How many cubic metres and packs of lumber fit into a container or a truck, and what limits the load — space or weight.
Inside: 12,032 × 2,352 × 2,393 mm, payload up to 26,700 kg
Packs = ⌊transport length ÷ board length⌋ × ⌊width ÷ pack width⌋ × ⌊height ÷ pack height⌋
Volume by weight = payload ÷ density
⌊ ⌋ means rounding down. Packs are placed tightly along the transport and the volume is taken from the pack dimensions. Density depends on the species and moisture (see the weight calculator). This is an estimate: fastenings and dunnage are not counted. Dimensions and payload are typical values — check them with the shipping line or carrier.
| Transport | Inner dimensions, mm | Payload, kg |
|---|---|---|
| 20 ft container | 5,898 × 2,352 × 2,393 | 28,200 |
| 40 ft container | 12,032 × 2,352 × 2,393 | 26,700 |
| 40 ft High Cube container | 12,032 × 2,352 × 2,698 | 26,400 |
| Truck (tilt trailer) | 13,600 × 2,450 × 2,700 | 22,000 |
Typical values: actual dimensions and payload depend on the shipping line and carrier.
By dimensions, usually 55–65 m³ with 4–6 m boards if the packs are stacked tightly. But dry softwood more often hits the payload limit: about 26 tonnes is roughly 50 m³ of pine. The calculator above gives a more exact figure.
For dry softwood stacked tightly it is usually weight: a cubic metre of pine at 12% moisture weighs about 520 kg, so the payload runs out before the space does. Green wood is heavier, so the volume you can load is smaller.
Enter the batch volume — the calculator divides it by the volume of one load and rounds up. For a mixed batch, calculate each board length separately.
Tell us the country, volume, delivery terms and species — we will calculate the price of the batch and get back to you with an offer.
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