Question 1

How many CBM is a 20ft container?

Accepted Answer

33.2 m³ nominal (5.898 × 2.352 × 2.393 m inside), of which about 28 m³ is usable with loose-loaded cartons once you allow for the gaps that real boxes leave. Palletised cargo drops to roughly 22–25 m³. A 40ft GP is 67.7 m³ nominal / ≈ 58 usable; a 40ft HC 76.4 / ≈ 68.

Question 2

How much weight can a 20ft container hold?

Accepted Answer

Rated max payload is about 28,180 kg (30,480 kg max gross minus 2,300 kg tare). But the truck that collects it at destination is usually the real limit: many Indian, Pakistani and African road networks cap a 20ft at roughly 20–22 tonnes of cargo, and GCC / Europe around 24. Ask your forwarder before loading to the box rating — an overweight container sits at the port while you pay for it.

Question 3

What is the difference between a 40ft GP and a 40ft HC?

Accepted Answer

Height only. Both are 12.032 m long inside; the HC is 2.698 m high against 2.393 m, which adds about 8.7 m³ (76.4 vs 67.7). Payload is a few hundred kilos less on the HC because the box is heavier. For hardware — which weighs out long before it fills — the HC rarely helps; it earns its keep on bulky, light cargo.

Question 4

Why did my container hit the weight limit before it was full?

Accepted Answer

Because cutting tools are dense. A 20ft weighs out above roughly 1,006 kg per cubic metre of cargo and a 40ft above about 461 kg/m³ — and a carton of grinding wheels or loose HSS drills runs 800–1,500 kg/m³. That is why a 40ft of abrasives is often only 60% full by volume when it is at max weight, and why mixing in light, bulky lines (flap discs, drill sets in cases, colour-boxed saw blades) makes better use of the box.

Question 5

How many cartons fit in a 20ft container?

Accepted Answer

It depends entirely on the carton. As a reference, a 60 × 40 × 40 cm carton stacks 9 × 5 × 5 = 225 per 20ft by volume; a 30 × 25 × 20 cm carton about 1,700. The calculator above tries all six ways up and takes the best — then checks whether that many cartons is still under the weight limit, which for hardware is usually the number that actually wins.

Question 6

Can I mix products in one container?

Accepted Answer

Yes — that is the point of buying from one supplier. Drills, abrasives, saw blades and screwdriver bits ship under one invoice, one packing list and one bill of lading. Use the “Does my order fit?” mode above with a line per product, and it totals the CBM and weight and picks the smallest box that carries it. Heavy lines go on the floor, light cartons on top; we load that way and photograph it before the doors close.

	20' GP	40' GP	40' HC
Internal length	5.898 m	12.032 m	12.032 m
Internal width	2.352 m	2.352 m	2.352 m
Internal height	2.393 m	2.393 m	2.698 m
Door opening (W × H)	2.34 × 2.280 m	2.34 × 2.280 m	2.34 × 2.585 m
Nominal capacity	33.2 m³	67.7 m³	76.4 m³
Usable for loose cartons	≈ 28 m³	≈ 58 m³	≈ 68 m³
Tare weight	2,300 kg	3,750 kg	3,900 kg
Max gross weight	30,480 kg	30,480 kg	30,480 kg
Max payload	28,180 kg	26,730 kg	26,580 kg
Euro pallets 1200 × 800	11	25	25
ISO pallets 1200 × 1000	10	21	21
Weighs out above	≈ 1,006 kg/m³	≈ 461 kg/m³	≈ 391 kg/m³

Container Loading Calculator

Volume or weight — one of them always wins

Container dimensions, capacity and payload

Common questions

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