Ocean freight planning

Container Loading Calculator

Estimate uniform cartons in 20 ft, 40 ft, and 40 ft high-cube containers.

Live calculator

All six rotations are tested, including tipping cartons onto their side. Assigned equipment can vary.

Carton and container

Carton lengthcmCarton widthcmCarton heightcmCarton gross weightkgContainer

Best carton orientation60 × 40 × 35 cm

Preset interior: 589 × 235 × 239 cm. Preset cargo payload: 28,300 kg. Geometry tests uniform grids only and may turn a carton onto its side. Do not use that orientation for goods that must remain upright. Door openings, dunnage weight, bracing, floor loads and route weight limits are not modeled.

Maersk example equipment specifications provide the nominal capacities and payloads; confirm the equipment actually supplied.

Your estimate

Estimated cartons270

Geometry count270

Volume utilization at estimated count68.6%

Volume-only upper bound393

Planning estimate only. Confirm measurements, rounding, service rules, payload, and rates with the carrier.

Load a worked example

Each link fills the calculator with the measurements shown. Change a value to see what changes. Reference examples are covered by automated calculation checks; they are not physical shipping tests.

The same cartons in a 40 ft preset

60 × 40 × 35 cm; 12 kg each; 1203 × 235 × 239 cm interior

Calculation: 20 × 5 × 6

Expected: 600 cartons; 7200 kg; 50.4 m³ of cartons

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High cube crosses one more layer threshold

60 × 40 × 40 cm; 12 kg each; 1203 × 235 × 269 cm interior

Calculation: 20 × 5 × 6

Expected: 600 cartons versus 500 in the standard 40 ft preset

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Payload reduces the geometric count

60 × 40 × 35 cm; 120 kg each; 20 ft preset; 28,300 kg payload

Calculation: min(270, floor(28300/120))

Expected: 235 cartons; 28200 kg; about 59.67% volume utilization

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How it works

A clear answer from the numbers you already have.

Compare all six axis-aligned carton orientations, including tipping cartons onto their side, against example dry-container internal dimensions. The result is a planning estimate for uniform cartons, with capacity and payload reminders.

FormulaCarton count = floor(container L ÷ box L) × floor(container W ÷ box W) × floor(container H ÷ box H)

How to use this calculator

1
Select a dry-container preset and check its displayed internal dimensions.
2
Enter packed carton dimensions and weight.
3
Compare the best orientation with volume and payload constraints.

What to check before booking

The result is a planning estimate, not a freight quote or load-safety approval. Measure the finished package, confirm the correct carrier service and divisor, and apply the rounding method in your current contract. For pallets and containers, also verify maximum payload, door clearance, stacking strength, load restraint, and local transport rules.

Equipment specifications and tariff rules can change. Cargoivo keeps common presets visible while letting the carrier's own documentation remain the final authority.

Calculator behavior is checked with repeatable examples documented in How We Test and the Cargoivo Lab.

Learn the method

Guides for this calculation

All shipping guides →

Containers

Shipping Container Sizes and Loading Capacity

Compare common 20 ft, 40 ft, and 40 ft high-cube dry containers before planning a load.

2 min read →Containers

20 ft Container Capacity: CBM vs Actual Carton Fit

Work through a 20 ft container example: carton CBM, whole-carton rows, orientation and weight checks. See why cubic capacity does not prove a load will fit.

3 min read →Containers

40 ft Container Capacity and Loading Guide

Plan carton volume and payload in a standard 40-foot dry container without relying on CBM alone.

2 min read →

Frequently asked