What is the payload of a container?
The Payload or Net Weight is the weight of the cargo or contents that a container can hold. The container max payload should not be exceeded. The Container Gross Weight is the weight of the container plus the maximum payload it can hold.
A 20ft container can hold up to about 25,000kg and a 40ft container around 28,000kg. Cranes at some ports won't allow containers heavier than 14,000kg – 18,000kg.
Take note: the container's capacity is evaluated by its cubic measurement as well as the maximum weight of the cargo it can carry. *Cubic feet of a container is calculated by multiplying the internal size of the container – inside length x height x width.
The dimensions of a 20 foot storage container are – height: 8ft 6in, width: 2.9m, width metric: 8ft, length: 2.44m. It has a payload capacity of 25,000 kg / 55,126.9 lbs.
40 ft shipping container dimensions
The payload for 40ft containers is 30480kg (67200lbs) for general purpose.
What's the maximum load for a 40-foot container? A 40-foot container's empty weight is 3,750kg and can be loaded to a maximum overall weight of 29 tons (26,300kg).
Measure | 20ft container |
---|---|
Internal width | 2.35m / 7.8ft |
Internal height | 2.39m / 7.9ft |
Tare weight | 2,300kg / 5,071.5 lbs |
Payload capacity | 25,000 kg / 55,126.9 lbs |
How many pallets fit in a 40 foot container. Normally, just 20 skids of 48”x48” can fit into a 40' container.
As a general rule, the gross weight for 40-foot transportation should be less than 80,000 lbs, resulting in a cargo weight of roughly 45,000 lbs. Refrigerated cargo weight in 40-foot containers should be between 39,000 and 40,000 lbs, with cargo weight under 80,000 lbs gross weight.
The maximum payload mass for a 20' container is approx. 22 tonnes: and for 40', approx. 27 tonnes.
How many pallets can you fit in a 40FT container?
How many pallets fit into a 20' or 40' container? A 20'ft container can hold eleven "Europallets" in one tier or nine to ten standard pallets in one tier while a 40' container can hold 23-24 "Europallets" in one tier or 20-21 standard pallets in one tier.
The actual limit on ocean container weight is the max gross cargo weight listed on the container door – usually 10,000 or more beyond 44,000 pounds.

In most states, shipments can be classified as 'heavy' when cargo exceeds: 20 ft dry container that has a cargo weight above 37,500 pounds (with some exceptions) 40 ft dry or High Cube container that has a cargo weight above 43,500 pounds (with some exceptions)
TARE WEIGHT | GROSS WEIGHT | |
---|---|---|
Lbs | 5,000 | 52,910 |
Kgs | 2,268 | 24,000 |
Welded 10 foot container is becoming a universal package for transport. The container of 10 tons is perfectly suitable for sending heavy loads and storage with different operating conditions. Nowadays, 10 foot container is minimal package among containers with standard universal mounting.
The 40 QT. size measures 14.8 x 18.2 x 20.2 inches and has a capacity of up to 35 pounds.
Our largest dimension container can hold the most for your big jobs. If you have over 60,000 pounds of material, it can fit in this over sized container reaching 45 feet long. The amount of storage space for this container is more than double the 20-ft container.
It is possible to load this way however it is definitely not advised. The 20-ft container will not be as secure as the 40-ft, especially the higher it is on the stack. It is best to put two 20-ft containers below and then put a 40-ft unit on top of them to provide added security on each corner.
a 20′ container can pack up to 1.53 m³ of cargo for every ton of weight. Up to 21.85 tons of cargo can be loaded on a 20′ container that offers only 33.50 m³ of cargo space. a 40′ container can pack up to 2.53 m³ of cargo for every ton of weight.
Different pallets sizes hold different weights
In addition, the 42 x 42 pallet and the 48 x 48 pallet can hold 3,700 lbs.
How many 40x48 pallets fit in a 53 trailer?
If your pallets are standard-sized (48″ x 40″ x 48″): A 53ft truck can fit 26 non-stackable pallets and 52 stackable, standard-size pallets.
40-foot container: 64 to 88 drums, depending on product density.
The maximum cargo weight that can be safely and legally loaded, when a triaxle chassis is used, for most US areas is: In a 20” container – 44,000 lbs (19,958kg) In a 40” container – 44,500 lbs (20,185kg).
An empty 20ft standard container has a tare weight of 2.2T, whereas an empty 40ft standard container has a tare weight of 3.6T.
Dimensions of 40′ High Cube Shipping Container:
Length: 40 feet. Width: 8 feet. Height: 9 feet, 6 inches. Weight: 8,600 pounds.
FCL refers to a full container load, where the shipment or cargo requires the full space of the container. In this case, the complete cargo of the container is owned by the shipper, and the container space is not shared by any other cargo. The term LCL means less than container load.
How large is a full container load? Standard ocean freight containers are either 20 or 40 feet in length, 8 feet wide and 8.5 feet in height. Larger versions, known as “high-cube containers” are also common, and are 40 feet in length and 9.5 feet tall.
The maximum gross weight allowed, including tractor, in 53-foot domestic intermodal containers is 80,000 pounds. This includes the total combined gross vehicle combination weights of the tractor, chassis and container weight, including lading.
Depending on high you build each of your pallets, you should be able to double stack them to maximise the space, potentially allowing for up to 20 pallets to be stacked in a 20ft pallet wide container and 42 in a 40ft pallet wide container.
40ft standard containers fit up to 20 Standard Pallets, and 24 Euro Pallets.
How many cartons in a 40ft container?
How Many Pallets & Boxes Fit In A 40 Foot Container? The average number of pallets that fit in a standard 40ft container is 20. A standard pallet can fit 60 boxes, so if a container fits 20 pallets of 60 boxes on average, the number of boxes in a 40ft container is 1200.
The 40ft High Cube container weighs 8,775 lbs. The 40ft Standard container weighs 8,000 lbs. Both the 40ft High Cube container and 40ft Standard container have a Maximum Gross Weight (weight of container and the cargo inside) of 67,200 lbs. When it comes to shipping the weight limit is the same.