A stowage factor (m³/ton) is the space occupied by one tonne of cargo in a ship's hold — the key figure forwarders and shippers use to judge whether cargo is low-density or dense, and to plan containers and charges. Enter cargo volume and weight to get the stowage factor and cargo class instantly (calculator below).
Stowage Factor Quick-Reference Table
Typical stowage factor ranges (m³/ton) for common cargo types, for container selection and quoting. Actual values vary with packaging and handling practice; verify against the cargo as loaded.
| Cargo type | Stowage factor (m³/t) | Density (kg/CBM) | Container advice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steel / coils | 0.3-0.5 | 2000+ | 20GP, weight-limit first |
| Ceramic tiles | 0.8-1.2 | 830-1250 | 20GP/40GP |
| Machinery | 1.0-2.5 | 400-1000 | 20GP/40GP by size |
| Chemicals (drums) | 1.0-1.5 | 670-1000 | 20GP/40GP |
| Grain/fertilizer (bags) | 1.2-1.5 | 670-830 | 20GP |
| Paper / pulp | 1.5-2.0 | 500-670 | 20GP/40GP |
| Plastic pellets | 1.5-2.0 | 500-670 | 20GP/40GP |
| Cotton | 2.5-3.5 | 290-400 | 40GP/40HQ |
| Furniture (knock-down) | 3.0-5.0 | 200-330 | 40GP/40HQ |
| Electronics / appliances | 3.0-5.0 | 200-330 | 40HQ, volume-limit first |
| Garments / textiles | 4.0-6.0 | 170-250 | 40HQ |
| Carton light goods | 4.0-6.0 | 170-250 | 40HQ |
| Plastic products | 5.0-8.0 | 125-200 | 40HQ |
| Foam / sponge | 10.0-20.0 | 50-100 | 40HQ, consider compression |
Density bands: low-density <150 kg/CBM, medium 150-350 kg/CBM, dense >350 kg/CBM. A larger stowage factor means more space occupied per tonne (lighter cargo).
How to Use the Calculator
The calculator above supports three modes: compute the stowage factor from volume and weight; estimate the required volume from weight and factor; or estimate the weight from volume and factor. Results show density, cargo class and a container suggestion.
Stowage Factor & Charging
Ocean LCL is usually charged on the greater of volume (CBM) and weight ton (1 ton = 1000 kg) — the revenue ton (W/M). Cargo with a stowage factor below 1 is weight-driven; above 1 it is volume-driven.
Related Reading
- Container Loading Calculation: Volume, Stowage Factor & Simulation
- Container Dimensions & Specs Explained
- Cargo Stowage & Securing: CSS Code Rules
- Sea Freight Cost Calculation: FCL/LCL Methods
- Container Sizes & Loading Estimator
- China to USA Ocean Shipping Line
Need booking or loading-plan advice? Contact Bofeng Logistics: 130-7567-8958 / info@zhbfwl.com
Data note: stowage factor ranges are typical industry reference values, as of August 2026; the actual loading method prevails.