How many 18 × 18 × 16 in boxes fit in a 40ft high cube?
18 × 18 × 16 in boxes of 457 × 457 × 406 mm (also called 3 cubic foot boxes, medium moving boxes) in a 40-foot high-cube container (40HC) — inner dimensions 12,032 × 2,352 × 2,698 mm. Calculated by the Cubestow engine on 2026-09-08.
Boxes may be laid on any side. 95% of the space used, 21 layers high, about 11,970 kg (45% of payload). Open this load in the 3D planner →
Top view — floor layer (145 on the floor)
Side view — first row along the wall (21 layers)
The answer in detail
The "3.0 cubic foot" medium moving box (18 × 18 × 16 in) is the box most US movers use for the bulk of a household. Lying it on its side gains height in some containers, which is why the any-orientation count is higher.
Same footprint as a 40GP with about 30 cm more height — the workhorse of e-commerce and consumer-goods shipping because the extra layer of cartons is almost free.
The simple grid estimate is 26 along the length × 5 across × 21 high = 2,730. The engine found 855 — 75 more than either uniform grid — by mixing orientations so that the leftover strip along the wall is used and by choosing the orientation that gives the most layers. The top view above shows the pattern.
Variants
| Loading rule | Fits | Layers | Volume used | Total weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boxes may be laid on any side (headline figure) | 855 | 21 | 95% | 11,970 kg (45% of payload) |
| Boxes kept this-side-up (turned on the floor plane only) | 780 | 6 | 87% | 10,920 kg (41% of payload) |
How many 40ft high cubes for a given order?
| 18 × 18 × 16 in boxes | 100 | 250 | 500 | 1,000 | 2,500 | 5,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40ft high cubes needed | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 |
| Last one filled to | 12% | 29% | 58% | 17% | 92% | 85% |
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Frequently asked
How many 18 × 18 × 16 in boxes fit in a 40ft high cube?
855 18 × 18 × 16 in boxes of 457 × 457 × 406 mm fit in a 40ft high cube (inner dimensions 12,032 × 2,352 × 2,698 mm), boxes may be laid on any side. That uses 95% of the 76.4 m³ available and weighs about 11,970 kg.
What are the inner dimensions of a 40ft high cube?
Typical inner dimensions are 12,032 mm long, 2,352 mm wide and 2,698 mm high (473.7 × 92.6 × 106.2 in), giving 76.4 m³ of space and a rated payload of about 26,500 kg. Individual units vary by a few centimetres, so check the actual box for tight loads.
How much does a full load of 18 × 18 × 16 in boxes weigh?
855 × 14 kg ≈ 11,970 kg, which is 45% of the 26,500 kg payload — so this load is limited by space, not weight.
How was this number calculated?
By running the Cubestow 3D load-planning engine on the exact dimensions above, allowing all six orientations, stacking with at least 80% base support and the container's payload limit, then re-validating the plan for overlaps, support and weight. Real loads leave room for dunnage, door clearance and uneven cartons, so treat the figure as the practical maximum.