Free access for every freight team
Free 3D Container Loading Calculator | CBM3
Enter your cargo dimensions, weight and quantity to see how boxes and pallets fit inside a container. Compare loading plans in 3D, review stacking and weight distribution, and export a PDF to share with your team.
- No installation required
- Sea, road and air cargo planning
- PDF-ready loading reports
Loading Spaces:
35 predefined load spaces + Custom Size- 20' Dry Container (20DC)
- 20' Flat Rack (20FR)
- 20' Open Top (20OT)
- 20' Open Top High Cube
- 20' High Cube Palletwide
- 20' Standard Reefer (20RF)
- 40' Dry Container (40DC)
- 40' Flat Rack (40FR)
- 40' High Cube (40HC)
- 40' Open Top (40OT)
- 40' Open Top High Cube
- 40' High Cube Palletwide (SeaPC+)
- 40' Standard Reefer (40RF)
- 40' High Cube Reefer (40RHC)
- 45' High Cube (45HC)
- 45' High Cube Palletwide
- 48 ft North American Flatbed
- 48 ft North American Step Deck
- 53' Domestic High Cube Intermodal
- 53' Dry Van Trailer
- 53' Refrigerated Trailer
- 26 ft North American Dry Freight Body
- 13.6 m European Reefer Trailer
- Mega Trailer (13.6m)
- BNSF 60 ft Plate-F Boxcar
- Trinity 66 ft Mill Gondola
- Standard Trailer (13.6m)
- 7.45 m Swap Body (C745)
- 7.82 m Swap Body (C782)
- Lufthansa Cargo DPE (LD2)
- ANA Cargo DQF (LD8)
- Swiss WorldCargo LD11 Pallet (PLA/PLB)
- ULD LD3 Container (AKE)
- ULD LD7 88-inch Pallet (PAG/PAJ/P1P)
- ULD PMC 96-inch Pallet (P6P)
- Custom Container
Compare four common container profiles
Use these catalog values to choose a starting profile, then test your actual cargo in the calculator.
| Container | Internal L × W × H (cm) | Internal volume (m³) | Payload check (kg) | Read guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20DC | 589 × 235 × 239 | 33.08 | 28,200 | Read guide |
| 40DC | 1203 × 235 × 239 | 67.57 | 28,600 | Read guide |
| 40HC | 1203 × 235 × 269 | 76.05 | 28,600 | Read guide |
| 45HC | 1355 × 235 × 270 | 85.97 | 27,600 | Read guide |
Planning values only. Confirm the supplied container’s dimensions, door opening and permitted payload with the carrier.
Use CBM to estimate volume, then test the load that can actually be placed
The CBM formula is length × width × height × quantity. It describes volume, but a load plan also has to respect orientation, stacking, pallet footprint, clearances and payload.
CBM calculation is only the first step
Shipment volume matters, but real planning also depends on orientation, stackability, pallet choice, internal dimensions and total weight.
Container fit is not the same as total cubic volume
A 40HC or reefer decision can fail even when headline volume looks safe, because the real loading footprint of each item still matters.
Pallet and floor-load decisions change the answer
The same cargo can produce different capacity, handling and labor outcomes depending on whether it is loaded on pallets or directly on the floor.
Operations need instructions, not just numbers
The Loading Note field turns a calculation into a handoff document that warehouse teams can actually use inside the PDF.
Turn cargo details into a practical 3D loading plan
Use the cargo load planner to choose a load space, review each placement, create an operational PDF and share the result with your team.
Best Fit container recommendation
Start with Best Fit - Automatic to receive a sea-container recommendation. Choose a reefer, trailer, ULD or pallet profile manually when needed. Switching between cm/kg and inches/lb preserves the physical cargo and the current loading plan. Enter a positive whole-number quantity. Use a decimal point or comma without thousands separators, and correct invalid rows before planning.
- Automatic sea-container recommendation
- Manual override stays available
- Reefers, trailers, ULDs and pallet profiles are selected manually
- Compare whether the shipment fits a 40HC container
3D load calculator for placement review
Use the free 3D container loading calculator to see how cargo is placed, rotated and stacked before sharing the plan with a customer or warehouse. Fragile cargo cannot carry other cargo. Stack weight limits apply to the total load from all layers above. Keep upright restricts rotation to the horizontal plane. Selecting a delivery stop does not turn on Strict stop order; enable that rule separately when required.
- Full 3D rotation support
- Review the loading sequence step by step
- Review the actual space used by each item
- Clearer loading validation before export
Pallet-first planning with fallback logic
The planner keeps pallet loading as a candidate and only shifts rows to floor-load when pallet fit is no longer possible.
- Pallet-first evaluation
- Floor-load fallback only when required
- Stack-height aware decisions
- Improved real pallet placement quality
PDF outputs that are usable in operations
Generate PDFs that combine cargo data, container context, summary results and row-level Loading Note instructions. Density is shown in kg/m³ or lb/ft³ to match the selected units. Freight Class is a density-based estimate, not a definitive NMFC classification. Previously saved summaries retain their historical values.
- Loading Note included in PDFs
- Customer and warehouse friendly output
- Shareable summary in one file
- Useful for multilingual workflows
Saved calculations with business context
Reopen work faster with dashboard preview, status, customer, project and tag support.
- Preview a saved plan before reopening it
- Customer and project fields
- Tags and filters
- Language-aware dashboard flow
Import, save and share loading plans
Keep shipment planning reusable across devices and colleagues, then share or reopen a saved loading plan by code when needed. Preview CSV and Excel rows before import. Field errors remain visible; importing only the valid rows requires your explicit selection. Units are read from the column headings, or you choose the source units for older files without unit labels.
- CSV and row import workflow
- Save and reopen later
- Open or share saved plans by code
- Share results across the team
Loading plan methods
Choose the plan that best matches capacity, balance, or warehouse handling priorities.
Max Volume
Keeps the load compact to maximize usable cargo space.
Best Balance
Prioritizes a more centered weight distribution and stable load.
Deeper Search
Compares block layouts and box loading orders to find a denser container plan.
PRO Optimization
Searches for a better plan for boxes and upright cylinders for up to 90 seconds. Stop early to keep the best verified plan found so far.
Easy Loading
Spreads cargo across the floor to reduce stacking and simplify handling.
Stability First
Prefers higher support, bearing reserve, a lower center of gravity and a more even top surface.
Route First
Reduces delivery-stop inversions and conservative rehandling while preserving safety rules.
Max Volume v2
Runs a deterministic deeper search for a plan that cannot be worse than the current Max Volume result.
Layer Build
Builds regular walls and layers for eligible rectangular box loads.
Sequence Feasible
Verifies a conservative door-to-position loading order after the final placement is created.
Axle-Aware
Validates reactions at every stop when a sourced vehicle and axle profile is available.
Hard safety checks always override global and row-level preferences. Search budgets are limits, not fixed waiting times or a guarantee of the optimal result.
Global Loading Rules and Equipment Restrictions
Apply plan-wide constraints before row-level preferences. Model a real load space with an optional door opening, wheel arches and fixed internal obstacles. Empty fields preserve current planning behaviour.
Global loading rules
Apply plan-wide constraints before row-level preferences.
- Keep groups separateDo not mix cargo from different input rows in the same planning group.
- Strict stop orderPlace later delivery stops deeper so the next stop remains accessible.
- Allow partial supportPermit supported stacking down to the controlled minimum threshold.
Hard safety checks always override global and row-level preferences.
Industry loading presets
Apply proven starting rules, then adjust any row or plan rule to match the shipment.
- Custom rulesApply proven starting rules, then adjust any row or plan rule to match the shipment.
- FurnitureFragile, non-stackable furniture with orientation protection and easy unloading.
- Mixed warehouse picksKeep cargo groups separate, respect stop order, and favor easy unloading.
Applies only the selected starting defaults. You can edit any value afterwards.
Equipment restrictions
Model a real load space with an optional door opening, wheel arches and fixed internal obstacles. Empty fields preserve current planning behaviour.
- Door openingClear width (cm) · Clear height (cm)
- Wheel archesStart from rear (cm) · Length (cm) · Intrusion per side (cm) · Height (cm)
- Fixed internal obstaclesReserve non-loadable space for pillars, machinery or other fixed equipment.
No equipment restrictions are active.
Palletize my cargo
My cargo dimensions do not include pallets
- Auto (best fit)My cargo dimensions do not include pallets
- Pallet RequiredMy cargo dimensions do not include pallets
- Floor-Load OKMy cargo dimensions do not include pallets
My cargo dimensions do not include pallets
Plan sea containers, road equipment, railcars, ULDs and pallets in one selector
Choose verified sea, road, rail and air-cargo profiles, plus pallets and custom spaces, in one plan.
Container volume and payload figures are approximate. Confirm the exact internal dimensions, payload and carrier limits for the equipment you will use.
Sea containers
- 20' Dry Container (20DC)
- 40' Dry Container (40DC)
- 40' High Cube (40HC)
- 45' High Cube (45HC)
- 20' High Cube Palletwide
- 20' Open Top High Cube
- 40' High Cube Palletwide (SeaPC+)
- 45' High Cube Palletwide
- 40' High Cube Reefer (40RHC)
Road freight
- Standard Trailer (13.6m)
- Mega Trailer (13.6m)
- 26 ft North American Dry Freight Body
- 48 ft North American Flatbed
- 48 ft North American Step Deck
- 🌍 Transport Mode Comparison
- 💡 Weight limit is based on the selected container's max payload. Exceeding 90% triggers a warning.
Air cargo and ULDs
- ULD LD3 Container (AKE)
- ULD LD7 88-inch Pallet (PAG/PAJ/P1P)
- ULD PMC 96-inch Pallet (P6P)
- Swiss WorldCargo LD11 Pallet (PLA/PLB)
- ANA Cargo AKH (LD3-45WF)
- ANA Cargo DQF (LD8)
- Lufthansa Cargo DPE (LD2)
- ✈️ Chargeable Weight
Pallets and custom spaces
- My Pallet Profiles
- Custom pallet
- Custom Container
- Floor-Load OK
Rail freight
- BNSF 60 ft Plate-F Boxcar
- Trinity 66 ft Mill Gondola
- Rail has no automatic volumetric factor or default cost. Confirm the operator/carload quote.
Go from cargo dimensions to a load plan in four practical steps
Enter cargo rows
Add dimensions, weight, quantity, rotation preference and any Loading Note the warehouse should receive.
Accept Best Fit or switch manually
Use Best Fit for an automatic sea-container recommendation; select a reefer, trailer, ULD or pallet profile manually when needed.
Review container stuffing in 3D
Review your container stuffing plan in 3D before loading begins. Check item placement, stacking, weight distribution and any cargo left unplaced.
Export, save or reopen later
Send the PDF, save the calculation to the dashboard, preview it later or reopen it through code-based access.
Common shipment scenarios this page can solve better than a basic CBM formula
Use the same plan to answer the practical question behind the shipment: what fits, how it should be handled, and what the warehouse needs to receive.
40HC and reefer pre-check before booking
When a shipper asks whether the cargo fits in 40HC or 40RHC reefer, the team needs a fast answer based on real dimensions, not a rough estimate.
- Check usable fit before booking
- Compare standard and reefer scenarios
- Review leftover space and weight together
LCL or FCL quote support
Sales teams often search for a CBM calculator because they need a confident answer for quoting, freight class comparison or customer communication.
- Volume and chargeable logic in one workflow
- Container recommendation before quoting
- PDF output for customer-facing follow-up
Truck and pallet loading decisions
Road freight planning is rarely just about cubic volume. Teams need to know whether the shipment should stay on pallets, how many pallets are needed, and how the trailer space is actually used.
- Trailer and pallet evaluation together
- Pallet-first logic with floor-load fallback
- Better planning for warehouse staging
Warehouse handoff with loading instructions
A planning result is stronger when the warehouse receives the same assumptions used during quoting and simulation.
- Loading Note on every row
- PDF handoff with context
- Saved record for later reload or review
100% Free CBM Calculator & 3D Container Loading Planner
Use CBM calculations, container comparison, Excel/CSV import, PDF reports, weight distribution tools and unlimited 3D loading simulations for free.
No registration is required to calculate or create 3D loading plans. Create a free account only to save, reopen and manage your projects.
Unlimited CBM calculations and 3D loading simulations
Excel/CSV import, PDF reports and weight distribution tools
Optional cloud saves, history and cross-device access with a free account
Frequently Asked Questions About CBM and Container Loading
Convert length, width and height to meters, multiply them, then multiply by quantity. In real planning, teams should also consider pallet footprint, stackability, loading direction and packaging dimensions.
No. Cubic meter calculation gives the shipment volume, while volumetric weight turns that volume into a billing weight using a mode-specific factor. Sea, air and road freight do not use the same factor.
Use CBM3 as a container stuffing calculator: enter carton dimensions, quantities and weights, then review the 3D placement plan. The number of boxes that fit depends on the container's internal dimensions and payload, as well as the cargo's rotation and stacking rules.
Use CBM calculations, container comparison, Excel/CSV import, PDF reports, weight distribution tools and unlimited 3D loading simulations for free. No registration is required to calculate or create 3D loading plans. Create a free account only to save, reopen and manage your projects.
Yes. Reefer scenarios can be checked separately, which matters because the usable internal dimensions of temperature-controlled containers differ from standard dry containers.
Yes. The workflow can keep rows as pallet candidates first and move to floor-load only when pallet fit is not practical.
Yes. Trailer planning, pallet profiles and floor-load decisions can be evaluated in the same workflow so teams see a more realistic road-freight plan.
Yes. Each row can include a Loading Note, and those instructions can be exported with the PDF so warehouse or depot teams receive the same plan.
Yes. You can preview a saved plan before reopening it, then open or share saved plans by code when code-based access is useful.
Yes. The BNSF 60 ft Plate-F boxcar and Trinity 66 ft mill gondola are manual loading-space profiles. Rail pricing is operator quoted, and loose bulk-flow simulation is not supported.
CBM3 includes Max Volume, Best Balance and Easy Loading, plus Stability First, Route First, optional Max Volume v2 deep search, Layer Build and Sequence Feasible checks when the shipment is eligible. Pareto Explorer compares completed verified plans without starting another solver. Deeper Search: Compares block layouts and box loading orders to find a denser container plan. PRO Optimization: Searches for a better plan for boxes and upright cylinders for up to 90 seconds. Stop early to keep the best verified plan found so far.
A library entry is a reusable product template, so adding it starts with quantity 1. Dimensions, weight and loading rules are preserved in either unit system. For an older entry without units, choose its original units once before using it.
Ready to plan your next load?
Use CBM calculations, container comparison, Excel/CSV import, PDF reports, weight distribution tools and unlimited 3D loading simulations for free. No registration is required to calculate or create 3D loading plans. Create a free account only to save, reopen and manage your projects.
Enter packed carton or pallet dimensions, weight and quantity to compare how your cargo fits in 20DC, 40DC, 40HC and other loading spaces. Review the 3D placement, stacking and weight distribution before sharing a loading plan with your team. Cbm3 is a kind of container stuffing calculator. You can make your container loading calculations.
Choose the right starting point
Use this 3D container loading calculator to test your entered cargo quantities with packed dimensions, weights and handling rules. If you only need a shipment’s cubic volume, use the separate CBM volume calculator.
For equipment-specific guidance, start with the 20ft dry container guide, 40ft dry container guide or 40ft high cube guide. Other supported profiles are grouped in the loading-space guide directory.
Already loaded pallets need their complete outside dimensions, total height and gross weight. Do not add their pallet base or tare a second time. Keep them upright and do not grant stacking permission unless the complete unit can be stacked.
Check what the plan actually placed
A completed calculation may still leave cargo unplaced. Check the requested, placed and unplaced quantities, then inspect each container and its handling rules. The result is a tested arrangement for your inputs, not a mathematical optimum or minimum-container guarantee.
Use the step-by-step planning guide to prepare and review a job. The load-planning software overview explains the wider workflow; the container loading optimization guide covers comparing alternatives.
A volume total or geometric plan is not transport approval. Equipment condition, access, securing and verified transport mass require separate checks.
For a specific shipment question, test your entered carton order, plan already loaded pallets, or compare container plans for the same shipment. Prepare larger cargo lists with the Excel and CSV templates for the 3D planner. Check both placed and unplaced quantities; these tools do not guarantee an optimum or a minimum container count.