Cargo Stowage Calculator
Calculate cargo capacity from hold dimensions, stowage factor, and broken stowage allowance.
About this calculator
Cargo Capacity starts from raw hold volume -- Hold Length times Hold Width times Hold Depth -- then works through two adjustments before landing on a metric-ton figure. First, Broken Stowage subtracts the space that is unavoidably wasted between cargo units (dunnage, gaps around irregular shapes, access aisles), so raising Broken Stowage always lowers Usable Volume and therefore Cargo Capacity. Second, Stowage Factor converts that usable volume into weight: it represents how many cubic feet one metric ton of a given cargo occupies, so a cargo that packs densely (a low stowage factor, like coal or grain) yields far more metric tons from the same hold than a bulky, low-density cargo (a high stowage factor, like baled cotton or timber) does.
That means raising Stowage Factor actually lowers Cargo Capacity in metric tons, even though the number itself is getting bigger -- it takes more cubic feet to reach one ton of low-density cargo. Hold Length, Hold Width, and Hold Depth all move Cargo Capacity in the same direction and by comparable amounts, since hold volume is their straightforward product. This calculator assumes a fully rectangular hold and a single uniform cargo type; it does not account for irregular hold shapes, mixed cargo stowage, or stability and trim constraints that can limit how a hold is actually loaded in practice.
Inputs
Results
Cargo Capacity
2,700 MT
≈ 500 elephants
How to Use This Calculator
- Enter the cargo hold dimensions: length, width, and depth in feet.
- Input the stowage factor in ft³/MT for your cargo type (grain ~50, steel ~14, baled cotton ~80).
- Set the broken stowage percentage (typically 10-15%) to account for unavoidable space loss.
- Review cargo capacity in metric tons and usable volume in ft³ and m³.
- Check volume utilization percentage to optimize hold loading for maximum efficiency.
How the result changes with Stowage Factor
| Stowage Factor | Cargo Capacity |
|---|---|
| 25 | 5,400 MT |
| 38 | 3,552.6 MT |
| 75 | 1,800 MT |
| 125 | 1,080 MT |
What each input means
- Hold Length
- Internal length of the cargo hold.
- Hold Width
- Internal beam of the cargo hold.
- Hold Depth
- Internal depth of the cargo hold.
- Stowage Factor
- Volume per metric ton of cargo. Grain ~50, coal ~48, timber ~80-100, containers ~60.
- Broken Stowage
- Wasted space between cargo units. Bags ~10%, drums ~15-20%, bulk ~2-5%.
How this is calculated
Worked example, using the default values
- Identify Input Parameters4 parametersHold Length = 100, Hold Width = 50, Hold Depth = 30, Stowage Factor = 50 = 5 input(s) provided
- Calculate Cargo CapacityCargo Capacity2700 = 2700
- Calculate Hold VolumeHold Volume150000 = 150000
- Calculate Usable VolumeUsable Volume135000 = 135000
Engine last updated . Checked against 1 independently-derived test — how we verify calculators. Built by Paul Gunder, a software engineer, not a licensed financial, medical, or legal professional.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does a higher Stowage Factor mean less cargo capacity, not more?
Stowage Factor measures how many cubic feet of hold space one metric ton of cargo occupies, so it is inversely related to density -- a high stowage factor means the cargo is bulky and takes up a lot of space per ton (like baled cotton), while a low stowage factor means the cargo is dense and packs many tons into the same space (like grain or coal). Raising Stowage Factor therefore lowers the metric tons of Cargo Capacity the hold can hold.
How much does Broken Stowage actually cost in usable capacity?
Broken Stowage is subtracted as a straight percentage of total hold volume before the stowage factor is applied, so a 10% Broken Stowage allowance means 10% of the hold's raw volume is unavailable for cargo regardless of what is being loaded. Raising Broken Stowage always lowers both Usable Volume and Cargo Capacity, since it represents unavoidably wasted space rather than cargo itself.
Do Hold Length, Hold Width, and Hold Depth all matter equally?
Yes -- hold volume is calculated as the straightforward product of all three dimensions, so a given percentage increase in Hold Length, Hold Width, or Hold Depth raises total hold volume, and therefore Cargo Capacity, by a comparable amount to an equal percentage increase in either of the other two dimensions.
What does this calculator leave out that a real stowage plan would need?
This calculator assumes a simple rectangular hold loaded with a single uniform cargo type at the entered stowage factor. It does not account for irregular hold geometry, mixed cargo stowed together, or the vessel stability and trim limits that often cap how much of a hold's theoretical volume capacity can actually be used in practice.
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