Steel grades
Q235B or Q355B? How to Choose the Steel Grade for a Building
The two grades used for most Chinese-fabricated steel buildings, what actually differs between them, and the cases where paying more per ton reduces the total cost.
Read GuideTools
Container loading calculator
Enter the tonnage, the longest member and the heaviest piece, and see which equipment the shipment realistically needs and how many loads it takes. Built for steel structures, where length and piece weight decide the plan before price does.
Inputs
Describe the shipment
Use the heaviest and longest single component, not the average. Those two decide the equipment.
Do not know the tonnage yet? Use the steel weight estimator first, then come back with the figure.
Indicative plan
Recommended equipment
40HQ high cube
Members fit inside a closed 40-foot container, so the shipment can use standard equipment.
- Containers needed
- 12
- Steel per container
- 22 t
Indicative only. Container dimensions, door openings and payloads vary between types, owners and carriers. Confirm the final plan with your freight forwarder before booking.
Also possible
Other equipment that could work
- 40OT open top: crane loaded with the roof open; for cargo above the door height
- 40FR flat rack: no sides or roof; for very tall, wide or heavy assemblies
Check before booking
- The load is capped by the road limit of 22 t per container rather than the container's own payload of 26 t.
- Roughly 21.7 t per container across 12 loads. Keep each bundle inside the capacity of the crane that will handle it at both ends.
Next step
Have the packing plan prepared with the order
Bundling, marking and the loading sequence are decided from the component list, before the containers are booked.
Reference
Equipment this calculator selects from
Typical figures for orientation. Confirm the actual dimensions, door openings and payload of the equipment offered by your carrier, because they differ between container types and owners.
| Equipment | Usable length | Door height | Typical payload | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20GP standard | 5.9 m | 2.28 m | 28 t | Short but heavy; suits dense members and small orders |
| 40HQ high cube | 12.03 m | 2.58 m | 26 t | The default for fabricated beams and columns up to about 11.8 m |
| 40OT open top | 12.03 m | 2.34 m | 26 t | Crane loaded with the roof open; for cargo above the door height |
| 40FR flat rack | 12 m | No roof | 40 t | No sides or roof; for very tall, wide or heavy assemblies |
Limits
What this calculator cannot decide
It does not know your component list
Real packing comes from the piece marks, individual weights and dimensions. A shipment with many short pieces packs differently from one with a few long members of the same total weight.
It does not book equipment
Open top and flat rack availability, crane availability at the port and destination, and carrier restrictions all affect what can actually be shipped in a given week.
It does not price the freight
Freight depends on the trade lane, season, equipment type and loading method. Confirm rates with your forwarder against the container plan.
Related reading
Guides behind the container plan
Standards
GB, EN and ASTM: Which Standards to Confirm for an Overseas Steel Project
Chinese fabrication is usually done to GB standards. Overseas projects often specify EN or ASTM. This is what has to be confirmed before fabrication starts, and why equivalent grades are not automatically interchangeable.
Read GuideExport packing
Container Loading for Steel Structures: 40HQ, 40OT or 20GP?
Approximate internal dimensions and payloads for the three containers used for steel structures, what each one suits, and the loading constraints that decide the plan before fabrication is released.
Read Guide