Container Load Calculator
Before you decide between LCL and a full container, you need to know how much fits. Enter your carton size and quantity to see the total volume and how it loads into 20ft, 40ft and 40ft HQ containers — with a fill percentage for each.
How container capacity is estimated
We use practical usable capacities — roughly 28 CBM for a 20ft, 58 CBM for a 40ft and 68 CBM for a 40ft HQ — not the theoretical maximum, because real cartons leave gaps. The calculator shows how many of your cartons fit each container and what percentage of the space your current load uses. Once a shipment fills more than about 15 CBM, a full container (FCL) usually beats LCL on price per cubic meter.
How many CBM fit in a 20ft and 40ft container?
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In practice, a 20ft container holds around 28 CBM, a 40ft about 58 CBM and a 40ft High Cube about 68 CBM of palletized or stacked cartons. The theoretical interior volumes are higher (33 / 67 / 76 CBM) but real loads leave gaps, so usable capacity is what matters for planning.
When should I switch from LCL to a full container?
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As a rule of thumb, once your shipment exceeds roughly 15 CBM, a 20ft FCL often costs less per cubic meter than LCL and avoids consolidation handling and delays. Compare a real LCL quote against a 20ft FCL quote at your volume to be sure.