Container Load Capacity
Calculate How Much Bamboo Fits in a 20ft or 40ft Shipping Container
How many bamboo products fit in a container? The answer depends on the size of the container as well as the dimensions and type of bamboo product. Whether you’re shipping bamboo poles, mats, or slats, we’ve got you covered. On this page, you’ll find detailed capacity tables and an easy-to-use calculator to help you determine the maximum load for each product type.
As a general guideline, a 40ft container can hold approximately 140% more bamboo than a 20ft container.
You might wonder: Why the extra 40% if a 40ft container is exactly double the size of a 20ft container? The key lies in the type of 40ft container used. There are two types of 40ft ocean containers:
1. 40ft Standard
2. 40ft High Cube (HQ)
A 40ft High Cube container is 30 cm taller than the standard version, allowing for significantly more cargo volume.
When it comes to international shipping costs, the price for transporting a 40ft Standard or a 40ft High Cube is typically the same. This is why we exclusively use 40ft High Cube containers—enabling our clients to maximize the volume of bamboo products shipped without any additional cost
Shipping Container Dimensions
20' Standard Container
| Description | Metric |
|---|---|
| Inside Length | 5.89 m |
| Inside Width | 2.35 m |
| Inside Height | 2.39 m |
| Capacity | 33 m³ |
| Max. Cargo | 28,200 kg |
40' High Cube Container
| Description | Metric |
|---|---|
| Inside Length | 12.03 m |
| Inside Width | 2.35 m |
| Inside Height | 2.69 m |
| Capacity | 76 m³ |
| Max. Cargo | 28,620 kg |
Guadua Bamboo® Poles
Maximum Load Capacity
Bamboo poles come in a variety of diameters, which naturally affects the container’s loading capacity—the smaller the diameter, the more poles can fit in a single container. The tables below outline the average maximum load capacity for each diameter class and container type. These figures assume a container filled entirely with only poles of the same diameter.
For added flexibility, we’ve also included a calculator below, allowing you to mix and match various diameters, lengths or bamboo products to suit your shipping needs.
It’s important to note that bamboo is a natural product, so no two poles are exactly the same. Variations in diameter and slight conical shapes can influence the final load capacity. As such, the exact pole count and final invoice will only be confirmed after the container is loaded.
20' Standard Container
| Diameter (cm) | Length (m) | Max. Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 5-7 | 5.88 | 1090 |
| 7-9 | 5.88 | 700 |
| 9-11 | 5.88 | 485 |
| 11-13 | 5.88 | 355 |
| 13-15 | 5.88 | 270 |
40' High Cube Container
| Diameter (cm) | Length (m) | Max. Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 5-7 | 6.00 | 2515 |
| 7-9 | 6.00 | 1610 |
| 9-11 | 6.00 | 1120 |
| 11-13 | 6.00 | 820 |
| 13-15 | 6.00 | 630 |
Guadua Bamboo® Mats
Maximum Load Capacity
Flattened bamboo mats have a standard length of 4 meters and a width ranging between 30 and 40 cm. The average thickness of a mat is approximately 15 mm. When it comes to container loading, a 20ft container can accommodate a single row of mats, while a 40ft container can fit up to three rows (3 x 4 meters = 12 meters).
This configuration allows for efficient stacking and maximizes the available container space. For detailed loading capacity per container type, refer to the tables below, and use the calculator to customize your shipment with other bamboo products.
20' Standard Container
| Width (cm) | Length (m) | Max. Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 35 | 4.00 | 785 |
40' High Cube Container
| Width (cm) | Length (m) | Max. Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 35 | 4.00 | 2710 |
Guadua Bamboo® Slats
Maximum Load Capacity
Our bamboo slats measure 4 cm in width and have a thickness ranging from 9 to 15 mm. For convenient handling and unloading, they are bundled into packages containing 15 to 25 slats each.
Unlike other bamboo products, the maximum capacity for bamboo slats in a 40ft container is determined by their total weight rather than the available volume. This means the container’s weight limit will be reached before it is fully packed. For more details, refer to the tables below, and use our calculator to optimize your shipment by combining slats with other bamboo products.
20' Standard Container
| Width (cm) | Length (m) | Max. Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | 2.94 | 13400 |
| 4 | 5.88 | 6700 |
40' High Cube Container
| Width (cm) | Length (m) | Max. Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | 3.00 | 28500 |
| 4 | 6.00 | 14250 |
Guadua Bamboo® Shipping Calculator
Mixed Containers
Bamboo importers and distributors often need a mix of pole diameters or a combination of bamboo products shipped in the same container. To make planning easier, we’ve developed the Guadua Bamboo® Shipping Calculator, allowing you to customize your shipment effortlessly.
If you need assistance or are ready to place an order for a container of our products, don’t hesitate to contact us, we’re here to help!
| Product | Diameter Width (cm) |
Length (m) |
Quantity | Total CBM | Total Weight (kg) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guadua Bamboo Pole | 5-7 | 3 | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| Guadua Bamboo Pole | 7-9 | 2 | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| Guadua Bamboo Pole | 7-9 | 3 | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| Guadua Bamboo Pole | 7-9 | 6 | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| Guadua Bamboo Pole | 9-11 | 2 | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| Guadua Bamboo Pole | 9-11 | 3 | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| Guadua Bamboo Pole | 9-11 | 6 | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| Guadua Bamboo Pole | 11-13 | 2 | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| Guadua Bamboo Pole | 11-13 | 3 | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| Guadua Bamboo Pole | 11-13 | 6 | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| Guadua Bamboo Pole | 13-15 | 2 | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| Guadua Bamboo Pole | 13-15 | 3 | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| Guadua Bamboo Pole | 13-15 | 6 | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| Guadua Bamboo Mat | 30-40 | 4 | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| Guadua Bamboo Slat | 4 | 2 | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| Guadua Bamboo Slat | 4 | 3 | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| Guadua Bamboo Slat | 4 | 6 | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| Total | 0.00 CBM | 0.00 kg | |||
- 20ft Container: 33 CBM, 28,200 kg
- 40ft Container: 76 CBM, 28,620 kg