There is no single number. How many cartons fit in a 40 ft reefer depends on carton size, whether you load on pallets or on the floor, the height of the load line and the weight limit.
Carton count also affects your landed cost, because reefer freight is charged per container. A carton size that wastes space at the top or sides of the box raises the freight cost of every carton.
The most reliable answer is the plant's own loading record for the same product and carton. Ask for it, along with photos, before you plan your order.
Why reefers hold less than dry boxes
A reefer's insulated walls and the refrigeration unit take up space, so the inside is smaller than a dry container of the same length. Most 40 ft reefers used today are high cube. As a rough guide, the inside is around 11.5 m long and just under 2.3 m wide, but sizes vary between units, so check with your shipping line.
Usable height is lower than the inside height. Cargo must stay below the red load line so air can return to the unit, and the T-floor must stay clear.
Working it out
The numbers below are for illustration only, to show the method. Use your real carton size and your line's real container dimensions.
- Measure your carton, for example 40 cm by 30 cm by 25 cm.
- Floor: about 11.5 m divided by 0.4 m gives 28 cartons along the length, and 2.29 m divided by 0.3 m gives 7 across, so 196 per layer.
- Height: if usable height to the load line is about 2.2 m, that allows 8 layers of 25 cm.
- Total: 196 cartons multiplied by 8 layers gives about 1,568 cartons, floor loaded.
- Check weight: multiply cartons by gross carton weight and compare with the payload and road limits.
- Leave space at the doors for airflow and handling.
Pallets versus floor loading
Pallets take space and add weight, so a palletised reefer holds fewer cartons than a floor-loaded one. In return, loading is faster, which keeps cargo cold, and your warehouse can unload with a forklift. The number of pallets that fit depends on the pallet size, so ask your forwarder for the pattern that suits your pallets.
Some products fill the space before the weight limit. Denser items, such as some vegetables and dough products, may reach the weight limit first. Mixed loads need a plan for both. The general guide on how much fits in a container covers dry cargo.
How we help
We collect the plant's past loading records, build a load plan with you and your forwarder, and count cartons at the door on loading day. You get a tally that matches the packing list. Start with a free sourcing review.