# Container Loading Calculator

URL: https://speedycalculator.com/calculators/other/container-loading/
Last updated: 2026-10-30

> The container loading calculator works out how many identical boxes fit in a 10, 20, 40 or 45 ft shipping container – standard, high-cube or pallet-wide, or your own size – by testing every orientation and mixed floor layouts, and gives the layers, boxes per layer, space utilisation and a loading plan.

## Inputs

- Container type
- Container's inside length (m, cm, ft, in)
- Container's inside width (m, cm, ft, in)
- Container's inside height (m, cm, ft, in)
- Package length (side A) (cm, m, mm, in, ft)
- Package width (side B) (cm, m, mm, in, ft)
- Package height (side C) (cm, m, mm, in, ft)
- Orientation
- Weight per package (optional) (kg, lb, t, g)

## Results

- Packages that fit
- Packages per layer
- Full layers
- Space utilisation
- Volume of one package
- Container volume
- Volume-only upper limit (not achievable)
- Total cargo weight
- Container inside dimensions
- Loading plan

## Formula

```
Boxes = boxes per layer × layers (+ boxes laid sideways in the gap above) · per layer = best mix of ⌊L ÷ a⌋ × ⌊W ÷ b⌋ and the 90° turned pattern · utilisation = boxes × box volume ÷ container volume
```

## Explanation

Dividing the container volume by the box volume overstates what fits, because boxes cannot be cut to fill the last few centimetres along each wall. A 20 ft container holds about 33 m³, but whether you can load 1,000 or 1,200 cartons depends on how their sides divide into 5.90 × 2.35 × 2.39 m.

This calculator stands the box on each of its three faces in turn, finds the best floor pattern – a plain grid, the grid turned 90°, or a mix of rows in both directions – and stacks as many layers as the height allows. If there is a gap above the top layer, it also tries to fill it with boxes laid on their side. Tick "keep upright" for goods marked "this way up"; then only the rotation on the floor is allowed.

The result lists the number of boxes, how many per layer and how many layers, the volume utilisation and a step-by-step plan. Container sizes are typical inside dimensions; individual containers vary by a few centimetres, doors are slightly smaller than the inside, and the payload limit (about 28 t for a 20 ft and 26–28 t for a 40 ft) can stop you before the space does.

### How to use the Container Loading Calculator

- **Container type**
- **Container's inside length**
- **Container's inside width**
- **Container's inside height**
- **Package length (side A)**
- **Package width (side B)**
- **Package height (side C)**
- **Orientation**
- **Weight per package (optional)**

Everything is calculated in your browser, so results appear instantly and nothing you type is sent to a server.

### How it works

For each choice of vertical side the floor is packed with two guillotine patterns (k rows in one direction, the rest turned 90°) and the best count is kept; layers = ⌊height ÷ vertical side⌋. The remaining headroom is filled with other orientations where possible, and the best total wins.

### Worked example

5 × 5 × 5 inch cubes (12.7 cm) in a 20 ft standard container: 590 ÷ 12.7 = 46, 235 ÷ 12.7 = 18 and 239 ÷ 12.7 = 18 whole cubes, so 46 × 18 × 18 = **14,904** packages, using 92% of the space. The volume-only estimate, 33.14 m³ ÷ 0.002048 m³ ≈ 16,177, cannot be reached because of the gaps along the walls.

### Container sizes used

TypeInside L × W × H (m)10 ft standard2.83 × 2.35 × 2.3920 ft standard5.90 × 2.35 × 2.3940 ft standard12.03 × 2.35 × 2.3920 ft high cube5.90 × 2.35 × 2.6940 ft high cube12.03 × 2.35 × 2.6945 ft high cube13.56 × 2.35 × 2.6920 ft pallet-wide5.89 × 2.44 × 2.3940 ft pallet-wide12.02 × 2.44 × 2.39

### Tips

- Measure the longest points of the package, including bulges.
- Check your carrier's current divisor and rounding rules.
- Every field has a unit menu – cm, inches, kg and lb all work.
- Everything is calculated in your browser.

### Common mistakes to avoid

- Using the wrong dimensional divisor for the carrier or service.
- Forgetting pallet height and overhang limits.
- Rounding dimensions down instead of up.

## Worked example

Inputs — Container type: 20 ft standard; Package length (side A): 50 cm; Package width (side B): 40 cm; Package height (side C): 30 cm; Orientation: Any – boxes may be turned on their side; Weight per package (optional): 0 kg.

Results — **Packages that fit = 500**; Packages per layer = 109; Full layers = 4; Space utilisation = 90.53 %; Volume of one package = 0.06; Container volume = 33.1374.

## Key terms

- **Utilisation**: Share of the container volume filled by cargo.
- **High cube**: Container about 30 cm taller than standard (2.69 m inside).
- **Orientation**: Which side of the box faces up.
- **Payload**: Maximum cargo weight a container may carry.

## FAQ

**How many 50 × 40 × 30 cm boxes fit in a 20 ft container?**
Kept upright, a mixed floor pattern of 64 per layer and 7 layers gives 448. If boxes may be turned, 109 per layer standing on the 50 cm side × 4 layers plus 64 laid flat in the gap above gives 500.

**How do I calculate how many boxes fit in a container?**
Divide each container side by a box side (rounding down) for each orientation and multiply; the best orientation wins.

**Why is the volume-only number higher?**
It assumes boxes can fill every corner; leftover strips along the walls are always wasted.

**What are the inside dimensions of a 40 ft container?**
About 12.03 × 2.35 × 2.39 m (67.6 m³); a high cube is 2.69 m tall (76 m³).

**What is a pallet-wide container?**
A container about 2.44 m wide inside, so two Euro pallets fit side by side.

**How much weight can a container carry?**
Roughly 25–28 t of payload; check the CSC plate and road limits in your country.

**Can I mix box sizes?**
This calculator handles identical boxes; for mixed loads plan each size separately.


## Sources

- [Wikipedia – Intermodal container](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intermodal_container)
- [Wikipedia – Packing problems](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Packing_problems)