International standards established for personal effects shipments are as follows

Density: 6.5 pounds / gross cubic foot, 105 kgs / gross cubic meter.

Container Size

Length

Metric/Imperial

Width

Metric/Imperial

Height

Metric/Imperial

*Total Volume

Metric/Imperial

20’ Standard

5893 mm

19’ 4” in

2311 mm

7’ 7” in

2286 mm

7’ 6” in

28 cubic meters

1000 cuft

40’ Standard

12032 mm

39’6” in

2311 mm

7’ 7” in

2286 mm

7’6” in

60 cubic meters

2100 cuft

40’ High Cube

12032 mm

39’6” in

2311 mm

7’ 7” in

2590 mm

8’6” in

66 cubic meters

2300 cuft

 

*Total volumes are guidelines. Although internal volume is measurably larger, due to standard density for personal effects including awkward furniture pieces and various sizes of packing cartons, plastic totes/bins, the total volumetric capacity is generally reduced to those noted in the table.

 

Air Shipments:

Calculating Density for personal effects for Air shipments can be difficult for those unfamiliar with quoting air freight. IATA (International Air Transportation Association) base cargo on the following densities:

  • 10.41 pounds per gross cubic foot or actual weight, whichever is greater.

  • 166 kilograms per gross cubic meter or actual weight, whichever is greater.

  • 366 pounds per gross cubic meter or actual weight, whichever is greater.

Purchasing Standard IATA Corrugated cartons from your preferred packaging company is a great way to control costs and simplify the sales process to your client. For example, an LDN carton is 94.5 cuft.  The chargeable airline cost is 984 lbs or actual weight, whichever is greater.