Essential
Container Load Estimator
Once you know your shipment volume, the next question is whether to book LCL or a full container, and if so, which size. This calculator takes your total CBM (and pallet count, if you have one) and suggests LCL or the smallest FCL container your cargo reasonably fits, so you know what to ask forwarders to quote.
Helps flag when pallet count exceeds typical container capacity
Recommendation
20GP container
~85% of selected capacity · Reasonable fit for FCL. Confirm weight limits and cargo type with your forwarder.
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Results are indicative only. Rates, transit times, classifications, and charges vary by carrier, lane, and contract. For binding quotes, post a request on CargoLinked or contact your forwarder.
How it works
Below roughly 15 CBM, LCL is usually the more cost-effective route, since you would be paying for a lot of empty container space you don't need — the tool defaults to recommending LCL in that range. Above that threshold, it checks your volume against 20GP, 40GP, 40HC, and 45HC capacities in order, and recommends the smallest container where your cargo would fill it to 95% or less, leaving some margin for how real cargo actually stows.
If you enter a pallet count, the tool also flags when it exceeds what typically fits in a single-tier load — roughly 11 standard EUR pallets in a 20GP, and roughly 22 in a 40GP — and steers you toward a larger box even if the raw CBM figure alone would technically fit, since pallets don't stack as efficiently as loose cartons.
The capacities used here track internal nominal volumes rather than what you can realistically stow. A 20GP is nominally about 33.2 m³, a 40GP about 67.7 m³, a 40HC about 76.4 m³, and a 45HC about 86 m³ — but once you allow for pallet shape, stacking limits, and gaps between cartons, usable capacity is typically closer to 85% of that nominal figure. Treat the utilization percentage this tool shows as a planning guide, not a guarantee your cargo will physically fit — confirm the actual stow plan with your forwarder before booking.
Utilization % = (Total CBM ÷ container capacity) × 100
Worked example
28 CBM total, no pallet count entered
- Compare to 20GP capacity28 ÷ 33 × 100 ≈ 85%
- Utilization check85% is at or under the 95% fit threshold, so 20GP is kept
Recommendation: 20GP container (~85% utilization)
Frequently asked questions
How much more can a 40HC carry than a 20GP?
A 40ft high cube (40HC) has a nominal internal volume of roughly 76.4 m³, more than double a 20ft general purpose (20GP) container's roughly 33.2 m³. In practice usable capacity for both is typically around 85% of the nominal figure once you allow for pallet shape and stacking, but the ratio between the two container sizes stays roughly the same.
When does LCL beat FCL?
LCL is usually the cheaper option below roughly 15 CBM, since booking a full container for a small shipment means paying for space you never use. Above that volume, FCL typically starts to win on a per-CBM basis, though the exact break-even point depends on your forwarder's LCL rate and the FCL rate for the lane, so it is worth comparing both quotes rather than relying on volume alone.
What is the difference between nominal and usable container volume?
Nominal volume is the container's full internal cubic capacity as published by the manufacturer — for example, about 33.2 m³ for a 20GP. Usable (or stowable) volume is what you can realistically load once you account for pallet footprints, stacking limits, and the gaps that naturally form between cartons, which is commonly around 85% of the nominal figure. This tool's capacity thresholds track close to nominal volume, so read a high utilization percentage as "approaching the box's theoretical limit," not "guaranteed to physically fit."
Does pallet count change the recommendation?
Yes — entering a pallet count lets the tool flag when your cargo won't stack efficiently even if the raw CBM figure fits. A 20GP typically holds around 11 standard EUR pallets single-stacked, and a 40GP around 22, so exceeding those counts can push the recommendation toward a larger container or LCL even when volume alone looked fine.
What does the utilization percentage mean?
It is your total CBM divided by the recommended container's nominal capacity, expressed as a percentage. The tool caps its recommendation at 95% utilization or below — if your volume would exceed that in every container size, it suggests the largest option (45HC) and flags that you may need multiple containers, since packing right up to 100% of nominal volume is rarely achievable with real cargo.
Related tools
Estimates & assumptions
- Capacities are approximate nominal internal volumes, not guaranteed usable/stowable volume — real loads typically achieve around 85% of nominal.
- Pallet-count guidance is a rough single-tier heuristic (~11 pallets per 20GP, ~22 per 40GP); actual fit depends on pallet size, cargo height, and stacking.
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