Mixed Container Planning: How to Fit 5 SKUs Into One 20GP
A first order does not have to be one product. Here is the arithmetic we use to build a mixed container plan, and the two mistakes that make it not fit.
Most first orders fail for the same reason: the buyer orders one product with enough depth to fill a container, then discovers half the models do not sell. A mixed container fixes this, and it is the main thing to negotiate before you commit.
Start from CBM, not weight
Mats and liners are bulky and light. A 20GP holds roughly 28 CBM of usable space. A 40HQ holds roughly 68 CBM.
So the whole plan reduces to one table:
| SKU | Sets per carton | CBM per carton | Cartons | Total CBM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 360° mats | 6 | 0.098 | 80 | 7.84 |
| TPE mats | 6 | 0.099 | 60 | 5.93 |
| Trunk liners | 8 | 0.077 | 60 | 4.61 |
| Seat covers | 4 | 0.094 | 40 | 3.75 |
| Universal mats | 40 | 0.072 | 40 | 2.88 |
| Total | 280 | 25.01 |
That leaves about 3 CBM of slack. Slack is not waste — it is what absorbs the difference between the carton dimensions quoted and the cartons actually shipped. Never plan to exactly 28 CBM.
Mistake one: planning on weight
Sellers sometimes compute "20 tons divided by 13 kg per carton = 1,538 cartons". That number is meaningless for this product family. You will run out of volume long before you run out of weight. Always compute both and take the smaller.
Mistake two: counting cartons instead of SKUs
A supplier that says "mixed container available" may still mean one model per product category. Get this in writing:
- How many SKUs total across all categories?
- Is the limit per category or per container?
- Is there a surcharge, and at what point does it start?
- How many models may a single SKU cover?
What we do
We will build the plan with you before you order. Send the models and the quantity per model, and we will return a carton-level plan showing cartons, CBM, total and slack — plus the same plan for a 40HQ if you want to compare unit freight.