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Views: 0 Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 2026-11-05 Origin: Site
As a general reference, one container typically loads:
20GP — approximately 600–800 m² of WPC decking
40GP — approximately 1,300–1,600 m²
40HQ — approximately 1,400–1,800 m²
These are indicative ranges only. Each profile has its own width, thickness and weight per meter (kg/m), so the quantity that actually fits — and whether the container is limited by volume or by the weight allowance — differs noticeably from one product to another. Send us the profile you have in mind and our sales team will come back with an exact loading plan and quotation.
Inside the container: palletised WPC decking loaded and braced for the doors.
Container capacity is not only about cubic meters — it is about how efficiently boards fill the floor space.
Container | Internal length | Internal width | Internal height | Volume (approx.) | Recommended board length |
20GP | 5.85 m | 2.34 m | 2.39 m | ~33 m³ | 2.2 m / 2.9 m |
40GP | 11.85 m | 2.34 m | 2.39 m | ~66 m³ | 3.6 m |
40HQ | 11.85 m | 2.34 m | 2.69 m | ~75 m³ | 3.6 m |
Internal heights are nominal. When loading, the effective limit is the door opening — about 2.28 m on a 20GP / 40GP and 2.58 m on a 40HQ — and the floor deck takes a further 3–4 cm off the usable height.
Start with the simplest case: boards laid along the length. A 20GP takes two rows along its internal length of 5.85 m, so two rows of 2.9 m boards use 5.80 m — almost the full length, with only 5 cm left over. A 40GP or 40HQ gives 11.85 m, which takes three rows of 3.6 m boards (10.80 m) with about 1 m remaining at the doors.
Top view, drawn to scale: two rows of 2.9 m boards fill a 20GP almost exactly, while three rows of 3.6 m boards leave about 1 m at the doors of a 40GP / 40HQ.
Direction matters as much as length. A board shorter than the container's internal width (2.34 m) can be loaded across the container instead of along it, and that changes the arithmetic completely.
Take 2.2 m boards in a 20GP. Laid along the length, two rows use only 4.40 m of the 5.85 m and leave about 1.45 m of floor empty at the doors. Turned 90°, the same board spans 2.2 m of the 2.34 m width and five pallets of 1.1 m fill 5.5 m of the length — the floor is used to 88%, with 0.35 m left at the doors.
2.9 m boards are longer than the container is wide, so they can only run along the length — and there the comparison is close: four 2.9 × 1.1 m pallets cover 12.8 m² of floor per tier against 12.1 m² for the 2.2 m layout, about 5% apart. Board length should follow the deck you are building, not a container rule of thumb.
Top view, drawn to scale — 2.2 m boards across the width (five 1.1 m pallets, 0.35 m spare at the doors) against 2.9 m boards along the length (two rows of 2.9 m, 0.14 m spare across the width). Both fill a 20GP to 88–93% of the floor; the same 2.2 m board only wastes 1.45 m if it is laid lengthwise.
Two rules follow. If the board is shorter than 2.34 m, lay it across the width: the number of pallets along the length is simply the internal length divided by 1.1 m — five in a 20GP, ten in a 40GP or 40HQ. If it is longer than 2.34 m, it must run along the length, and the length then decides how much floor is left at the doors: 2.9 m × 2 in a 20GP, 3.6 m × 3 in a 40GP / 40HQ, where the metre left over is normally taken by clips, joists and cartons. Board lengths can be customized to your project or market requirements; the maximum single board length is approximately 5.8 m, which is set by the container's internal length.
Board thickness, width and profile all change how many square meters fit into one container.
1. Profile type Hollow profiles use less material per square meter and stack more compactly than solid profiles. A container of hollow decking will always yield more m² than the same container of solid decking.
2. Board thickness and width A 22 mm board occupies more volume than a 19 mm board of the same width. Thicker and wider profiles reduce the total m² per container.
3. Packing method Standard export packing is pallet loading with EPE foam sheets between layers. Pallets are built to the board length (allowing at most 20 mm extra, so the boards never overhang), about 1.1 m wide, with roughly 0.6 m of cargo per pallet and 2 pallets abreast across the container width — normally stacked three tiers high. Cartons and shrink film add protection but also add volume and reduce the usable loading space — a container of carton-packed decking carries noticeably fewer square meters than the same container of pallet-only decking.
4. Mixed loading Mixing profiles or colors in one container is possible, but each changeover creates partial stacks and void space. A single-profile, single-color container is always the most efficient.
5. Accessories Clips, joists, trims and posts are usually loaded together with the decking. Where they take up floor space, the decking capacity drops accordingly.
6. Weight limits Most WPC decking profiles reach the container's volume limit before its weight limit. As a rule of thumb, cargo weight is normally kept below 20 tons for a 20GP and 25 tons for a 40GP or 40HQ — the exact allowance depends on the shipping route and the carrier's regulations, and should be confirmed for each booking. Very dense solid profiles are the exception: where a full load would exceed the allowance, the quantity is reduced and the container goes out part-loaded.
Side view, drawn to scale — 2.9 m boards in a 40GP: the pallet length follows the board length (up to +20 mm), two 1.1 m pallets sit abreast across the 2.34 m width, and pallet + cargo tiers of about 0.72 m are stacked three high (≈2.16 m in total — 0.12 m below the 2.28 m door opening).
Standard export packing: board layers protected, pallet strapped and wrapped for the sea voyage.
Packing detail: an EPE foam sheet between every layer, corner protection and stretch wrap. Pallet length matches the board length (up to + 20 mm); cargo height is about 0.6 m per pallet. Cartons and printed film are optional extras.
If you want a rough number before contacting a supplier:
Estimated m² per container ≈ (container volume × loading efficiency) ÷ volume per m² of board
Using the internal volumes above — approximately 33 m³ for a 20GP, 66 m³ for a 40GP and 75 m³ for a 40HQ — and a loading efficiency typically between 65% and 80% depending on profile, packing and stacking pattern. Volume per m² of board equals the board thickness in meters: a 22 mm board is approximately 0.022 m³ per m², so 1 m³ of cargo space holds roughly 45 m² of that board before efficiency losses.
This formula gives an order-of-magnitude figure only. Width, thickness and weight per meter all enter the real calculation: a thicker or wider board holds fewer square meters per pallet, and a heavier profile can reach the weight allowance before the container is full. Real loading plans are calculated from the actual profile drawing, pallet dimensions and stacking pattern — which is what we prepare for each customer before shipment, so please confirm the final quantity with our sales team for the exact product you choose.
One more practical point: the 40HQ gains its extra volume mainly through internal height (2.69 m instead of 2.39 m), roughly 8 m³ more than a 40GP. Where stacking height is limited by pallet strength or by carton compression, the real difference between a 40HQ and a 40GP is smaller than the volume figures suggest.
Mixed containers are accepted, which is useful for a first order or a market trial. The usual conditions are:
A minimum of 200 m² per product per color
A maximum of 3 colors per product
Within those limits, decking and wall cladding can be shipped in the same container, so a new market can be tested without committing to a full container of a single item.
Ocean freight is charged per container, not per square meter. This is the single biggest reason why full-container orders are cheaper per m² than LCL or small mixed shipments: the same freight cost is spread across 600–800 m² instead of 200 m².
For buyers comparing FOB prices, it is worth calculating the freight per m² on top of the FOB price — a supplier quoting a slightly higher FOB price on a well-loaded container can still be the cheaper option overall.
Can I load different board lengths in one container? Yes, but it reduces loading efficiency. Where possible, one or two lengths per container gives the best utilization.
Is the container weight-limited or volume-limited? For most WPC decking profiles, containers reach their volume limit first. As a general guide, cargo weight is kept under 20 tons for a 20GP and 25 tons for a 40GP or 40HQ, although the permitted load varies by route and shipping line and is confirmed at the time of booking. Very dense solid profiles can hit the weight limit before the container is full, in which case the loaded quantity is reduced accordingly.
How long does loading take? Standard loading is completed within 7–10 working days after production and packing are finished, depending on order size and documentation.
Can you confirm the exact quantity for my specification? Yes. Send us the profile, board length, color and target quantity, and we will prepare a container loading plan with the confirmed square meters and total weight.
Tell us the profile, board length, color and quantity you have in mind, and our team will come back within 24 hours with a container loading plan and an FOB quotation.
