Quick answer: This 45′ High Cube (45HC) Loading Guide explains how to plan dry cargo in a 45HC container using actual packaged dimensions, unit weights and loading rules. Select the 45HC profile in CBM3.net’s free 3D container loading calculator only when the offered equipment matches that profile, then verify the physical container, payload plate and operational requirements before loading.
A 45′ High Cube container offers substantial cubic capacity for cartons, palletised freight and mixed dry cargo, but nominal volume is not the same as usable loading space. This guide covers the current CBM3 planning record, volume calculations, geometric fit, weight distribution and the checks that remain the responsibility of the shipper, forwarder, warehouse team and carrier.
What is the 45′ High Cube (45HC) profile?
The 45′ High Cube, commonly abbreviated as 45HC, is an enclosed dry freight container used for general cargo planning. It is typically considered when a shipment needs more internal length and height than a standard 40-foot container can provide. Typical cargo includes retail cartons, cases, bagged goods, furniture, consumer products, components and palletised freight that can pass through the available door opening.
For loading purposes, the key factors are internal dimensions, door access, payload, cargo orientation, floor loading, stackability and handling method. A 45HC plan should always begin with cargo in its final shipping condition: include outer packaging, pallets, skids, dunnage, corner protectors and any protrusions in the entered dimensions.
The current CBM3 planning profile records a principal envelope of 1,355 cm length, 235 cm width and 270 cm height. The underlying reference record identifies Seaco as the current source authority, but dimensions, door clearances, tare weight and permitted payload can vary by owner, production series and individual unit. Confirm the actual container before releasing cargo for loading.
45′ High Cube (45HC) Loading Guide: CBM3 dimensions and limits
The following values are taken from the current CBM3 equipment profile. They are planning inputs that make calculations and 3D simulations reproducible. They do not override the container’s CSC plate, carrier instructions, terminal restrictions, road limits or shipment-specific loading requirements.
| CBM3 profile field | Current planning value |
|---|---|
| Equipment code | 45HC |
| Profile type | Sea container |
| Planning length | 1,355 cm |
| Planning width | 235 cm |
| Planning height | 270 cm |
| Calculated planning volume | 85.97475 m³ |
| Payload state | Validated |
| Payload-check value | 27,600 kg |
| Evidence status | Conditional |
CBM3 uses 27,600 kg as the current payload-check value for this profile. This is useful for identifying a likely weight issue during initial planning, but it is not a booking allowance or legal loading approval. The usable payload of a specific container depends on its maximum gross weight less tare weight, together with carrier, inland transport and route restrictions.
For example, a shipment may fit comfortably within 85.97 m³ yet exceed an applicable road axle limit once the container is mounted on a chassis. Conversely, a lightweight shipment can remain well below payload while still failing to fit because cartons cannot be rotated, pallet footprints waste width, or the final rows cannot clear the doors.
When a 45HC is a useful planning choice
Choose a 45HC when the booking confirmation, equipment offer or carrier documentation identifies that exact equipment type. It can be a practical option for high-volume, lower-density cargo, especially where the additional length and high-cube internal height improve utilisation compared with a 40HC.
Do not select a 45HC simply because its nominal volume is larger. Availability can vary by trade lane, depot and carrier. In some markets, 45-foot equipment may involve different road restrictions, chassis requirements or positioning costs. Compare equipment only when the alternatives are genuinely available and commercially suitable for the route.
A practical planning sequence is to establish the shipment’s total CBM and gross weight first, then test the physical arrangement. For uniform pallets, confirm the pallet footprint against internal width and length. For mixed-SKU cargo, test actual carton sizes, allowed rotations and stack limits rather than relying on an average carton dimension.
Simple carton volume and payload example
A carton measuring 50 cm × 40 cm × 30 cm converts to 0.50 m × 0.40 m × 0.30 m. Its theoretical volume is:
0.50 × 0.40 × 0.30 = 0.060 m³ per carton
Ten identical cartons total 0.600 m³. If each carton weighs 18 kg, the total shipment weight is 180 kg. Both figures matter: CBM measures occupied volume, while kilograms determine whether the load remains within payload, floor-loading and transport limits.
| Example cargo | Calculation | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Carton dimensions | 0.50 m × 0.40 m × 0.30 m | 0.060 m³ each |
| Carton quantity | 10 × 0.060 m³ | 0.600 m³ total |
| Unit weight | 10 × 18 kg | 180 kg total |
| Nominal volume share | 0.600 ÷ 85.97475 m³ | About 0.7% |
In real loading, the result changes when those cartons are placed on pallets. A standard pallet adds its own height and footprint, while stretch wrap and overhang can alter usable dimensions. When the pallet is the handling unit, enter the complete loaded pallet dimensions rather than the carton dimensions alone.
How Many Pallets and Cartons Fit in a 45′ High Cube Container (45HC)?
A 45-foot High Cube container, commonly called a 45HC, is one of the largest standard dry containers used in international shipping. Typical internal dimensions are approximately 13.56 m long, 2.35 m wide, and 2.70 m high, providing around 86 m³ of internal volume.
Compared with a 40-foot container, the 45HC provides additional length and height, making it especially suitable for lightweight, bulky, or high-volume cargo.
However, the actual number of pallets or cartons that can be loaded depends on cargo dimensions, stacking limitations, packaging strength, weight, and the loading arrangement.
How Many Pallets Fit in a 45HC?
Pallet capacity depends mainly on the pallet dimensions and orientation. When pallets are loaded in a single layer, a standard 45HC can typically accommodate:
| Pallet Type | Pallet Size | Typical Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| Euro Pallet (EUR/EPAL) | 120 × 80 cm | 27 pallets |
| Industrial / ISO Pallet | 120 × 100 cm | 24 pallets |
| US GMA Pallet | 48 × 40 in (122 × 102 cm) | About 24 pallets |
For example, when using Euro pallets measuring 120 × 80 cm, an optimized combination of pallet orientations allows approximately 27 pallets to fit on the container floor.
If loaded pallets are sufficiently low and the cargo is safely stackable, double stacking may significantly increase capacity. However, the 2.70 m internal height, maximum payload, cargo stability, and weight distribution must always be considered.
How Many Cartons Fit in a 45HC?
Carton capacity depends heavily on carton dimensions. The examples below assume rectangular cartons loaded efficiently without pallets.
| Carton Size | Approx. Maximum Cartons* |
|---|---|
| 60 × 40 × 40 cm | 660 cartons |
| 50 × 40 × 30 cm | 1,215 cartons |
| 40 × 30 × 30 cm | 2,079 cartons |
| 30 × 30 × 30 cm | 2,835 cartons |
*These figures are dimensional loading estimates based on efficient aligned placement. Actual quantities may be lower because of door clearance, handling space, carton deformation, dunnage, loading orientation, weight restrictions, and cargo securing requirements.
For example, a 50 × 40 × 30 cm carton has a volume of 0.06 m³. Dividing the container’s 86 m³ capacity by 0.06 m³ gives a theoretical result of more than 1,430 cartons. In practice, cartons must fit physically along the container’s length, width, and height. With an efficient aligned arrangement, approximately 1,215 cartons can be loaded.
For a more accurate result, enter your carton or pallet dimensions, quantities, and weights into the CBM3 container loading calculator. The 3D container loading tool can automatically calculate realistic cargo placement and help you optimize your 45HC shipment before booking.
Why total CBM does not prove cargo fits
Total CBM is a screening metric, not a loading plan. It indicates whether cargo volume is broadly compatible with container volume, but it cannot show where individual units will sit or whether their shape creates unusable voids.
Geometric fit depends on each item’s length, width and height; permitted rotation; door clearance; stackability; support surface; weight; and the gaps created by mixed dimensions. A long crate may have a low CBM but still be impossible to turn or position inside the container. Likewise, two pallet sizes may each fit independently but leave an inefficient central strip when combined.
This is where a visual plan is more useful than a spreadsheet total. CBM3.net is a completely free, fast 3D container loading calculator that allows shippers, freight forwarders and warehouse managers to model cargo inside the selected equipment profile. Its real-time WebGL view can be reviewed in Operational, Realistic Digital Twin and X-Ray modes, making it easier to inspect inaccessible voids and cargo placement.
A successful calculator arrangement remains a preliminary planning result. It does not certify cargo restraint, dangerous-goods acceptance, floor strength, handling safety, customs compliance or carrier acceptance. Those decisions require the applicable operational documentation and responsible parties.
How to plan a 45HC load in CBM3
- Confirm the equipment. Verify that 45HC is the equipment actually offered and that the physical unit’s dimensions and payload align with the planning profile.
- Measure cargo as shipped. Record packed length, width, height, quantity and unit weight. Include pallet dimensions, protective materials and overhang.
- Import or enter cargo data. Use CBM3’s cargo planning tool to enter items individually or upload a CSV or Excel file with automatic column mapping.
- Apply loading rules. Set allowed rotations, non-stackable or fragile status, maximum stack limits and any cargo that must remain upright.
- Set delivery order where relevant. For multi-stop routes, apply LIFO logic so Stop 1 cargo is positioned near the container doors rather than buried at the front.
- Run the 3D plan. Review placed and unplaced quantities, not merely total CBM. Check height, side clearance and the practical access required by the loading crew.
- Review mass distribution. Use the weight-distribution and 3-axis centre-of-gravity checks to identify imbalance and potential road-compliance warnings.
- Issue a warehouse instruction. Export a PDF packing guide from CBM3 with 3D snapshots, loading sequence and centre-of-gravity diagrams for the loading team.
- Verify against the actual unit. Compare the plan with the container at the loading point and revise it if dimensions, cargo condition or quantity has changed.
For mixed products, the step-by-step loading sequence is particularly valuable. Animated playback shows the warehouse crew which item or pallet should be loaded first, reducing the risk of a feasible arrangement being undermined by loading cargo in the wrong order. Where a shipment must be divided across several units, CBM3 also supports multi-container planning and drag-and-drop cargo reallocation.
45HC loading patterns for pallets and mixed cargo
Palletised freight should be planned from the pallet footprint outward. Start with the rows that will sit against the front wall, then test how the final row approaches the doors. The container may appear wide enough on paper, but real loading can be affected by pallet overhang, uneven wrap, fork-entry orientation and the need for dunnage or bracing.
For stackable pallet loads, assess the support surface rather than simply stacking to the maximum height. A smaller upper pallet may be appropriate only if the supporting pallet provides sufficient stable contact area. CBM3 can evaluate pallet stacking patterns, including column, brick and pinwheel arrangements, with support-surface validation.
Mixed-SKU cargo needs a more disciplined approach. Load heavy, stable cargo low and distribute it to avoid concentrating mass at one end or on one side. Keep fragile cartons away from unsupported bridging positions. If the shipment comprises repeated product kits intended for several containers, the Equal FCL Solver can distribute those mixed SKUs into identical, balanced container plans.
Common 45HC planning mistakes
- Selecting equipment by a familiar description without confirming the exact 45HC code and physical unit.
- Using bare product dimensions instead of packed, palletised or crated dimensions.
- Assuming all 85.97 m³ is usable regardless of carton shape, pallet pattern or door access.
- Ignoring unplaced items because the total calculated CBM appears low.
- Entering incorrect unit weights or omitting pallet and packaging weight.
- Loading heavy cargo at one end without checking centre-of-gravity and axle-loading implications.
- Creating a sound geometric arrangement but not providing the warehouse with the loading order.
- Treating an advisory payload or distribution result as legal approval for transport.
- Failing to rerun the plan after a SKU, quantity, pallet configuration or orientation changes.
What must be confirmed outside the calculator
A loading calculator supports planning; it does not replace the checks required for safe and compliant freight movement. Confirm the actual container identity, internal dimensions, door opening, maximum gross weight, tare weight, permitted payload, floor condition and any operator-specific limitations.
Also confirm cargo-securing requirements, lashing points, dunnage, blocking and bracing, handling method, forklift capacity, route restrictions, chassis configuration, axle weights, dangerous-goods requirements and destination regulations. Temperature control, hazardous cargo approval, certified restraint and shipment acceptance remain outside the scope of a standard dry-container geometry plan.
Where a CBM3 profile and the physical unit differ, the physical container and applicable operating documentation govern. Update the scenario, select the correct equipment profile or revise cargo dimensions rather than assuming a small variance will not matter.
Related loading-space guides
Compare this profile with the 40′ Dry Container (40DC) Loading Guide and the 40′ High Cube Container (40HC) Loading Guide when those equipment types are available for the shipment. For other equipment options, including trailers, ULDs, rail equipment, swap bodies and pallets, visit the Loading Space Guides.
Open the free CBM3 calculator to build a visual scenario from measured cargo data. It can help assess space utilisation, loading sequence, weight distribution, volumetric weight, NMFC class and loading metres before the shipment is tendered or loaded.
Conclusion: use this 45′ High Cube (45HC) Loading Guide as a planning baseline
A 45HC can offer useful capacity for dry cargo, but a sound plan requires more than dividing shipment CBM by container volume. Measure cargo in its final shipping condition, test its real geometry, check total weight and mass distribution, and validate the plan against the actual container and route requirements.
This 45′ High Cube (45HC) Loading Guide provides a practical baseline for building that plan. Use CBM3.net’s free 45HC loading calculator to create a 3D arrangement and loading sequence, then complete the operational, legal and safety checks before the container is loaded.
Frequently asked questions
How many CBM can a 45HC container hold?
The current CBM3 45HC planning profile calculates a nominal internal volume of 85.97475 m³. Usable volume is usually lower because cargo dimensions, pallets, loading orientation, voids, door clearance and securing requirements reduce practical utilisation.