A 40ft standard container offers roughly 67–68 m³ of internal volume. Hapag-Lloyd lists a 67.7 m³ example. A 40GP provides more floor length than a 20GP, but its payload is not simply twice as high. Check geometry and gross cargo weight as separate constraints.
What are the internal dimensions of a 40GP?
Hapag-Lloyd publishes an example measuring 1,203.2 × 235.2 × 239.5 cm internally. The calculator starts from 1,203 × 235 × 239 cm, an editable planning preset. These small differences matter near a full-row or full-layer boundary, so substitute the actual equipment data before relying on the result.
Internal volume describes the empty space. Door dimensions describe access, and payload describes cargo weight. Keep these three checks separate when comparing an order against a container.
| Item | Carrier example | Planner preset |
|---|---|---|
| Internal length | 1,203.2 cm / 12.032 m | 1,203 cm / 12.03 m |
| Internal width | 235.2 cm / 2.352 m | 235 cm / 2.35 m |
| Internal height | 239.5 cm / 2.395 m | 239 cm / 2.39 m |
| Internal volume | 67.7 m³ listed | 67.57 m³ calculated |
| Payload | 28,750 kg | 26,700 kg |
| Door opening, W × H | 234 × 229.2 cm | Verify separately |
A carton-count example for a 40ft standard container
Use 60 × 40 × 30 cm cartons, with the 30 cm side vertical. Reserve 10 cm at the door end and 5 cm below the roof. A uniform grid then uses 1,193 cm of length, 235 cm of width and 234 cm of height.
It holds 19 × 5 × 7 = 665 cartons geometrically. At 12 kg per carton the load is 7,980 kg. This example assumes that seven layers are permitted and that the chosen orientation is acceptable; changing either rule changes the count.
floor(1193 ÷ 60) × floor(235 ÷ 40) × floor(234 ÷ 30) = 665
Why can weight stop the load before the space is full?
If the same cartons weigh 50 kg each, 665 cartons weigh 33,250 kg. That exceeds the tool preset payload of 26,700 kg. Dividing that payload by 50 gives a weight upper bound of 534 cartons, before checking their actual arrangement and other restrictions.
A 40ft container has approximately twice the floor length of a 20ft class container, not twice its cargo weight allowance. Payload depends on the specific equipment, and the road or rail leg can impose additional limits. Do not use empty volume as permission to load more weight.
When should you compare 40GP with 40HQ?
Compare a high cube when height prevents another full layer or when individual units are too tall for the standard model. If the order already reaches its weight limit, more roof space may not increase the usable quantity. Run both presets with the same cargo and rules, then compare loaded units, unplaced units and gross weight.
The result remains a checked layout within this tool’s model. It does not verify cargo securing, package compression, physical loading paths or axle loads. Consult the equipment provider and the applicable packing guidance before loading.
- Confirm internal dimensions and the door aperture.
- Count pallets and protective material in the load envelope.
- Use gross weight and realistic layer limits.
- Keep the exported inputs alongside the loading diagram.
Open the load planner
Use your actual carton dimensions, weight and stacking rules to turn this example into a checked layout.
Start planningFAQ
Does 40GP mean the same as 40ft standard?
In this tool, 40GP is the standard-height 40ft dry-container preset. Confirm the exact equipment type when booking.
Will doubling a 20ft result give the correct 40ft count?
No. Whole-row rounding, weight, clearances and mixed cargo affect the result. Calculate with the actual 40ft dimensions.