What CBM capacity do you use per container?

Usable (practical) volumes are about 33 CBM for a 20ft, 67 CBM for a 40ft, and 76 CBM for a 40ft High Cube. Theoretical internal volumes are higher, but real stuffing loses space to pallet gaps and shape, so usable figures are used.

What is the maximum payload?

Typical maximum cargo payloads are around 28,000 kg for a 20ft and 26,500 kg for a 40ft or High Cube, after subtracting tare weight from the gross VGM limit. Always confirm the exact payload on your container's CSC plate.

What does volume-out versus weight-out mean?

Volume-out means you run out of space before hitting the weight limit, typical of light bulky cargo. Weight-out means you reach the weight limit with space to spare, typical of dense goods. The tool tells you which constraint binds first.

Why can't I fill 100 percent of the volume?

Cartons rarely tessellate perfectly and pallets, dunnage, and access aisles consume space. Practical utilisation of 80 to 90 percent of usable CBM is good. Using usable rather than theoretical volume already accounts for some of this.

Does this plan the exact stacking pattern?

No. It is a capacity check on total CBM and weight, not a 3D bin-packing optimiser. Use it to confirm a load fits and to balance volume against weight before you build a detailed stow plan.

Container Stuffing & Utilisation Calculator

Booking the right container and avoiding a weight-out or volume-out surprise at the port starts with a simple capacity check. This calculator totals the CBM and gross weight of your cartons and shows how much of a 20ft, 40ft, or 40ft High Cube container you would use.

How it works

Each carton type contributes volume and weight; totals are compared to container limits:

carton CBM   = (L × W × H in cm) / 1,000,000
total CBM    = Σ carton CBM × quantity
total weight = Σ carton weight × quantity
volume util  = total CBM / usable container CBM
weight util  = total weight / max payload

Whichever utilisation hits 100% first is the binding constraint: volume-out for light bulky goods, weight-out for dense goods.

Example

500 cartons of 60 × 40 × 40 cm at 18 kg each: each carton is 0.096 CBM, so total volume is 48 CBM and total weight 9,000 kg. In a 40ft (67 CBM usable, ~26,500 kg payload) that is 72% volume and 34% weight — clearly volume-out, with room on weight.

Notes

Volumes are usable (practical) figures, already discounting some packing loss. Aim for 80–90% volume utilisation in practice; perfect tessellation is rare. Confirm the exact maximum payload on the container’s CSC plate, as tare weight varies by unit.