Shipping containers come in various sizes. The most common are 20ft, 40ft, and 45ft containers. Each of these containers has different weight limits. In this article, we will discuss how many tons can be loaded in a 20ft container.
The weight limit of a 20ft container
A 20ft container has a weight limit of 24,000 kilograms or 52,910 pounds. This weight limit includes the weight of the container itself, which is about 2,300 kilograms or 5,071 pounds. Therefore, the maximum weight of the cargo that can be loaded into a 20ft container should not exceed 21,700 kilograms or 47,839 pounds.
How to calculate the weight of the cargo
To calculate the weight of the cargo, you need to know its volume and density. First, measure the dimensions of the cargo in meters (length x width x height). Then, multiply the dimensions to get the volume in cubic meters. Next, find out the density of the cargo in kilograms per cubic meter. Finally, multiply the volume by the density to get the weight of the cargo in kilograms.
Examples
Let's say you want to ship 50 boxes of machinery parts in a 20ft container. The boxes have dimensions of 1.2m x 0.8m x 1.5m each and a density of 800kg/m3. To calculate the weight of the cargo, you first need to calculate the volume of one box which is 1.2m x 0.8m x 1.5m = 1.44 cubic meters. Then, you multiply the volume by the density which is 1.44m3 x 800kg/m3 = 1,152 kilograms. Since you have 50 boxes, you multiply the weight of one box by 50 which gives you a total weight of 57,600 kilograms or 126,976 pounds. This weight exceeds the weight limit of the 20ft container, so you cannot load all 50 boxes in one container.
Another example is if you want to ship ten pallets of goods in a 20ft container. The pallets have dimensions of 1.2m x 1m x 1.5m each and a density of 650kg/m3. To calculate the weight of the cargo, you first need to calculate the volume of one pallet which is 1.2m x 1m x 1.5m = 1.8 cubic meters. Then, you multiply the volume by the density which is 1.8m3 x 650kg/m3 = 1,170 kilograms. Since you have ten pallets, you multiply the weight of one pallet by ten which gives you a total weight of 11,700 kilograms or 25,793 pounds. This weight is within the weight limit of the 20ft container, so you can load all ten pallets in one container.
Conclusion
Knowing the weight limit of a 20ft container and how to calculate the weight of the cargo is important when planning to ship goods overseas. Overloading a container can cause damage to the container and delay the shipment. Therefore, it is essential to calculate the weight of the cargo accurately and ensure that it is within the weight limit of the container. If you have any doubts, you can always consult with your shipping company for advice.
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