CBM is the real currency
A 40HQ holds about 68 cubic metres of usable volume. What limits you is rarely weight - it is the empty space around irregular shapes. Three-seat sofas are the worst offenders because their arms create dead air.
Typical loading figures
Two-seat fixed sofa - about 1.1 CBM packed, so roughly 55 to 60 pieces per 40HQ.
Three-seat sofa - about 1.6 CBM packed, so roughly 38 to 42 pieces.
Sofa bed - about 0.9 CBM flat packed.
Mattress, vacuum rolled - about 0.12 CBM each, which is why rolled mattresses are a favourite filler item.
Techniques that genuinely help
Knock-down legs, removable backs, nesting chairs inside sofa voids and stacking rolled mattresses on top of the sofa layer can raise the fill rate by 10 to 15 percent. Ask for a loading plan with the carton dimensions before you confirm the order - a factory that cannot produce one is guessing.
Do not overfill
Pushing past the CBM limit squeezes cartons and creates pressure marks on foam. A container that arrives with dented corners costs more in claims than the freight you saved.
