Container Load Calculator for Agri Commodities
Pick a product and a container, and see how many tonnes and bags fit, whether weight or space runs out first, and how many containers your order needs.
Loads are based on Elysium Agri's shipping data for 60+ products and carrier container specs (Hapag-Lloyd, Maersk).
Calculate Your Container Load
Your load
Choose a product to see how much fits.
Estimates only. Actual loads depend on crop year, bag type, stacking and the carrier's box. We confirm the exact load on every quote.
20 ft and 40 ft Container Capacity
Internal sizes and weight limits of standard dry containers. Payload varies a little from box to box, and the exact tare is printed on each container's door.
| 20 ft standard | 40 ft standard | 40 ft high cube | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internal length × width × height | 5.90 × 2.35 × 2.39 m | 12.03 × 2.35 × 2.39 m | 12.03 × 2.35 × 2.70 m |
| Door opening (W × H) | 2.34 × 2.29 m | 2.34 × 2.29 m | 2.34 × 2.60 m |
| Internal volume | ≈ 33 m³ | ≈ 67–68 m³ | ≈ 76 m³ |
| Tare weight | ≈ 2,280–2,350 kg | ≈ 3,700–3,750 kg | ≈ 3,880–3,900 kg |
| Max gross weight | 30,480 kg | 32,500 kg | 32,500 kg |
| Max payload | ≈ 28,100–28,200 kg | ≈ 28,750–28,800 kg | ≈ 28,600 kg |
| Typical bagged agri load | 9–26 MT (by product) | 18–28 MT | 14–28 MT |
Sources: Hapag-Lloyd container specifications; Maersk dry equipment specifications (2026). Payload can differ between carriers and boxes.
How Much of Each Product Fits in a Container
Typical loads from our shipments, in the usual export pack. Seeds, flakes and powders fill a container by volume; pulses and grains by weight.
| Product | Typical pack | 20 ft | 40 ft | Limited by |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bold Peanuts | 25 / 50 kg jute or PP | ≈ 19 MT | ≈ 26–27 MT (HC) | Volume |
| Java Peanuts | 25 / 50 kg jute or PP | ≈ 19 MT | ≈ 26–27 MT (HC) | Volume |
| TJ Peanuts | 25 / 50 kg jute or PP | ≈ 19 MT | ≈ 26–27 MT (HC) | Volume |
| In-Shell Peanuts | 25 kg jute, PP or mesh | — | — | Volume |
| Blanched Peanuts | 25 kg vacuum or PP with liner | ≈ 18–19 MT | ≈ 26–27 MT (HC) | Volume |
| Split Blanched Peanuts | 25 kg vacuum or PP with liner | ≈ 18–19 MT | ≈ 26–27 MT (HC) | Volume |
| Roasted Peanuts | Cartons, vacuum or N₂-flushed | — | — | Volume |
| Diced Peanuts | 10–25 kg PE-lined cartons | — | — | Volume |
| Peanut Butter | 200 kg drums, pails, jars | — | — | Weight / drums |
| Natural Sesame Seeds | 25 / 50 kg PP or paper | ≈ 19 MT | ≈ 25–27 MT | Volume |
| Hulled Sesame Seeds | 25 kg paper with liner | ≈ 19 MT | ≈ 26–27 MT | Volume |
| Black Sesame Seeds | 25 / 50 kg PP or paper | ≈ 19 MT | ≈ 25–27 MT | Volume |
| Cumin Seeds | 25 / 50 kg PP or paper | ≈ 13–14 MT | ≈ 26–28 MT | Volume |
| Coriander Seeds | 25 / 50 kg PP | ≈ 9–10 MT | ≈ 18–21 MT | Volume |
| Fennel Seeds | 25 / 50 kg PP or paper | ≈ 13.5–15 MT | ≈ 26–27 MT | Volume |
| Fenugreek Seeds | 25 / 50 kg PP or paper | ≈ 22–24 MT | ≈ 27–28 MT | Weight |
| Black Cumin (Kalonji) | 25 / 50 kg PP or paper | ≈ 14 MT | ≈ 26 MT | Volume |
| Turmeric Finger | 25 / 50 kg jute or PP | — | ≈ 25–28 MT | Volume |
| Turmeric Powder | 25 kg paper with liner | ≈ 18 MT | ≈ 27 MT (HC) | Volume |
| Quinoa | 25 / 50 kg PP or paper | — | ≈ 24–27 MT | Volume |
| Flax Seeds | 25 kg paper or PP | ≈ 19–22 MT | ≈ 26 MT | Volume |
| Psyllium Husk | 25 kg paper with liner | ≈ 9–9.5 MT (husk) | ≈ 20 MT (HC) | Volume |
| Psyllium Seeds | 25 / 50 kg PP | — | ≈ 26 MT | Volume |
| Chia Seeds | 25 kg paper with liner | ≈ 18–19 MT | ≈ 26 MT | Volume |
| Dry Ginger | 25 / 50 kg jute or PP | ≈ 12–14 MT | ≈ 25 MT | Volume |
| Ginger Slices | 10 kg cartons, 20–25 kg bags | ≈ 12–15 MT | — | Volume |
| Ginger Powder | 25 kg paper with liner | ≈ 16–17 MT | ≈ 25 MT | Volume |
| Kabuli Chickpeas | 25 / 50 kg PP | ≈ 24–25 MT | ≈ 26–28 MT (HC) | Weight |
| Desi Chickpeas | 25 / 50 kg PP | ≈ 24–25 MT | ≈ 26–28 MT (HC) | Weight |
| Roasted Chickpeas (with skin) | 25 kg PP with liner | ≈ 10–12 MT | — | Volume |
| Roasted Chickpeas (without skin) | 25 kg PP with liner | ≈ 11–13 MT | — | Volume |
| Roasted Chickpeas Split | 25 / 30 kg PP with liner | ≈ 13–15 MT | — | Volume |
| Green Moong Beans | 25 / 50 kg PP | ≈ 24–26 MT | ≈ 26–28 MT (HC) | Weight |
| Moong Mogar (split, dehusked) | 25 kg paper or PP | ≈ 24–26 MT | ≈ 26–28 MT (HC) | Weight |
| Urad | 25 / 50 kg PP | ≈ 24–26 MT | ≈ 26–28 MT (HC) | Weight |
| Pigeon Peas (Tur) | 25 / 50 kg PP | ≈ 24 MT | ≈ 26–27 MT (HC) | Weight |
| Red Lentils | 25 / 50 kg PP | ≈ 24–25 MT | ≈ 26–27 MT (HC) | Weight |
| Green Lentils | 25 / 50 kg PP | ≈ 24–26 MT | ≈ 26–28 MT (HC) | Weight |
| Green Peas (dried) | 25 / 50 kg PP | ≈ 24–26 MT | ≈ 26–28 MT (HC) | Weight |
| White Onion Flakes | 12.5–14 kg bag in carton | ≈ 6–7 MT | ≈ 14–15 MT (HC) | Volume |
| White Onion Chopped | 20–25 kg cartons | ≈ 9–11 MT | — | Volume |
| White Onion Granules | 20–25 kg cartons | ≈ 12–13 MT | — | Volume |
| White Onion Powder | 20–25 kg cartons | ≈ 14–15 MT | ≈ 25–26 MT (HC) | Volume |
| Garlic Flakes | 20 kg bag in carton | ≈ 9–11 MT | — | Volume |
| Garlic Chopped | 20–25 kg cartons | ≈ 12–13 MT | — | Volume |
| Garlic Granules | 20–25 kg cartons | ≈ 13–14 MT | ≈ 24–25 MT (HC) | Volume |
| Garlic Powder | 25 kg cartons or bags | ≈ 13–14 MT | ≈ 25 MT (HC) | Volume |
| Potato Flakes | 20 kg sacks with liner | ≈ 9.6 MT (480 × 20 kg) | ≈ 19–20 MT (HC) | Volume |
| Potato Powder | 20 / 25 kg sacks with liner | ≈ 12–14 MT | — | Volume |
| Wheat Grain | 50 kg PP; bulk vessels | ≈ 24–25 MT | ≈ 26–27 MT | Weight |
| Wheat Flour (atta, maida, suji) | 25 / 50 kg PP or paper | — | ≈ 25–26 MT (HC) | Weight |
| Corn Grain (Maize) | 50 kg PP; bulk vessels | ≈ 24–26 MT | ≈ 26–27 MT | Weight |
| Corn Grits | 25 / 50 kg PP or paper | — | ≈ 25–26 MT (HC) | Weight |
| Corn Flour (Maize Flour) | 25 kg PP or paper | — | ≈ 24–26 MT (HC) | Volume |
| Millet Grain (bajra, jowar, ragi) | 25 / 50 kg PP | ≈ 24–25 MT | ≈ 26 MT (HC) | Weight |
| Corn DDGS | 50 kg PP; pellets | — | — | Volume |
| De-Oiled Rice Bran (DORB) | 50 kg PP; pellets | — | — | Volume |
| De-Oiled Cake (groundnut DOC) | 50 kg PP | — | ≈ 26–27 MT | Weight |
| Rapeseed Meal | 50 kg PP; bulk | ≈ 20–22 MT | ≈ 26 MT | Volume |
| Soyabean Meal | 50 kg PP; bulk | ≈ 20–22 MT | ≈ 26 MT | Volume |
| Millet Meal | 40–50 kg PP | — | ≈ 26 MT | Weight |
| Corn (Maize) for Feed | 50 kg PP; bulk | ≈ 24–26 MT | ≈ 26–27 MT | Weight |
Loads in metric tonnes of net product. "HC" = 40 ft high cube.
Weight or Volume: What Limits Your Container?
Every container has two limits: how much weight it can carry and how much space it has. A 20 ft container can carry about 28 tonnes, but only dense cargo reaches that before the box is full. Pulses, wheat and maize (about 750–850 kg/m³ in bags) are weight-limited at 24–26 MT. Sesame, peanut kernels and spices are lighter and fill the box first, at 13–19 MT. Dehydrated onion flakes and psyllium husk are so light that a 20 ft holds only 6–10 MT.
The practical limit is often set on the road, not at sea. Road rules at the destination can cap how much cargo a truck may carry from the port, so a buyer in the USA may be limited to about 20 MT in a 20 ft container even if the ship could take more.
Typical road limits
| Region | Rule | Practical cargo in a 20 ft |
|---|---|---|
| USA | 80,000 lb (36.3 t) gross vehicle weight (federal) | ≈ 20 MT on a standard chassis; overweight permits vary by state |
| EU (most countries) | 40 t for a standard 5-axle truck | — |
| UK | 44 t for 5+ axles | Usually the container payload applies |
| Other markets | Varies | Ask your haulier before booking |
Source: TruckPacker guide to container weight limits; Maersk cargo weight FAQ. Limits change; check locally.
5 Ways to Lower Your Freight Cost per Tonne
- Use a 40 ft high cube for light cargo: it has about 2.3 times the space of a 20 ft for much less than twice the freight.
- Choose pellets for feed: DDGS and rice bran pellets pack denser than meal.
- Use jumbo bags or a bulk liner for grains and meals where the buyer can unload them.
- Combine products: a light and a dense product in one container can use both the weight and the space.
- Book early in peak season: containers from Mundra and Kandla are tight after the kharif and rabi harvests.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How many tonnes fit in a 20 ft container?
A 20 ft dry container can carry about 28 tonnes of cargo, but most agri commodities fill its 33 m³ of space first. In practice a 20 ft holds 24–26 MT of pulses or grains, 18–19 MT of sesame or peanut kernels, 13–15 MT of cumin or fennel and 6–10 MT of dehydrated onion flakes.
How many tonnes of peanuts fit in a 20 ft container?
About 19 MT of shelled peanut kernels (bold, Java or TJ) in 25 or 50 kg bags, and about 26–27 MT in a 40 ft high cube. In-shell peanuts are much lighter, at about 8–10 MT per 20 ft.
What does weight-limited or volume-limited mean?
Weight-limited cargo reaches the container's maximum payload before the space is full; volume-limited cargo fills the space first. As a rule of thumb, cargo denser than about 850 kg/m³ is weight-limited in a 20 ft container.
Should I ship in a 20 ft or a 40 ft container?
For dense cargo such as pulses, wheat and maize, a 20 ft is usually cheapest because a 40 ft cannot carry much more weight. For light cargo such as spices, seeds and dehydrated vegetables, a 40 ft high cube usually gives the lowest freight cost per tonne.
Why can I load less than the container's maximum payload?
Road weight limits at the destination, the carrier's own limits and the weight of the truck and chassis can all lower the practical load. In the USA, for example, a 20 ft container is often limited to about 20 MT of cargo.
How many 50 kg bags fit in a 20 ft container?
It depends on the product: about 480–500 bags of wheat or pulses (24–25 MT), about 380 bags of peanut kernels or sesame (19 MT) and about 270 bags of cumin (13–14 MT).
How accurate is this calculator?
The product loads come from Elysium Agri's shipping data and are typical ranges. The exact load depends on the crop, the pack and the carrier's box, so we confirm it on every quote.
Can I mix different products in one container?
Yes. We regularly load several products in one container, each packed and labelled separately with its own documents. Ask for a mixed-container quote.
Other Tools for Importers
Landed Cost Calculator
Free landed cost calculator for agri imports from India.
HS Code Finder
Find HS codes for Indian spices, peanuts, sesame, pulses, grains, dehydrated vegetables and feed: 8-digit ITC-HS, 6-digit HS and export policy.
Crop Calendar
Indian crop calendar for buyers: sowing, harvest and new-crop arrival months for spices, peanuts, sesame, pulses, grains and more.