ft?
One forty is normally cheaper per cubic metre, so it is the default for anything volume-limited. Dense cargo is the exception: the payload limits of the two sizes are much closer than their volumes, so heavy freight hits the weight limit in a half-empty forty. Two twenties give you two payload allowances and two road weight limits.
What is a realistic stuffing factor?
Around 85 per cent of nominal volume for standard palletised cargo. Loose cartons hand-stuffed can exceed that; non-stackable, awkwardly shaped or fragile cargo can fall well below it. It is a planning assumption, which is why it is an adjustable input here.
Where this applies
FCL, LCL and specialised equipment on the main east–west and transatlantic trades, with VGM, ISF and free time managed as part of every booking.
FTL, LTL, port drayage and cross-border trucking that connect every other mode to your loading dock.
Receiving, storage, pick and pack, dispatch and returns for industrial and corporate supply chains, with inventory accuracy measured and reported.
Other tools
Air, express, ocean LCL and road groupage: the weight your freight is billed on, and whether weight or volume decides it.
Clear definitions of the terms on a freight quote or invoice.