How to use this calculator
- Enter or choose carton length.
- Enter or choose carton width.
- Enter or choose carton height.
- Enter or choose number of cartons.
- Enter or choose gross weight per carton.
- The volume utilisation updates as you type. Use Copy result or Share to keep it.
Method
Cargo m³ = L × W × H (cm) ÷ 1,000,000 × Cartons; Utilisation = Cargo m³ ÷ Container m³ × 100
- L, W, H
- outside carton dimensions in cm
- Container m³
- internal volume of the container
Worked example
- One carton = 60 × 40 × 50 ÷ 1,000,000 = 0.12 m³.
- Cargo = 0.12 × 250 = 30 m³.
- Utilisation = 30 ÷ 33 = 90.91%.
250 cartons take 30 m³, filling 90.91% of a 33 m³ container with 3 m³ to spare.
What the result means
Volume utilisation measures space, not whether the cartons will actually stack in. Gaps between cartons and loading clearance mean 100% is never reached in practice; use the container capacity calculator for a carton-by-carton fit.
Assumptions and limits
- All cartons are the same size and weight.
- It does not check that the cartons physically fit together, door clearance or stacking strength.
Questions
Why can’t I use 100% of the volume?
Carton sizes rarely divide the container exactly, and you need clearance at the doors and roof.
Which matters more, volume or weight?
Light goods run out of space first; dense goods such as tiles hit the payload limit long before the box is full.