40ft Container Box Capacity
How many boxes fit in a 40ft container?
Use this calculator to estimate how many boxes fit in a 40ft container. We start with a 45x45x45 cm box and you can adjust dimensions to match your own load.
To get a quick answer to "How many boxes fit in a 40ft container?", we treat each box as a simple box and calculate how many fit into the internal footprint and height of the container.
Quick box capacity calculator for 40ft standard container
Enter your box dimensions and we'll estimate how many fit into a 40ft standard container based on simple length × width × height math. This is ideal for quick planning before running a full 3D optimization.
Container internal dimensions (approximate): 12.03 m × 2.35 m × 2.39 m
Example shows a 45x45x45 cm box (a common carton cube). You can adjust these dimensions for your own boxes.
~130 per floor layer × 5 layers
This is a simplified mathematical estimate that assumes perfect packing, no aisle space, and full stacking up to the container's internal height. Real-world results can vary based on pallet overhang, packaging, loading rules, and safety margins.
Create your custom container loading plan for free
Turn this estimate into a real 3D loading plan with mixed item sizes, weight limits, and shareable warehouse instructions.
Start free planningHow the 40ft container box calculation works
This calculator uses a straightforward formula based on the internal dimensions of a 40ft container. We divide the container's length and width by the box's footprint to see how many fit per floor layer, then divide the internal height by the box height to estimate stacking layers.
We also consider rotating items by 90 degrees on the floor and choose the best configuration. That gives you a realistic upper bound under ideal conditions - in practice you might load fewer boxes to respect weight limits, handling rules, and safety margins.
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FAQ
40ft container box FAQ
JustLoad.it supports all standard shipping containers including 20ft, 40ft, 40ft High Cube, 45ft High Cube, and 53ft Domestic containers. Each container type uses accurate internal dimensions for precise calculations. You can also define custom container dimensions for specialized equipment.
Our 3D bin packing algorithm achieves 85-95% container utilization for most cargo types. The algorithm considers item dimensions, weight limits, stacking constraints, and orientation preferences to generate realistic, implementable loading plans.
Yes! You can edit any saved shipment to add or remove items, change container types, or update notes. The system automatically recalculates the optimal loading configuration whenever you make changes.
JustLoad.it supports centimeters (cm), feet (ft), and inches (in). You can switch between units at any time, and the system automatically converts measurements. Your preferred unit is saved for each shipment.
Turn this estimate into a full 3D loading plan
Use JustLoad.it to run a full 3D box optimization for your 40ft standard container, including weight limits, mixed sizes, and printable warehouse instructions.