How many banana boxes fit in a 20ft reefer?
Banana boxes of 500 × 400 × 250 mm (also called fruit trays, produce cartons) in a 20-foot refrigerated container (20RF) — inner dimensions 5,444 × 2,294 × 2,276 mm. Calculated by the Cubestow engine on 2026-09-08.
Boxes kept this-side-up (turned on the floor plane only). 92% of the space used, 9 layers high, about 9,918 kg (36% of payload). Open this load in the 3D planner →
Top view — floor layer (58 on the floor)
Side view — first row along the wall (9 layers)
The answer in detail
The standard banana carton is about 500 × 400 × 250 mm and weighs roughly 19 kg loaded (18.14 kg of fruit). Bananas travel palletised in reefers with the boxes always upright; the loose-box count here is the theoretical maximum for the space.
The refrigeration unit and insulated walls take space, so a reefer is shorter, narrower and lower inside than a dry 20ft. Leave the T-floor and the air return clear.
The simple grid estimate is 10 along the length × 5 across × 9 high = 450, or 13 × 4 × 9 = 468 with every piece turned. The engine found 522 — 54 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 kept this-side-up (turned on the floor plane only) (headline figure) | 522 | 9 | 92% | 9,918 kg (36% of payload) |
How many 20ft reefers for a given order?
| Banana boxes | 100 | 250 | 500 | 1,000 | 2,500 | 5,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20ft reefers needed | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 10 |
| Last one filled to | 19% | 48% | 96% | 92% | 79% | 58% |
Mixed cargo, different carton sizes or delivery stops? Plan the exact shipment in 3D — free, in the browser, nothing uploaded.
Frequently asked
How many banana boxes fit in a 20ft reefer?
522 banana boxes of 500 × 400 × 250 mm fit in a 20ft reefer (inner dimensions 5,444 × 2,294 × 2,276 mm), boxes kept this-side-up (turned on the floor plane only). That uses 92% of the 28.4 m³ available and weighs about 9,918 kg.
What are the inner dimensions of a 20ft reefer?
Typical inner dimensions are 5,444 mm long, 2,294 mm wide and 2,276 mm high (214.3 × 90.3 × 89.6 in), giving 28.4 m³ of space and a rated payload of about 27,400 kg. Individual units vary by a few centimetres, so check the actual box for tight loads.
How much does a full load of banana boxes weigh?
522 × 19 kg ≈ 9,918 kg, which is 36% of the 27,400 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 rotation on the floor plane only, 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.