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Enter your product, package and pallet dimensions. Get the real answer — units, packages and pallets per container, weight and volume usage, in under a minute.
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40FT HC · MANIFEST PREVIEW
Dimensions, weight, how many units per package, whether it stacks.
Your pallet footprint and max load, then pick 20ft, 40ft or 40ft HC.
The engine checks weight, height and floor space together and returns the limiting factor.
Importers, exporters, freight forwarders, packaging companies and warehouses use container3D to get a quick, defensible loading estimate before booking a container.
The engine compares weight, volume, floor space and stack height at once and tells you which one is limiting your load — always confirm final loading with your carrier.
CONTAINER & FREIGHT KNOWLEDGE
CBM is a useful starting point, but volume alone does not tell you whether a shipment will physically fit. Real loading is constrained by package dimensions, orientation, stacking rules, pallet footprints, container geometry and payload. container3D combines these constraints so the estimate reflects how cargo can actually be arranged, not just the sum of its cubic metres.
Two shipments with the same CBM can produce very different loading results. Long cartons can leave unusable gaps, a pallet footprint can limit the number of rows, and heavy cargo can reach the container payload before the available volume is filled. Orientation also matters: rotating a package may improve the layout, while cargo that cannot be placed on its side has fewer valid arrangements.
Start with the real product and package dimensions, weight and quantity. If pallets are used, add the pallet size, height and stacking constraints. Then choose a standard 20 ft, 40 ft or 40 ft High Cube container, or enter custom internal dimensions. The calculator evaluates the usable geometry and reports the quantity that fits together with volume and weight utilisation.
A 40 ft container is roughly twice the internal length of a 20 ft container, while a 40 ft High Cube adds extra internal height. The larger nominal volume does not automatically mean every cargo type gains the same capacity: carton dimensions, pallet layout and payload can still become the limiting factor. Always compare the actual arrangement rather than selecting a container from CBM alone.
Palletised cargo introduces another layer of geometry. Cartons first need to fit efficiently on the pallet, and the loaded pallet must then fit inside the container. Non-stackable cargo can consume floor space while leaving volume above it unused. For stackable cargo, package strength, maximum loading height and operational handling rules should be considered alongside the mathematical result.
Volume utilisation shows how much of the container's theoretical internal volume is occupied, while weight utilisation compares cargo weight with the configured payload. Neither percentage should be read in isolation. A load may stop growing because of floor layout, height, orientation or payload even when another utilisation percentage remains below 100%.
Mixed cargo is more complex than multiplying a single-product result. Different carton sizes compete for the same floor and remaining gaps. container3D can model multiple products and visualise the transition between cargo types, helping you inspect whether the proposed mix respects the requested shares and uses the available space sensibly.
The calculator is designed for planning, comparison and packaging decisions. Real shipments can be affected by door clearances, container tolerances, dunnage, securing materials, damaged packaging, weight distribution and carrier rules. Confirm critical loads with your freight forwarder, carrier or warehouse before booking or loading.
CBM means cubic metre. For a rectangular package in metres, multiply length × width × height. Multiply again by quantity for the theoretical shipment volume.
Physical dimensions create gaps and layout constraints. Payload, floor space, height, stacking or permitted orientations can become the limiting factor first.
No. It provides more height and volume, but the best option depends on cargo geometry, weight, palletisation, cost and the number of units that actually fit.
Enter your actual dimensions and compare the loading result before you book the container.