How many wine cases (12 × 750 ml) fit in a 40ft reefer?
Wine cases (12 × 750 ml) of 330 × 250 × 170 mm (also called 12-bottle wine 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.
Boxes kept this-side-up (turned on the floor plane only). 37% of the space used, 15 layers high, about 28,992 kg (100% of payload). Payload-limited: 4,725 would fit by space alone. Open this load in the 3D planner →
Top view — floor layer (129 on the floor)
Side view — first row along the wall (15 layers)
The answer in detail
A 12-bottle case of 750 ml wine, bottles lying down, measures about 330 × 250 × 170 mm and weighs 15–17 kg. Wine ships upright-case-only; the weight adds up quickly — a full 20ft of wine reaches the payload limit before the roof.
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 35 along the length × 9 across × 15 high = 4,725. The engine's validated plan holds 1,812, below the raw grid because the payload limit cap the load.
Variants
| Loading rule | Fits | Layers | Volume used | Total weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boxes kept this-side-up (turned on the floor plane only) (headline figure) | 1,812 | 15 | 37% | 28,992 kg (100% of payload) |
How many 40ft reefers for a given order?
| Wine cases (12 × 750 ml) | 100 | 250 | 500 | 1,000 | 2,500 | 5,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40ft reefers needed | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Last one filled to | 6% | 14% | 28% | 55% | 38% | 76% |
Mixed cargo, different carton sizes or delivery stops? Plan the exact shipment in 3D — free, in the browser, nothing uploaded.
Frequently asked
How many wine cases (12 × 750 ml) fit in a 40ft reefer?
1,812 wine cases (12 × 750 ml) of 330 × 250 × 170 mm fit in a 40ft reefer (inner dimensions 11,583 × 2,294 × 2,557 mm), boxes kept this-side-up (turned on the floor plane only). That uses 37% of the 67.9 m³ available and weighs about 28,992 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.
Why does the payload limit matter for wine cases (12 × 750 ml)?
Geometrically 4,725 wine cases (12 × 750 ml) would fit, but at about 16 kg each the 40ft reefer's 29,000 kg payload is reached at 1,812. Heavy cargo fills the weight allowance before the space.
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.