Toolbox / CBM and container loading

CBM · ft³ · chargeable weight · 20’ · 40’ · 40’ HC · FCL vs LCL

CBM & Container Loading Calculator (20ft / 40ft / 40HC, FCL & LCL)

List your cartons and get the volume, weight and chargeable weight, how many containers they need and which limit binds, a drawing of the load, and whether FCL or LCL costs less at your quotes. Container data is cited to carrier publications. Everything is calculated in your browser; there is no sign-up.

This is an estimate from a simple packing heuristic, not a load plan. Confirm with your forwarder or the shipping line. Real stowage depends on the cargo, dunnage, lashing, weight distribution and the container you are given.

Packing list

Size inWeight in

One line per carton type. Weight is gross weight of one carton. Leave a line empty to ignore it.

Line 1

Pallets

Totals

Enter at least one carton line (length, width, height, weight and quantity) to see the totals and the container plan.

Next: price the freight and the landed cost of this order

Container data and sources

Internal sizes, door openings, capacity and maximum payload come from carrier publications fetched 2026-10-19. Each stored value is the lower of what the carriers print. Carriers list several builds per size, so payload varies: type your own below if your carrier quotes another figure.

ContainerInternal L × W × H (mm)Door W × H (mm)CapacityMax payload (kg)StatusSources
20' GP5,896 × 2,350 × 2,3932,340 × 2,27433 m³
kg
verifiedmaersk, hapag-lloyd
40' GP12,029 × 2,350 × 2,3922,340 × 2,27467 m³
kg
verifiedmaersk, hapag-lloyd
40' HC12,032 × 2,350 × 2,6972,340 × 2,57776 m³
kg
verifiedmaersk, hapag-lloyd
45' HCnot used13,556 × 2,352 × 2,6982,340 × 2,58585 m³
kg
verifiedmaersk, hapag-lloyd
Every field and what each publisher prints
ContainerFieldUsedPrinted valuesStatus
20' GPL5896maersk 5896; hapag-lloyd 5898verified 2 agree
20' GPW2350maersk 2350; hapag-lloyd 2352verified 2 agree
20' GPH2393maersk 2393; hapag-lloyd 2393verified 2 agree
20' GPdoorW2340maersk 2350; hapag-lloyd 2340verified 2 agree
20' GPdoorH2274maersk 2274; hapag-lloyd 2280verified 2 agree
20' GPcap33maersk 33; hapag-lloyd 33verified 2 agree
20' GPpayload28180maersk 28200; hapag-lloyd 28180verified 2 agree
40' GPL12029maersk 12032; hapag-lloyd 12029verified 2 agree
40' GPW2350maersk 2350; hapag-lloyd 2350verified 2 agree
40' GPH2392maersk 2393; hapag-lloyd 2392verified 2 agree
40' GPdoorW2340maersk 2340; hapag-lloyd 2340verified 2 agree
40' GPdoorH2274maersk 2274; hapag-lloyd 2292verified 2 agree
40' GPcap67maersk 67; hapag-lloyd 67.7verified 2 agree
40' GPpayload28800maersk 28800; hapag-lloyd 28800verified 2 agree
40' HCL12032maersk 12032; hapag-lloyd 12032verified 2 agree
40' HCW2350maersk 2350; hapag-lloyd 2352verified 2 agree
40' HCH2697maersk 2697; hapag-lloyd 2700verified 2 agree
40' HCdoorW2340maersk 2340; hapag-lloyd 2340verified 2 agree
40' HCdoorH2577maersk 2577; hapag-lloyd 2597verified 2 agree
40' HCcap76maersk 76; hapag-lloyd 76.3verified 2 agree
40' HCpayload28600maersk 28620; hapag-lloyd 28600verified 2 agree
45' HCL13556maersk 13556; hapag-lloyd 13556verified 2 agree
45' HCW2352maersk 2352; hapag-lloyd 2352verified 2 agree
45' HCH2698maersk 2698; hapag-lloyd 2700verified 2 agree
45' HCdoorW2340maersk 2340; hapag-lloyd 2340verified 2 agree
45' HCdoorH2585maersk 2585; hapag-lloyd 2597verified 2 agree
45' HCcap85maersk 85; hapag-lloyd 86verified 2 agree
45' HCpayload27600maersk 27600; hapag-lloyd 27800verified 2 agree
  • 20' GP: Hapag-Lloyd prints several 20' builds; the 5,898 mm / 28,180 kg row (CPSU series) is the one used. Its newer wooden- and steel-floor builds print 30,150 to 30,250 kg payload.
  • 40' GP: Hapag-Lloyd prints payloads from 26,700 kg (one HLXU series, heavier tare) to 28,800 kg for 40' general-purpose builds; the 12,032 mm / 28,800 kg build is used and the payload is editable.
  • 40' HC: Hapag-Lloyd prints 28,200 to 28,670 kg for steel 40' high cube builds; the 28,600 kg corrugated-steel row is used against Maersk 28,620 kg.
  • 45' HC: Fewer lines run 45' units; availability from India is limited, so it is off by default. Hapag-Lloyd prints 27,450 kg (steel) and 27,800 kg (wooden floor) payload; Maersk 27,600 kg.

Conventions and the usable-volume guide

  • Air freight (IATA) (6000 cm3 per kg): chargeable = greater of actual kg and (L x W x H in cm) / divisor, over the whole shipment. verified time-matters, freightamigo, portlogics
  • Courier / express (5000 cm3 per kg): chargeable = greater of actual kg and (L x W x H in cm) / divisor, per piece, then added up. verified time-matters, freightamigo
  • Sea LCL (W/M revenue ton) (1000 kg per m3): revenue tons = greater of tonnes (kg / 1,000) and m3. verified airlift, portlogics
  • Guide 85–90 %: Stowage loss of 10 to 15 % in the GDV Container Handbook worked examples, and 8 to 15 % average broken stowage for standard cargo (DocShipper), give about 85 to 90 % of internal volume for regular cartons. verified gdv, docshipper
  • Guide 70–80 %: DocShipper puts broken stowage for irregular or mixed shipments at 20 to 30 %, so about 70 to 80 % usable. single source docshipper

Not held: MSC and CMA CGM sheets (their pages blocked this session), reefer, open-top and other special equipment, pallet sizes, any freight rate. Where a value is not held the tool asks you instead of guessing.

This is an estimate from a simple packing heuristic, not a load plan. Confirm with your forwarder or the shipping line. Real stowage depends on the cargo, dunnage, lashing, weight distribution and the container you are given.

Frequently asked questions

How do you calculate CBM?

CBM (cubic metres) = length × width × height in metres, times the number of cartons. A carton of 120 × 80 × 100 cm is 1.2 × 0.8 × 1.0 = 0.96 m³; 60 of them are 57.6 m³.

How many CBM fit in a 20ft, 40ft and 40ft high cube container?

Internal volume is about 33 m³ for a 20ft, 67 m³ for a 40ft and 76 m³ for a 40ft high cube, from Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd specifications. Regular cartons usually fill 85 to 90 % of that; mixed or irregular cargo less.

What is chargeable weight?

The weight a carrier bills: the greater of actual weight and volumetric weight. Air freight uses length × width × height in cm ÷ 6,000; courier and express usually ÷ 5,000; sea LCL charges per revenue ton, the greater of tonnes and cubic metres.

When is FCL cheaper than LCL?

When the LCL charge per cubic metre times your volume exceeds the price of a full container. The tool works out the break-even volume from the rates you enter, so the answer follows your actual quotes.

Shipping your own products?
Join himalay.io as a manufacturing partner and receive container-load orders from global buyers.

Become a manufacturing partner

Need these goods made and shipped?
Send an enquiry and compare offers from verified Indian makers.

Request quotes
Padamade Private Limited
IndiaHiranandani Estate, Patlipada, Off G.B Road, Thane West, Maharashtra, India, 400607
NetherlandsBreitnerstraat, 3015 XG Rotterdam
UAE804, KM Trading Building, Najda Street, Abu Dhabi City, Abu Dhabi
Our CompanyAbout UsTeamInsights
Source by RegionGCCEurope
LegalPrivacy PolicyCookie PolicyTerms of Use
Contact Us
+91 98204 74438 (India)+31 626 287 134 (Netherlands)+971 545 980 655 (UAE)info@himalay.io
Copyright © 2026 Himalay.io. All rights reserved.
InstagramLinkedInX