How many bicycle boxes fit in a 40ft reefer?
Bicycle boxes of 1,400 × 220 × 800 mm (also called bike cartons) in a 40-foot high-cube refrigerated container (40RH) — inner dimensions 11,583 × 2,294 × 2,557 mm. Calculated by the Cubestow engine on 2026-09-08.
Upright, stacked at most 3 high. 91% of the space used, 3 layers high, about 4,536 kg (16% of payload). Open this load in the 3D planner →
Top view — floor layer (84 on the floor)
Side view — first row along the wall (3 layers)
The answer in detail
A standard adult bicycle carton is about 1,400 × 220 × 800 mm (bike partially disassembled) and weighs 15–20 kg. Boxes are kept upright and are typically stacked no more than three high.
Inner length and width are reduced by the insulation and the machinery. Cargo must not block the airflow along the ceiling or the T-floor.
The simple grid estimate is 8 along the length × 10 across × 3 high = 240. The engine found 252 — 12 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Upright, stacked at most 3 high (headline figure) | 252 | 3 | 91% | 4,536 kg (16% of payload) |
How many 40ft reefers for a given order?
| Bicycle boxes | 10 | 25 | 50 | 100 | 250 | 500 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40ft reefers needed | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Last one filled to | 4% | 10% | 20% | 40% | 99% | 98% |
Mixed cargo, different carton sizes or delivery stops? Plan the exact shipment in 3D — free, in the browser, nothing uploaded.
Frequently asked
How many bicycle boxes fit in a 40ft reefer?
252 bicycle boxes of 1,400 × 220 × 800 mm fit in a 40ft reefer (inner dimensions 11,583 × 2,294 × 2,557 mm), upright, stacked at most 3 high. That uses 91% of the 67.9 m³ available and weighs about 4,536 kg.
What are the inner dimensions of a 40ft reefer?
Typical inner dimensions are 11,583 mm long, 2,294 mm wide and 2,557 mm high (456.0 × 90.3 × 100.7 in), giving 67.9 m³ of space and a rated payload of about 29,000 kg. Individual units vary by a few centimetres, so check the actual box for tight loads.
How much does a full load of bicycle boxes weigh?
252 × 18 kg ≈ 4,536 kg, which is 16% of the 29,000 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.