Overview
CalculateContainer.com has two screens accessible from the tab bar at the top of the page:
- Master Data and Rules — Upload your product database and configure loading and pallet rules. Do this once; everything is saved automatically.
- Calculator — Select your container and pallet type, enter material codes and quantities, and see instant results.
Step 1 — Upload Your Product Database
Go to the Master Data and Rules tab. In the Master Data Selection section, click Upload Excel / CSV and select your product file.
Supported File Formats
- Microsoft Excel (.xlsx, .xls)
- Comma-separated values (.csv)
Required Columns
Your file must have at least a material code column and at least one dimension. The calculator detects column names automatically, so the exact spelling does not matter as long as the words below appear somewhere in the header.
| Column | Required | Example header names | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Material Code | Required | Material Code, Mat No, Code, Item No | Text |
| Length | Required | Length, L, Length (m) | Metres |
| Width | Required | Width, W, Width (m) | Metres |
| Height | Required | Height, H, Height (m) | Metres |
| Gross Weight | Required | Gross Weight, Weight, Weight (kg) | Kilograms |
| CBM | Recommended | CBM, Cubic, Volume, M3 | Cubic metres |
| Area | Optional | Area, Floor Area | Square metres |
After Upload
Once uploaded you will see a confirmation showing the file name and the number of products loaded. A green pill in the top tab bar also shows the product count at all times.
Step 2 — Configure Calculation Rules
Still on the Master Data and Rules tab, scroll down to the Calculation Logic section.
Universal Loading Rules (Always Applied)
These rules are permanently enforced and cannot be changed. They reflect international logistics and safety standards:
User-Defined Loading Rules (Optional)
Click Add Loading Rule to add up to 10 custom rules. Choose a rule type from the dropdown, then enter the threshold value.
| Rule Type | What It Does |
|---|---|
| Max stackable item weight | Override the 50 kg default. Items heavier than this go floor-only. |
| Max item height for stacking | Override the 1.5 m default. Items taller than this cannot be stacked on. |
| Max container volume utilisation | Fail the calculation if volume fill exceeds this percentage (e.g. 85%). |
| Max single item weight allowed | Block any item heavier than this from being loaded at all. |
| Max floor pressure | Flag items whose weight-to-footprint ratio exceeds this value (kg/m2). |
| Fragile item weight threshold | Items lighter than this are treated as fragile and must go on top only. |
Pallet Packing Rules (Optional)
Click Add Pallet Rule to define constraints applied when a pallet type is selected in the calculator:
| Rule Type | What It Does |
|---|---|
| Max total pallet stack height | Pallet deck height + cargo stack must not exceed this value in metres. This is the primary way to control how high items are stacked per pallet. |
| Max total pallet gross weight | Total weight of pallet plus all cargo on it must not exceed this value. |
| Max cargo overhang | Cargo must not overhang the pallet edge by more than this distance. |
| Required gap between pallets | Adds a clearance gap between adjacent pallets when calculating how many fit on the container floor. |
Step 3 — Switch to the Calculator Tab
Click the Calculator tab in the navigation bar at the top of the page. If no database is loaded yet, a warning banner will appear with a link to go back to Master Data.
Step 4 — Select Your Container Type
In the Selection section at the top of the Calculator screen, choose your container type from the dropdown. The dimensions and maximum payload are displayed immediately below.
| Container | Internal Dimensions | Volume | Max Payload |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20ft Standard | 5.90 x 2.35 x 2.39 m | 33.1 m3 | 28,000 kg |
| 40ft Standard | 12.03 x 2.35 x 2.39 m | 67.5 m3 | 26,500 kg |
| 40ft High Cube | 12.03 x 2.35 x 2.69 m | 76.0 m3 | 26,500 kg |
| 45ft High Cube | 13.56 x 2.35 x 2.69 m | 85.7 m3 | 27,600 kg |
Step 5 — Select Your Pallet Type
In the same Selection section, choose a pallet type from the second dropdown. Select None (no pallet) if you are loading goods directly without pallets.
When a pallet is selected, the calculator automatically adds the pallet own weight to the total cargo weight, ensures items fit within pallet dimensions, and checks that all pallets fit on the container floor.
Step 6 — Enter Material Codes and Quantities
In the User Inputs section, enter your cargo items in one of two ways:
Option A — Paste Multiple Codes at Once
Click in the paste area, paste your material codes separated by newlines, commas, or semicolons, then click Apply. The codes will populate the rows automatically.
Option B — Type or Edit Individually
Type directly into each Material Code cell. Use Add row to add up to 15 rows total.
Enter Quantities
In the Qty column next to each material code, enter the number of units. Only numbers are accepted.
Step 7 — Reading the Calculation Results
Results update automatically as you type. The Calculation Results section at the bottom shows everything you need.
Status Banner
The large banner at the top of the results tells you the overall verdict:
- Load Confirmed — All items fit within volume, weight and stacking rules.
- Weight Issue — Items fit volumetrically but total weight exceeds the container payload.
- Cannot Fit — One or more violations prevent the load. The specific issues are listed below the banner.
Metric Cards
Six cards show the key numbers: cargo volume, container capacity, volume utilisation percentage, cargo weight, total weight including pallets, and remaining weight margin.
Volume Utilisation Bar
A colour-coded bar shows how full the container is. Green means under capacity, yellow means a weight issue, red means over capacity.
Container Illustration
The isometric container drawing changes colour to match the result — green for confirmed, yellow for weight issue, red for cannot fit.
Pallet Summary (when pallet is selected)
A detailed breakdown shows the number of pallets needed, available cargo height per pallet, maximum and average stack heights, and a per-pallet table listing cargo weight, total weight, stack height and floor utilisation for each individual pallet.
Active Rules
A chip list at the bottom of results shows which rules were applied to this calculation, including all custom rules that had values entered.
Tips and Tricks
Getting the Most Accurate Pallet Count
Set a Max total pallet stack height rule (e.g. 1.8 m) in the Pallet Packing Rules. Without this, the calculator uses the full container height as the limit, which may not match your warehouse or transport constraints.
Switching Between Container Types Quickly
The container selection is in the Calculator tab, so you can quickly switch between 20ft, 40ft and High Cube to compare which container size best fits your cargo without re-entering items.
Keeping Your Database Up to Date
When your product dimensions change, simply upload a new Excel file from the Master Data tab. The new database replaces the old one immediately. Click the trash icon next to the database name to clear it entirely.
Using on Mobile
On iPhone or iPad, open the site in Safari, tap the Share button, and select Add to Home Screen. The tool will appear as a full-screen app on your home screen and works completely offline after the first load.
Understanding Floor-Only Items
Items flagged as floor-only (shown in orange) significantly affect pallet efficiency because they occupy floor space but block stacking above them. If possible, segregate heavy items onto dedicated pallets to allow lighter items to be stacked on other pallets.
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