Container Loading Calculator: How Many Bottles Fit in a 20GP or 40HQ
Enter the carton size, weight and pieces per carton; the calculator returns cartons and bottles per container, and whether volume or weight is the limit.
Designed by Joe Joo · 8PCK, Shantou
A 40HQ holds 76 m³, but a carton of empty bottles is mostly air — payload or pallet footprint runs out before volume does.
Want a Person to Check It?
Send the numbers and we reply with a written quotation, lead time and a sample plan — usually within a few hours, Mon–Sat.
The Formula, the Assumptions, and Where It Stops
- Carton volume = L × W × H ÷ 1,000,000 (m³).
- By volume = floor(container m³ × 0.90 ÷ carton m³).
- By weight = floor(payload kg ÷ carton gross kg).
- The answer is the smaller of the two — and the tool tells you which limit applied.
Assumptions. Internal volumes: 20GP 33 m³, 40GP 67 m³, 40HQ 76 m³. Payload 26–28 t, subject to road limits.
Standards we work to. ISO 9001:2015 (quality system, cert PCC85724Q01277R1S) · EU 10/2011 (plastic food-contact, migration report E2032) · RoHS (PE B-R01612E2033, PET B-R201133464) · ISO 4180 (packaging for transport). The calculator is a planning tool: the approved drawing and the migration report decide the final specification.
Where it does not apply. 90 % utilisation suits hand-stacked cartons. A palletised load fits less — run the cartons-per-pallet tool first.
Send the Numbers, Get a Person
Reply with the result above and we come back with a written quotation, packing data and a sample plan — within one business day.
Worked examples
Volume and payload both cap a container; the smaller number wins. 90 % volume utilisation is assumed.
| Input (40HQ) | Cartons | Pieces | Limited by |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 pcs/carton, 50×35×30 cm, 12 kg | 1,302 cartons | 130,200 pcs | volume, 15.6 t |
| 50 pcs/carton, 40×30×25 cm, 9 kg | 2,280 cartons | 114,000 pcs | volume, 20.5 t |
| 24 pcs/carton, 60×40×40 cm, 18 kg | 712 cartons | 17,088 pcs | volume, 12.8 t |
Volume Is Rarely the Limit for Plastic Bottles
A 40HQ holds 76 m³, but a carton of empty bottles is mostly air. What usually runs out first is the payload or the pallet footprint, which is why the result tells you which limit applied.
Why 90 % Utilisation
Cartons do not tile a container perfectly: door frames, corrugation and pallet overhang all waste space. 90 % is the practical figure for hand-stacked cartons; palletised loads are lower.
Questions About This Tool
How many 500 ml bottles fit in a 40HQ?
About 40,000–48,000 pcs at 200 per carton, depending on carton size and weight.
Should I palletise?
Palletising costs volume but cuts loading time and damage. Under 10 pallets, hand-stacking is usually lower in unit cost.
What is the max payload?
About 26 t for a 40HQ, 28 t for a 20GP — road limits may be lower.
Didn't Solve It?
Tell us what you are trying to pack and we will tell you what fits, what it costs and how long it takes. No forms if you would rather just message.