Question 1

How many pallets fit in a 20ft or 40ft container?

Accepted Answer

Floor-loaded, a 20ft dry van takes 11 Euro pallets (1.2 × 0.8m) or 9 standard GMA pallets (48 × 40"). A 40ft dry van or high cube takes 25 Euro pallets or 20 GMA pallets, and a 45ft high cube takes 27 Euro or 24 GMA.  Those counts depend on mixing orientations rather than laying every pallet the same way: with Euro pallets you get one lane 1.2m wide running the length of the container and a second lane 0.8m wide beside it, which fits more than a uniform grid does.  They are also floor counts only — stackable cargo raises the real number, and dense cargo often hits the payload limit before the floor fills up. Our guide on how many pallets fit in a truck walks through the arithmetic, and Cargo-Planner calculates the exact figure for your own cargo and equipment.

Question 2

What is the difference between a 40ft and a 40ft high cube container?

Accepted Answer

Both are 12.03m long and 2.35m wide internally — the difference is height. A standard 40ft dry van is 2.395m inside, a 40ft high cube is 2.70m, giving you roughly 12% more volume and a higher payload rating.  A high cube is the better choice for light, bulky cargo that runs out of space before it runs out of weight. For dense cargo that hits the payload limit first, the extra height buys you nothing. See our container dimensions guide for the exact figures.

Question 3

What can I do when cargo is too tall or too wide for a container?

Accepted Answer

Use equipment that isn't loaded through the doors. Open top containers have a removable roof, so over-height cargo can be craned in from above. Flat racks and platforms have no side walls or roof at all, which handles cargo that is over-width as well as over-height — this is standard practice for project and breakbulk shipments.  Cargo-Planner checks door dimensions automatically and won't load an item into a container it physically cannot enter.

Question 4

Why does the centre of gravity matter when loading a container?

Accepted Answer

A container with its weight concentrated at one end behaves badly when lifted by crane, sits unevenly on a chassis, and can be refused by ports and carriers whose rules require the centre of gravity to be within tolerance of the container's midpoint.  Cargo-Planner can prioritise centre of gravity when it builds a plan, keeping it within a specified percentage of the container's centre. See the load settings reference.

Question 5

Can I plan several containers of different types at once?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You select which equipment is available and Cargo-Planner picks the best combination across container types, weighing used volume, payload and any custom rules you've set.  You can also assign a cost per container type, which lets the tool optimise for the cheapest viable setup rather than simply the fewest containers.

Question 6

Do I need to install anything to use Cargo-Planner?

Accepted Answer

No. Cargo-Planner runs entirely in the browser — nothing to install, and load plans are shareable by link with colleagues, warehouses and customers who don't have an account.  You can start a free trial with a company email and have a plan built within minutes.

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When the cargo isn't simple boxes

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Load with pallets

Breakbulk vessels

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many pallets fit in a 20ft or 40ft container?

What is the difference between a 40ft and a 40ft high cube container?

What can I do when cargo is too tall or too wide for a container?

Why does the centre of gravity matter when loading a container?

Can I plan several containers of different types at once?

Do I need to install anything to use Cargo-Planner?

Learn more about container loading

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What a load plan is, and how one gets made

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