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Quick answer — container CBM & usable cube
Theoretical CBM = interior L × W × H (meters). Demo 40′ GP: 67.7 CBM (2,392 ft³), 59.6 CBM usable at 88% stuffing factor. 20′ GP ≈ 33.2 CBM · 40′ HC ≈ 76.4 CBM. Enter shipment CBM to check fill — e.g. 68 CBM exceeds ~59.6 CBM usable on 40′ GP.
Need a stuffing or load-plan calculator for your TMS? Get a quote
Illustrative ISO-style internal dimensions; verify with your carrier equipment.
Accounts for voids, dunnage, door area, and imperfect stow—default planning band.
Total shipment cube to compare against capacity.
Theoretical internal cube
67.72 CBM
2,392 ft³ · 4,132,536 in³
59.59 CBM
88% of theoretical · 2,105 ft³
Fill vs usable cube
Enter cargo CBM to see utilization.
Gross mass limits, COG, IMO stowage, and out-of-gauge rules are not modeled here.
Benchmark
Max geometric volume
Starting point before packing loss and stowage rules.
Default mindset
Often 85–92%
Reflects voids, strapping, and operational slack—not a universal constant.
Quick sanity
% of usable cube
See headroom before you commit to a container count.
40′ family
HC vs standard
Toggle presets to compare equipment economics for light, bulky cargo.
One screen
CBM · ft³ · in³
Helps teams that quote in mixed units across regions.
Limits still apply
MGW / VGM / stowage
Gross mass, SOLAS VGM, and hazardous stowage require separate checks.
40′ GP preset, 88% usable volume — theoretical and modeled usable CBM update live in the calculator.
Theoretical
67.7 CBM
Usable (88%)
59.6 CBM
ft³
2,392
Interior
12.03 × 2.35 × 2.39 m
For each equipment preset we multiply interior length, width, and height in meters to get theoretical CBM. We convert to cubic feet and cubic inches for mixed-unit teams. The usable volume applies your percentage to approximate real stuffing efficiency. If you supply cargo CBM, we show utilization against usable space and headroom.
Custom mode accepts feet and converts to meters (× 0.3048 per foot).
| Equipment | Interior (L×W×H) | Theoretical | Usable 88% | ft³ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20' dry van (GP) | 5.898 × 2.352 × 2.393 m | 33.2 CBM | 29.2 CBM | 1,172 ft³ |
| 40' dry van (GP) | 12.032 × 2.352 × 2.393 m | 67.7 CBM | 59.6 CBM | 2,392 ft³ |
| 40' high cube | 12.032 × 2.352 × 2.698 m | 76.4 CBM | 67.2 CBM | 2,696 ft³ |
| 45' high cube | 13.556 × 2.352 × 2.698 m | 86.0 CBM | 75.7 CBM | 3,038 ft³ |
Floor-loading pallets? Check the pallet weight limit calculator.
Request a custom logistics calculator| Scenario | Equipment | Theoretical | Usable | Cargo | Fill (usable) | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Default 40′ GP (empty cargo field) | 40' dry van (GP) | 67.7 CBM | 59.6 CBM | — | — | Planning baseline at 88% usable |
| 20′ GP full truckload cube | 20' dry van (GP) | 33.2 CBM | 29.2 CBM | — | — | ~33 CBM theoretical |
| 40′ HC bulky freight | 40' high cube | 76.4 CBM | 67.2 CBM | — | — | Extra height vs 40′ GP |
| 40′ GP — 68 CBM cargo check | 40' dry van (GP) | 67.7 CBM | 59.6 CBM | 68.0 CBM | 100% | Over usable cap at 88% |
| 45′ HC max length | 45' high cube | 86.0 CBM | 75.7 CBM | — | — | Less common equipment |
Shipment 68.0 CBM fills 100% of usable cube (capped in display) — you need a 40′ HC (67.2 CBM usable at 88%), a second container, or lighter cartons. Sum cartons with the CBM calculator first.
Help your team align FCL planning with realistic usable cube.
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