Container Loading for Office Furniture: Getting More Into Every Shipment

Freight is charged on volume for most furniture, and desks and chairs are mostly air once packed loosely. That makes container utilization one of the most controllable costs in an import program — and one of the most commonly overlooked.

Understand Cubing: You Pay for Volume

• Calculate CBM per item (length × width × height in metres), then multiply by quantity.

• Compare weight and volume. Furniture almost always "cubes out" before it "weighs out" — so the limiting factor is space, not kilograms.

• Know your container. A 20' general-purpose container holds roughly 28–33 m3, a 40' roughly 55–60 m3 and a 40' high-cube around 65–70 m3 in practice, depending on packing efficiency. Confirm usable capacity with your forwarder.

• Track efficiency. Divide loaded CBM by available CBM; anything below about 80% usually means money left on the table.

Packing Choices That Save Space

• Knock-down desking. Flat-packed tops, legs and beams use a fraction of the space of assembled units.

• Nest and stack. Chairs stack; nesting chairs and stackable stools compress further.

• Size cartons to the container. Carton dimensions should divide neatly into the container floor and stack to full height.

• Fill voids. Use cartons of complementary sizes, or pack small accessories into remaining gaps.

• Protect corners, not air. Reinforce edges and tops — thick crating where it is not needed wastes volume.

• Keep boards flat and horizontal. Vertical panels stack badly and risk warping.

Mixed Loads and Practical Loading

• Load heavy items low, lighter and taller items on top.

• Keep like with like so unloading at destination is efficient.

• Leave access for inspection before sealing the doors.

• Mark cartons clearly and match them to a detailed packing list — this is what makes customs clearance and receiving quick.

• Photograph the loaded container; it is your evidence if damage claims arise.

Our office furniture programs are designed for export cubing, with knock-down packaging options and itemised CBM data on every quotation. Send us your order volume and we will propose the most economical loading plan.