Container Loading Calculator
Estimate carton or pallet loading inside editable 20 ft, 40 ft, and high-cube container examples with space and payload checks.
Free to use · Calculated in your browserYour packing numbers
56 items shown at 0 cm. Only items starting at this height are shown; taller items from lower levels are hidden. Verify real loading constraints.
How this result was calculated
- Effective payload = min(usable payload, maximum gross − container tare) = 30,200 kg.
- Pack permitted item orientations into the entered internal dimensions, respecting the 1,000 available items and effective payload. The arrangement is checked by construction using non-overlapping free spaces.
- Space use = placed item volume ÷ internal container volume × 100 = 70.83%. Gross weight = empty container tare + loaded item weight.
Detailed breakdown
| Item | Available | Loaded | Not loaded |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carton or pallet | 1,000 | 392 | 608 |
No further item fits the remaining spaces produced by this heuristic. Another arrangement may improve the result.
This is a feasible geometric estimate from a deterministic packing heuristic, not a guaranteed maximum or a validated safe loading plan.
The algorithm compares permitted axis-aligned orientations and uses disjoint rectangular free spaces. For one item type, a uniform grid is also compared. It does not model stacking strength, support, friction, cushioning, load distribution or loading sequence.
Container presets are representative Hapag-Lloyd equipment examples, not universal specifications. Confirm the actual container plate, internal dimensions and available payload with your provider.
Door clearance, floor loading, weight distribution, securement, handling access and operational restrictions are not simulated and may reduce usable capacity. Pallets must be entered using their complete loaded dimensions and gross weight.
Preview coordinates are in centimetres. Empty space is geometric volume and is not necessarily usable for another item.
How to use this tool
Place oriented rectangular items inside the usable internal dimensions. Loaded volume = sum of placed item volumes. Space utilization = loaded volume ÷ internal volume × 100. Payload utilization = loaded item weight ÷ entered payload × 100.
A worked example
In a simplified 600 × 240 × 240 cm usable space, 60 × 40 × 40 cm cartons fit in a 10 × 6 × 6 grid: 360 cartons. At 20 kg each, that arrangement weighs 7,200 kg. Actual equipment and loading restrictions can reduce the count.
Put the result to work
Container presets are representative examples, not guaranteed equipment dimensions. Verify the actual interior, door aperture, usable payload, floor loading, route weight limits, securing space, loading sequence, and handling clearances. The bounded layout is an estimate, not an optimal or certified loading plan.
Read the complete guideCommon questions
Can I load to the full calculated volume?
Often not. Item shapes, gaps, doors, dunnage, equipment access, weight limits, and securement reduce usable space.
Are all 20 ft containers identical inside?
No. Manufacturing and equipment variants change internal dimensions, door openings, tare weight, and payload. Replace the preset with the allocated container's specifications.
Is payload the same as gross weight?
No. Container gross weight includes the empty container. Payload is the allowed cargo weight, and route or handling limits may be lower than the equipment rating.