How many cartons fit in a container?
To estimate how many cartons fit, divide the container's inside length, width and height by the carton's dimensions, round each result down, and multiply. Then check the total weight against the payload. A 60 × 40 × 40 cm carton gives about 570 in a 40HQ this way, or up to 588 if carton directions are mixed.
Why the volume shortcut overestimates
The 60 × 40 × 40 cm carton is 0.096 m³. A 40HQ's 76 m³ divided by 0.096 suggests about 790 cartons, which is far more than can physically fit. Volume ignores the space left over when cartons do not divide evenly into the container. Use it only as a first rough check.
The row, column and layer method
Take a 40HQ with inside dimensions of 1203 × 235 × 270 cm and leave 2 cm of clearance on each side and at the top. That leaves about 1199 × 231 × 268 cm.
| Direction | Along length | Across width | Layers | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60 cm side along the length | 19 | 5 | 6 | 570 |
| 40 cm side along the length | 29 | 3 | 6 | 522 |
Direction changes the answer by almost 50 cartons, so always test both.
Mixing directions fits more
Filling leftover gaps with cartons turned the other way can add more. The LoadTrue calculator finds 588 for this carton in a 40HQ, using 74% of the volume. Results with the same carton kept upright:
| Carton (cm) | 20GP | 40GP | 40HQ | 45HQ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60 × 40 × 40 | 240 | 490 | 588 | 660 |
| 50 × 40 × 30 | 392 | 812 | 928 | 1,080 |
| 45 × 35 × 30 | 560 | 1,190 | 1,360 | 1,520 |
| 30 × 20 × 15 | 3,135 | 6,540 | 7,412 | 8,415 |
These are geometric maximums with 2 cm clearance. Treat them as an upper limit. Bulging cartons, dunnage and how the load is secured usually bring the real number down.
Then check the weight
Multiply the carton count by the gross weight per carton. At 50 kg per carton, 588 cartons weigh 29,400 kg, above a typical 40HQ payload of about 26,500 kg, so weight limits this load to 530 cartons. At 25 kg per carton, 588 cartons weigh 14,700 kg, and space is the limit. See container dimensions and payloads.
Several carton sizes
With mixed items the sums quickly become impractical by hand, because each size affects the gaps left for the next. Container loading software can work through the combinations from your packing list.