How many units fit in a 40ft container?
The short answer: take the container's usable volume and divide by the carton's CBM. A 40' high-cube holds about 76.3 m³; allowing ~85% stow efficiency, cartons per container ≈ (76.3 × 0.85) ÷ carton CBM, rounded down.
The method
- 1. Find the export carton's CBM = L × W × H in metres.
- 2. Take the container's usable volume: a 40' HQ ≈ 76.3 m³ × 0.85 stow.
- 3. Cartons ≈ usable volume ÷ carton CBM, rounded down.
- 4. Units = cartons × units-per-carton (volume usually fills before weight).
Worked examples from our live range
| Category | Example base model | Carton CBM | Cartons / 40' HQ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Camping & Hiking | Steel Camping Cart (70L) | 0.036 m³ | 1801 |
| Folding Wagons | Folding Camping Wagon, Compact | 0.106 m³ | 610 |
| Beach & Leisure | Beach Mats LP5-1016B — grey | 0.133 m³ | 486 |
| Coolers & Storage | Ice Bucket Racks LP5-1015 — blue | 0.031 m³ | 2092 |
| Fishing | Fishing Stools LP5-1001C — blue | 0.043 m³ | 1501 |
| Pet Outdoor | Pet Supplies LP5-8000 — black | 0.094 m³ | 689 |
| Camping Furniture | Kermit Folding Chair, Round Tube | 0.192 m³ | 337 |
Figures are indicative and confirmed on quote. Each example is the best-shipping model in its category.
Frequently asked
How many cartons fit in a 40ft high-cube container?
A 40' high-cube container has roughly 76.3 m³ of internal volume. In practice you can't fill 100% of it, so we apply a stow efficiency of about 85% to allow for gaps, pallet voids and securing. Cartons per container ≈ (76.3 × 0.85) ÷ carton CBM, rounded down.
What is CBM and why does it matter?
CBM (cubic metres) is the packed volume of an export carton: length × width × height in metres. It's the single most important number for ocean freight, because containers are usually filled by volume long before they hit a weight limit. Lower carton CBM means more units per container and a lower freight cost per unit.
Are these counts exact?
They're close planning estimates. Real loads depend on whether goods are floor-loaded or palletised, carton orientation and mixed-SKU stacking. We confirm the exact per-order container plan on the quote. Figures here are indicative and confirmed on quote.
Can I mix products in one container?
Yes. MOQ is by the container, and base models can be mixed to fill one — useful for launching a small range rather than a single SKU. We help plan the mix so the container fills efficiently.