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How many granite slabs can fit in a container?
Granite is a popular natural stone all over the world. The major granite-producing countries are Italy, Brazil, China, and India. When it comes to transporting granite slabs from one region to another, the most preferred way adopted by granite suppliers is to shop them through shipping containers. Due to the heavy weight of these slabs, it is not possible to take them by airplane. If you importing granite from India, it is necessary for you to know how many slabs of the stone would fit in a container.
The Size of A Shipping Container
Shipping containers come in a wide range of sizes. However, the most commonly preferred sizes of a container are 20ft and 40ft. Both the sizes have a standard 8ft width. Usually, the height of a container will be 8ft 6” and a high cube will feature an extra foot to be 9ft 6”.
The inner sides of a shipping container are corrugated in almost all cases. The depth of the corrugation is typically 1 inch (25mm), which
refers that 2 inches (50mm) are absent from the outer width dimension. The back panel is also corrugated and the doors are nearly 2 inches (50mm) thick referring that around 3 inches (75mm) are taken from the length.
Slab Holding Capacity of A Shipping Container
To make a full container load (FCL), one would have to choose from 6 to 8 bundles, given the exact weight restriction. There are mainly two popular thicknesses of a granite slab – 2 cm and 3 cm. Let’s understand this with an example. If 2 cm gangsaw slabs of granite are being loaded in a container, a total of 75 slabs would come, with 7 bundles. However, if the thickness of each slab is 3 cm, a total of 50-52 granite slabs would come in a container.
It is to note that every bundle of 3cm thickness granite slabs is typically made from 5 to 7 slabs each or 8 to 11 slabs in the case of a 2cm slab, given the total weight of the slabs.
| Granite Slab Thickness (CM) | No. of Slabs in Each Container |
| 2 | 75 |
| 3 | 50-52 |
Below is general information about the storage capacity of a 20 feet container.
| Thickness (mm) | Sq.Metre | Sq. Ft. |
| 10 mm (3/8″) thick tiles | 780 sqm | 8400 sft |
| 12 mm tiles | 620 sqm | 6675 sft |
| 15 mm tiles | 520 sqm | 5600 sft |
| 20 mm (3/4″) tiles | 432 sqm | 4650 sft |
| 20 mm (3/4″) slabs | 310 sqm | 3336 sft |
| 25 mm slabs | 225 sqm | 2420 sft |
| 30 mm slabs | 210 sqm | 2260 sft |
| Blocks | 9 cbm |
Storage capacity of a 20 ft. container for various products
The general weight restrictions on US roads for a shipping container are 44,000lbs (19,900kg) on a tri-axle truck. This is the normal weight grant for customers situated further away from the shipping ports or for those who will want the shipping firm or granite suppliers to deliver the consignment right at their doorstep.
It is the weight allowance permitted in your region that determines the no. of slabs granite suppliers can put in a shipping container. For example, if the permitted weight grant is only 19,900kg, you would have to choose from 6 to 7 bundles. However, if you have more weight allowance, let’s say, 21,500kg, you can take from 7 to 8 bundles. And, if your weight allowance is 27,000kg, the container can hold from 8 to 9 bundles (up to 56 3cm slabs). Each 20’ container can contain only 8 bundles, 4 in the back and 4 in the front. In the case where a container has up to 9 bundles, the slabs from that 9th bundle are typically made from the remaining 8 bundles. When it comes to transporting granite, only 20’ containers are allowed.
| Size | Holding capacity per 20 feet container |
| 40 x 40 x 1 cm | 736 Sqm |
| 60 x 60 x 1.5 cm | 550 Sqm |
| 40 x 40 x 2 cm | 420 Sqm |
| 60 x 60 x 2 cm | 420 Sqm |
| 40 x 40 x 3 cm | 280 Sqm |
| 60 x 60 x 3 cm | 280 Sqm |
| 120up x 60up x 2 cm | 380 Sqm |
| 120up x 60up x 3 cm | 250 Sqm |
| 230up x 120up x 2 cm | 350 Sqm |
| 230up x 120up x 3 cm | 233 Sqm |
| 250up x 150up x 2 cm | 300 Sqm |
Why choose a reliable granite slabs supplier?
If you are looking to import granite slabs from India, it is necessary to choose a reliable granite slabs supplier who has several years of expertise in exporting granite slabs to various countries. Being a heavy object, the granite slabs should be packed in a safer and sturdier way to avoid any kind of damage during transit.
In addition, the ordered granite slabs should reach their destination in a faster and reliable manner. This is what makes the role of a granite slabs supplier extremely important. So, look at all the available options before finalizing a particular one.