A container loading plan records the cargo, the equipment, the intended positions and the instructions needed to load and unload a shipment. A useful template starts with accurate packed dimensions and weights, then adds orientation, stacking and delivery requirements. A spreadsheet can organize those inputs and calculate totals; it cannot, by itself, establish a feasible arrangement or a safe securing method.
This guide includes an Excel-compatible CSV cargo list and a completed three-item example. Use them to prepare a planning discussion, then check the actual container and the proposed arrangement before loading.
Free container loading plan template: start with the cargo list
Download the blank cargo-list CSV · Download the completed example CSV
The files are ordinary CSV documents: no macros, scripts or built-in formulas. Open them in Excel, or import them into Google Sheets with comma-separated columns. The completed file contains the same illustrative cargo shown below. It is a preparation template, not a confirmed loading instruction or a promised import format for StowMetric.
If downloads are restricted by your browser, copy this header into a text file and save it with a .csv extension, or create the columns manually in your spreadsheet:
item_id,description,length_cm,width_cm,height_cm,quantity,gross_kg_per_unit,rotation_rule,stacking_rule,unload_group,notesKeep a second sheet for the equipment and plan revision: container identifier and type, verified internal dimensions, door opening, payload information, handling allowances, arrangement reference, loading sequence, responsible reviewer and review date. Those details belong to the particular shipment, rather than every item row.
What information belongs in a container loading plan?
| Field | What to record | Why it changes the plan |
|---|---|---|
| Item ID and description | A unique identifier for each packed cargo type | Connects the plan, cargo list and physical labels |
| Length, width and height | External packed measurements; the template uses centimetres | Packaging and protrusions occupy space too |
| Quantity | The number of units represented by that row | Prevents confusing a carton count with the products inside |
| Gross weight per unit | Weight of the packed unit, in kilograms | Supports cargo totals and distribution review |
| Orientation rule | Whether the unit may rotate on its base, tip or change supporting face | A geometrically convenient rotation may be prohibited |
| Stacking rule | Approved layer or load limits; mark unknown limits for review | Fitting another layer does not establish packaging strength |
| Unload group | Destination or required access order | Some goods must remain accessible before others |
| Operational notes | Fragility, handling access, packaging allowances or unresolved questions | Makes exceptions visible before the warehouse starts |
Choose one planning level. If a row describes an already-loaded pallet, measure and weigh that entire pallet unit. Do not add its cartons again as separate loose cargo. For mixed loose cartons and loaded pallets, label the unit type clearly so the totals do not double-count the shipment.
Worked example: 210 cartons, 12.435 CBM and 1,860 kg
The following is an original arithmetic example, not the output of a loading optimizer. All dimensions are packed external sizes and all weights are per packed carton.
| Item | Size, cm | Quantity | kg/unit | CBM/unit | Total CBM | Total kg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 60 × 40 × 40 | 80 | 12 | 0.096 | 7.680 | 960 |
| B | 40 × 30 × 25 | 120 | 6 | 0.030 | 3.600 | 720 |
| C | 110 × 35 × 30 | 10 | 18 | 0.1155 | 1.155 | 180 |
| Total | Three cargo types | 210 | — | — | 12.435 | 1,860 |
Calculate volume and weight separately
For dimensions in centimetres: row CBM = length × width × height × quantity ÷ 1,000,000. Item A therefore contributes 60 × 40 × 40 × 80 ÷ 1,000,000 = 7.680 m³. Row weight is gross kilograms per unit multiplied by quantity.
With the supplied column order, an optional Excel formula in a new column L is =C2*D2*E2*F2/1000000; in M use =F2*G2. Fill those formulas down for the cargo rows. For this three-row example, =SUM(L2:L4) gives 12.435 and =SUM(M2:M4) gives 1860. These formulas are instructions you can add, rather than features embedded in the CSV.
Use the CBM calculator to check a row independently. Keep item-level values until the final total; rounding every small carton too early can change the shipment total.
Understand what the volume percentage does not prove
If a verified equipment reference provides 33.2 m³ of internal volume, this example's cargo volume is about 37.5% of that figure: 12.435 ÷ 33.2 × 100. That is a volume ratio, not a demonstrated loading efficiency or a fit result. The 33.2 m³ denominator is illustrative; use your equipment provider's actual specifications.
A rigid 7-metre item cannot be placed lengthwise in a 5.9-metre space when it must stay in that orientation, even if its total volume is small. Similarly, non-stackable cargo may need much more floor area than a volume-only comparison suggests. Review the individual dimensions and constraints, not just the combined CBM.
How to turn the cargo list into a usable loading plan
- Confirm the packed units. Measure a representative packed unit for each item type, record the unit of measurement, and reconcile quantities with the dispatch documents.
- Confirm the actual equipment. Record internal dimensions, door opening and the applicable payload information from the carrier or equipment provider. Allow for obstructions and handling access rather than treating a nominal container type as an exact usable box.
- Resolve restrictions. Confirm permitted rotations, packaging load limits, non-stackable goods and delivery access. An empty field means the requirement still needs checking; it does not mean unrestricted cargo.
- Prepare and review the arrangement. Use a layout drawing or an appropriate planning workflow to show positions, access and unplaced items. Keep its revision number linked to the cargo list so the warehouse receives the same version.
- Review the loading operation. Have the responsible personnel check distribution, securing, equipment limits and handling requirements. Agree the loading order and communicate changes before work begins.
The IMO/ILO/UNECE CTU Code is a reference for packing and securing cargo transport units across land and sea transport. A cargo spreadsheet does not replace that operational review or the requirements applicable to a particular shipment.
Three mistakes to catch before sharing the plan
- Product dimensions substituted for shipping dimensions. Replace them with the external packed measurements, including the loaded pallet where that is the unit being planned.
- A weight total labelled as a volume result. Keep kilograms and cubic metres in separate columns, and record whether a stated capacity concerns cargo alone or includes other materials.
- A revised cargo list paired with an old drawing. Put a shipment ID and revision on both, then identify which version has been reviewed.
Container loading plan questions
Can I make a container loading plan in Excel?
Yes, Excel can hold the cargo register, calculate volume and weight, and organize the review notes. A complete plan also needs the proposed arrangement and relevant loading instructions. A list with a low CBM total is not a substitute for checking fit.
Is a cargo-list template the same as a packing list?
They can share quantities and item identifiers, but their purposes differ. A planning list adds measurements and restrictions needed to arrange the cargo. Reconcile it with the shipment's packing documents; do not assume this template satisfies documentation requirements.
Does the free calculator generate a complete 3D loading plan?
StowMetric's free container volume calculator provides a volume-based estimate. It does not establish the positions of all items or validate every loading constraint. For visual planning, discuss your representative cargo with our team through the container loading software page.
What should I send when asking for a trial?
Start with representative packed sizes, quantities, unit weights, equipment type and the restrictions that cause planning difficulty. Contact StowMetric to arrange the 7-day trial and confirm which workflow is available for your cargo. Clicking the trial button does not automatically create an account.