Plan storage capacity · Australia guide
Container volume and usable storage space
Nominal capacity describes an empty interior. The goods, packaging and access routine decide how much of that space is usable.
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By the ContainerFox editorial team. Research, limits and corrections.
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Measure packed goods
For each rectangular packed item, multiply length by width by height and quantity using consistent units. Keep metres, millimetres, inches and feet clearly labelled. A description such as a two-bedroom move does not establish packed volume.
Adding item volumes does not arrange them. Long furniture, machinery, fragile goods and objects that must remain upright can control the choice even when the total looks small.
Separate floor positions and stacking
Record items needing their own floor position, permitted stacking and required retrieval access. Packaging strength, mass and stability are separate checks. Do not apply a universal packing-efficiency percentage to unrelated inventories.
Lined and refrigerated containers have different clear space from an empty dry shell. Shelving, equipment, airflow clearances and circulation routes reduce usable capacity.
Keep an inventory the supplier can review
Use measured quantities, dimensions and masses. Mark unknown weights and unresolved stacking rules. Discuss the longest, heaviest and least flexible items first, and update the record when packaging or handling changes.
Questions before you choose
Can volume alone determine how many containers to order?
No. Check the actual arrangement, mass, loading method and access requirements before deciding.