Short answer: A 40HQ holds 76.3 cbm and 26,540 kg of payload, and office furniture is volume-bound, not weight-bound. A mixed load of chairs, desks and storage fills the box by cubic meters long before it nears the weight limit. Plan on 65–70 cbm usable, put dense storage on the floor, and never stack on chair cartons.
Mixing models in one container is normal: a 60-seat fit-out almost never fills a 40HQ with one product. The skill is in the math and the loading sequence.
How much space does each product take?
| Product | Carton or set cbm | Gross weight | Units in 65 cbm usable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Task or ergonomic chair | 0.19–0.22 cbm | 18–22 kg | 295–340 |
| Executive chair | 0.28–0.35 cbm | 22–28 kg | 185–230 |
| Height-adjustable desk, frame and top | 0.25–0.40 cbm | 25–45 kg | 160–260 |
| Workstation or cubicle set | 0.50–1.20 cbm | 40–80 kg | 54–130 |
| Storage cabinet or pedestal | 0.15–0.25 cbm | 30–60 kg | 260–430 |
| Conference table, 2–3 m | 0.60–1.50 cbm | 50–120 kg | 43–108 |
| Lounge or soft seating | 0.40–0.80 cbm | 15–25 kg | 81–160 |
These are planning figures. Always request the packing list with carton dimensions, gross weight and cbm per SKU before booking. The difference between 0.19 and 0.22 cbm per chair is 45 chairs in one container, and a supplier who cannot give you cbm per SKU is guessing at freight.
What limits the load — volume or weight?
Volume wins almost every time. A 40HQ’s internal volume is 76.3 cbm, its maximum gross weight is 30,480 kg and its tare is about 3,940 kg, leaving 26,540 kg of payload.
Now check density. A container filled with 320 task chairs at 20 kg each weighs about 6,400 kg. It is full and almost empty at the same time. Only steel storage, pedestals and heavy conference tables push a furniture container toward the weight limit.
The real constraint is road transport. On US roads, weight limits commonly cap a 40HQ load at roughly 19,900 kg (44,000 lb) of cargo, and state bridge formulas can be stricter. Standard chairs never approach that; steel filing cabinets and dense desking can. Confirm the limit with your trucker before packing heavy storage toward the front.
How do I calculate a mixed load?
Work in three steps: volume, weight, stacking.
| Item | Quantity | cbm each | Total cbm | Total kg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Task chairs | 120 | 0.21 | 25.2 | 2,400 |
| Desks, frame and top | 60 | 0.36 | 21.6 | 1,920 |
| Storage pedestals | 40 | 0.22 | 8.8 | 1,520 |
| Subtotal | 220 | — | 55.6 cbm | 5,840 kg |
| Remaining space | — | — | about 10 cbm | up to 14,000 kg |
That leaves room for roughly 30 lounge chairs or another 45 task chairs, and the load sits 11,000 kg under the road limit. The correct next move is to add product, not to declare the container full. Keep a 5–10% allowance for loading gaps, and round carton dimensions up, not down.
In what order should the container be loaded?
| Position | What goes there | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Front, on the floor | Storage cabinets, pedestals, desk frames | Heaviest and most rigid items, low and forward over the axles |
| Floor and lower mid-height | Desk tops and flat-pack surfaces, on edge | Never stand a table top on a corner |
| Mid-height | Workstation panels and rails | Long items span the length and must be secured against shift |
| Top layer | Chairs, lounge, light cartons | No point loads |
| Door end, loaded last | Hardware packs, tools, spares | First items installers need on site |
The CTU Code exists because mixed loads fail at container walls, doors and stacking interfaces. Three rules matter most for furniture: never place a desk frame or cabinet on top of a chair carton, strap lengthwise loads to the lashing rings at intervals of about 2 m, and keep the door end clear of anything that can fall when the doors open.
What damage risk does mixing create?
- Point loading. A pedestal’s base concentrates load on the carton beneath it. Chair cartons crush and fabric creases permanently.
- Lengthwise shift. Flat-pack desk tops are long and heavy; unstrapped, they slide under braking and become battering rams.
- Moisture. Mixed loads are often packed in humid weather and sealed for 25–40 days. Desiccant and a container liner cost little against a fabric claim.
- Compression on soft goods. Upholstery under load takes a set, so soft seating goes in the last third of the load.
Two steps pay for themselves: a photo set of the loaded container showing the strapping and seal number, and cargo insurance for the full journey. Carrier liability is limited by weight, not by the value of your furniture.
Is a mixed container cheaper than LCL?
| Order size | Recommended mode | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Under 10 cbm | LCL | You avoid paying for a whole container |
| 10–15 cbm | LCL or shared box — compare | LCL’s fixed per-shipment charges bite at the top of its range |
| 15–40 cbm | Mixed FCL in a 20GP | One handling, one document set, one delivery |
| 40+ cbm | Mixed FCL in a 40HQ | Lowest cost per cbm, lowest damage risk |
The break-even is usually 12–15 cbm depending on destination charges. Beyond it, a mixed FCL wins on cost and clearly on damage risk, because the goods are packed once by the factory and unpacked once by you.
FAQ
How many office chairs fit in a 40HQ?
Roughly 300–340 task chairs, or 190–260 executive chairs, if cartons measure 0.19–0.22 cbm and are loaded loosely. Chair cartons are light, so you fill volume or height, not the weight limit.
Can I combine goods from two suppliers in one container?
Yes, but it creates a single exporter of record for everything in the box. The cleanest route is consolidating at one factory, which is how we combine seating with desks and storage. Two factories mean an extra inland leg, a consolidation fee and one party responsible for the packing list.
Should I palletize a furniture container?
Rarely for cartons. Palletizing costs height and floor area, and a 40HQ holds only about 20 standard GMA pallets. Pallets make sense for heavy storage and forklift receiving; loose cartons with corner boards load denser and usually arrive in better condition.
Where do I put steel storage in a mixed load?
On the floor, forward of the rear axle, with nothing on top. Steel storage is the densest part of a furniture order and sets the center of gravity. If you are loading a lot of it, confirm the truck’s axle limits before the driver leaves.
How do I stop desk tops from damaging chairs?
Load desk tops and frames as their own block, on edge if the carton is designed for it, strapped to the wall lashing rings, separated from the chair zone by corrugated board or plywood. Never rely on carton friction alone.
Can one container be delivered to two addresses?
Not as a container. A container goes to one place; splitting it afterwards means an LTL or courier leg from a warehouse. With two sites, ship one container to the larger site and forward the rest by LTL, or plan two containers.
Next step
Send your full bill of quantities and we will return a loading plan by cbm and weight, with carton dimensions per SKU so your forwarder can book with confidence. Use the quote form, or browse storage and desks and workspaces for packing data.
Sources
- UNECE, IMO/ILO/UNECE Code of Practice for Packing of Cargo Transport Units (CTU Code): https://unece.org/transport/intermodal-transport/ctu-code (accessed November 4, 2026)
- FreightUtils, 40ft high cube container specification — 76.3 m³, 26,540 kg payload, 3,940 kg tare: https://www.freightutils.com/containers/40ft-high-cube (accessed November 4, 2026)
- International Organization for Standardization, ISO 668 freight container classification and ratings: https://www.iso.org/standard/76955.html (accessed November 4, 2026)
- U.S. Federal Highway Administration, Federal Bridge Formula and vehicle weight limits: https://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/freight/publications/brdg_frm_wghts/index.htm (accessed November 4, 2026)
Last updated: November 2026
Wenyi Editorial Team
The in-house content and engineering team at Wenyi Office Furniture (Dongguan Guanzhi Furniture Co., Ltd.). We write about office ergonomics, furniture standards, sourcing and workplace design based on 20 years of manufacturing experience in Dongguan, China.