The number of home textile pieces in a 40 ft container depends on the carton size and the product, not on a standard figure. A 40 ft high cube container holds roughly 65 to 68 cubic metres of usable space, so the count is worked out by dividing that volume by the volume of one export carton and multiplying by the pieces per carton. Bedsheet sets usually come to a figure in the low thousands, while curtains and quilts fill a container with far fewer pieces because they are bulky.
Buyers often ask for a single number so they can plan an order, and exporters are happy to give one. The number is only useful if it is tied to a specific carton size and packing method, because a different retail pack or a thicker fabric can change the total by a quarter or more.
How the calculation works
Start with the retail pack. A folded sheet set in a polybag takes less space than the same set in a zip bag with a hanger, and much less than a set in a folding box. Then decide how many retail packs go in one carton; exporters usually settle on a carton that one person can lift, so heavier products mean fewer pieces per carton.
Multiply the carton length, width and height to get its volume, and allow for the fact that cartons never fill the container perfectly. A loading plan typically achieves 85 to 90 percent of the quoted volume on loose cartons, and less on pallets because the pallet itself and the gaps between pallets take space. The exporter should show the carton dimensions, the number of cartons per layer and the number of layers in a written loading plan.
Typical ranges by product
- Flat and fitted sheet sets in polybags: typically in the low thousands of sets per 40 ft high cube, with lighter fabrics and smaller sizes at the higher end.
- Pillowcases: pack very densely, so tens of thousands of pairs is possible if they ship on their own.
- Duvet covers in zip bags: fewer than sheet sets, since the bag and hanger add volume.
- Towels: counts vary widely with GSM and size; heavy bath sheets fill a container quickly.
- Curtains: ready-made pairs, especially lined or blackout, usually number in the hundreds of pairs rather than thousands.
- Quilts and comforters: the bulkiest category; vacuum packing raises the count but can leave creases, so agree it with the exporter first.
What changes the count
Palletising is the biggest single factor. A container on pallets usually carries noticeably fewer cartons than a loose load, because pallets cannot be stacked to the roof and leave gaps around the edges. Fabric weight, the thickness of the retail pack and any compression used before packing all move the number too.
Mixed orders also lower the total, because cartons of different sizes stack less efficiently than one uniform size. If you are loading from Mundra, Pipavav or Hazira, ask the exporter for a loading plan drawn against the actual carton dimensions rather than an estimate from the last order.
What Creston & Co does
We check the carton dimensions and the loading plan against the real cartons before the container is booked, and we supervise loading so that the plan is followed. Where you buy several products from more than one supplier, we consolidate at one warehouse and send one loading report. A free 20-minute sourcing review is enough to work out a realistic container count for your product.