Buyer guide · Container loading
How many rugs fit in a container?
A 40 ft high-cube holds roughly 2,150 to 3,800 square metres of hand-knotted rugs, 1,650 to 2,950 of hand-tufted, 4,300 to 8,350 of flatweave and 2,500 to 4,600 of jute. A 20 ft container holds a little under half of that. Volume, not weight, is usually the limit. Approximate, depends on rug size, pile and packing; the exact container plan is confirmed on your quote.
Last updated: 30 October 2026
Square metres per container, by construction
| Construction | 20 ft | 40 ft high-cube | What limits the load |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hand-knotted | 900 to 1,650 sqm | 2,150 to 3,800 sqm | Volume |
| Hand-tufted | 700 to 1,250 sqm | 1,650 to 2,950 sqm | Volume |
| Flatweave and dhurrie | 1,850 to 3,600 sqm | 4,300 to 8,350 sqm | Volume |
| Jute | 1,100 to 2,000 sqm | 2,500 to 4,600 sqm | Volume |
Approximate, depends on rug size, pile and packing; the exact container plan is confirmed on your quote. A standard 40 ft container holds roughly 13 percent less than a 40 ft high-cube.
Rugs are bulky rather than heavy, so the cube fills before the weight limit is reached. Thicker pile means more volume per square metre, so a hand-tufted or hand-knotted rug takes more room than a flatweave of the same size. The ranges are deliberately cautious: we would rather you plan on a little less than promise too much.
Hand-knotted rugs per container
| Size | 20 ft container (pieces) | 40 ft high-cube (pieces) |
|---|---|---|
| 2 x 3 ft | 1,600 to 2,900 | Plan by square metres, see summary table |
| 3 x 5 ft | 670 to 1,100 | 1,500 to 2,700 |
| 5 x 8 ft | 250 to 440 | 580 to 1,000 |
| 8 x 10 ft | 125 to 220 | 290 to 510 |
| 9 x 12 ft | 90 to 160 | 210 to 370 |
Approximate, depends on rug size, pile and packing; the exact container plan is confirmed on your quote.
Hand-tufted rugs per container
| Size | 20 ft container (pieces) | 40 ft high-cube (pieces) |
|---|---|---|
| 2 x 3 ft | 1,300 to 2,300 | Plan by square metres, see summary table |
| 3 x 5 ft | 520 to 930 | 1,200 to 2,100 |
| 5 x 8 ft | 195 to 340 | 450 to 800 |
| 8 x 10 ft | 95 to 170 | 220 to 400 |
| 9 x 12 ft | 70 to 125 | 165 to 290 |
Approximate, depends on rug size, pile and packing; the exact container plan is confirmed on your quote. Deep or shag pile will sit at or below the low end.
Flatweave and dhurrie rugs per container
| Size | 20 ft container (pieces) | 40 ft high-cube (pieces) |
|---|---|---|
| 2 x 3 ft | Plan by square metres, see summary table | Plan by square metres, see summary table |
| 3 x 5 ft | 1,300 to 2,600 | Plan by square metres, see summary table |
| 5 x 8 ft | 500 to 970 | 1,100 to 2,200 |
| 8 x 10 ft | 250 to 480 | 580 to 1,100 |
| 9 x 12 ft | 185 to 360 | 430 to 830 |
Approximate, depends on rug size, pile and packing; the exact container plan is confirmed on your quote. Flatweaves are thin, so they pack densest. See wholesale kilim and dhurrie rugs.
Jute rugs per container
| Size | 20 ft container (pieces) | 40 ft high-cube (pieces) |
|---|---|---|
| 2 x 3 ft | 1,900 to 3,600 | Plan by square metres, see summary table |
| 3 x 5 ft | 780 to 1,400 | 1,800 to 3,300 |
| 5 x 8 ft | 290 to 540 | 680 to 1,200 |
| 8 x 10 ft | 145 to 270 | 340 to 620 |
| 9 x 12 ft | 105 to 200 | 250 to 460 |
Approximate, depends on rug size, pile and packing; the exact container plan is confirmed on your quote.
Poufs, pillows and baskets per container
| Item (size assumed) | 20 ft | 40 ft high-cube |
|---|---|---|
| Round pouf, filled, about 55 cm across and 32 cm high | 230 to 270 | 540 to 620 |
| Pillow, 40 x 40 cm, filled, not compressed | 1,100 to 1,250 | 2,550 to 2,950 |
| Pillow, 40 x 40 cm, filled, compress-packed | 1,550 to 1,800 | 3,650 to 4,200 |
| Pillow cover only, folded flat | Plan by volume | Plan by volume |
| Open storage basket, about 35 cm across and 35 cm high, not nested | 500 to 570 | 1,150 to 1,300 |
| Same basket nested in stacks | 1,950 to 2,250 | 4,500 and up |
Approximate, depends on rug size, pile and packing; the exact container plan is confirmed on your quote. Volume is the limit for all of these.
- Poufs are bulky and mostly air and fill, so they use the most space per piece. Fill type and weight are confirmed on your quote.
- Pillows can be supplied as cover with insert or cover only. Cover-only supply takes a fraction of the space, which changes the count a great deal.
- Compress-packing a filled pillow saves room. Cotton offcut and bead fills recover less than fibre fills, so we plan on a modest saving only, and agree the method on your quote.
- Baskets that nest stack inside each other; baskets with handles, lids or a fixed shape may not. Basket sizes here are our working assumption.
How we worked these figures out
- Container space. About 33 cubic metres for a 20 ft container, 66 for a 40 ft standard and 76 for a 40 ft high-cube, with payload taken at the lower published end (about 21.7 tonnes for 20 ft, 26.5 tonnes for 40 ft).
- Rolled thickness. We assumed a rolled rug takes up roughly its own area times its thickness, from about 4 to 7 mm for flatweave up to about 12 to 18 mm for hand-tufted.
- Usable share. Round rolls, pallets, poly wrap and gaps mean only about 40 to 55 percent of the cube is rug. General cargo guides allow 80 to 90 percent, so ours is deliberately cautious.
- Weight. Typical handmade rugs weigh roughly 3 to 4.5 kg per square metre for hand-knotted wool, a little more for hand-tufted, and about 1.5 to 2.5 kg for flatweave and jute. Even a full load stays well inside the payload, so volume sets the limit.
- Mixed sizes. The tables assume one size per container. In a mixed order, add up the share each size uses of its own row. For example, half a container of 5 x 8 ft and half of 8 x 10 ft gives about half of each count.
The working and sources are kept on file. These are estimates, not a guarantee: they depend on your sizes, pile height, packing method and the container itself. Approximate, depends on rug size, pile and packing; the exact container plan is confirmed on your quote.
Archived with a DOI: Approximate container loading for handmade rugs, poufs, pillows and baskets (Zenodo, CC BY 4.0).
Get a container plan for your range
Try the calculator: the free container loading calculator works out a range for your size and construction, and the tables are open data on rug trade data. Send your sizes, constructions and quantities and we will plan the load. See rug packing and loading for how rugs are rolled, labelled and loaded, and container orders for furniture stores for mixed ranges. Specifications are on rug specifications, and shipping terms on export and logistics. Orders start at 1 piece; the usual term is FOB Nhava Sheva, confirmed on your quote.
Send your range for a container plan
Send your design, size and estimated quantity. We reply within two business days, usually within one. Minimum order: 1 piece. Sampling cost is credited against your order. Payment: 50% advance, 50% before dispatch.
Buyer questions
Container loading: your questions
How many rugs fit in a 40 ft container?
It depends on size and construction. As a guide, a 40 ft high-cube holds roughly 2,150 to 3,800 square metres of hand-knotted rugs, 1,650 to 2,950 of hand-tufted, 4,300 to 8,350 of flatweave and 2,500 to 4,600 of jute. Approximate, depends on rug size, pile and packing; the exact container plan is confirmed on your quote.
How many 8 x 10 ft rugs fit in a container?
Roughly 125 to 220 hand-knotted or 95 to 170 hand-tufted in a 20 ft container, and about 290 to 510 hand-knotted or 220 to 400 hand-tufted in a 40 ft high-cube. Approximate; confirmed on your quote.
Is weight or volume the limit for rugs?
Volume, in almost every case. Rugs are bulky, so the container fills before it reaches its weight limit. Very thick or dense rugs are the exception, and we check the weight on your quote.
Why is there such a wide range?
Pile height, how tightly a rug rolls and how it is packed all change the count. We show a cautious range instead of one optimistic number.
How many poufs, pillows and baskets fit in a container?
Roughly 540 to 620 filled round poufs, 2,550 to 4,200 filled 40 x 40 cm pillows, more if supplied as covers only, and 1,150 and up to nested baskets depending on nesting, in a 40 ft high-cube. Approximate; confirmed on your quote.
Can I mix rugs, poufs, pillows and baskets in one container?
Yes. Every piece is made to order from a minimum of 1 piece, and a mixed range can be planned into one order. We confirm the loading plan on your quote.
Do you ship in a 20 ft or a 40 ft container?
Either. A 40 ft high-cube gives the most space per freight dollar for larger ranges, a 20 ft suits smaller ones. FOB Nhava Sheva is the usual term, confirmed on your quote.
Can you load less than a full container?
The minimum order is 1 piece. Phased shipments are possible on wholesale orders, so a large order does not have to leave in one container.