Palletizr calculator Carton tab with cargo items

Container calculator tutorial

Walk through the full optimizer at app.palletizr.com: named load plans, multi-SKU cartons, typed ocean freight on Results, shareable plan links, and PDF/CSV/JSON exports. Screenshots are from the live UI (Aug 2026).

Open calculator Pre-cutoff checklist

Quick start (5 steps)

New Plan in the header — name the shipment and optional lane fields.
Carton tab — add SKUs manually, from Library, or CSV import.
Pallet and Container tabs — pick equipment (Auto container is recommended).
Settings tab — click Start Optimization (requires at least one carton).
Results — review metrics, 3D view, Est. ocean freight cost, Share link, and exports.

Calculator tabs: Carton, Pallet, Container, Settings, Results — Five tabs left-to-right. On mobile the same tabs appear in a bottom bar.

1. Create a load plan + ocean rate

Click New Plan and fill lane metadata. Ocean rate / container is your typed all-in quote per box — it powers the freight banner on Results after optimization (not a live market feed).

Create New Load Plan modal with origin, destination, and ocean rate fields — Origin, destination, rate currency, and ocean rate travel with JSON export and share links.

2. Add cartons (or import CSV)

Use Add Item for manual entry or CSV for bulk upload (template download inside the importer). Free tier: 3 SKUs and 999 cartons per run.

Carton tab showing cargo table with dimensions, weight, and quantity — Each SKU row shows dimensions, weight per unit, quantity, and optional constraints.

3. Pick container equipment

Auto (recommended) picks the smallest suitable dry box from your cargo. Select a second equipment type to plan a mixed fleet — multi-type fleets require Pro. Modes: Suggest mix, Exact mix, or Best rate (typed rate per type).

Container tab with Auto selection and allowed equipment grid — Auto selected 20ft GP from cargo volume in this example. Lock a type from the dropdown to override.

4. Start optimization

On Settings, choose mixed vs uniform packing and rotation rules, then click the green Start Optimization button. The app calls api.palletizr.com — you need a network connection.

Settings tab with Start Optimization button — Optimization progress continues if you switch tabs. Failures show in the progress panel — see troubleshooting below.

5. Results, freight estimate, share link, exports

After a successful run, Results shows utilization, cartons packed, containers used, and a 3D view. When a rate is set on the plan, an amber Est. ocean freight cost banner appears (rate × container count, or per-type rates in fleet mode). Excludes destination locals, duties, and BAF/EFS.

Share link — copies a URL with plan inputs in ?sp= (recipient re-runs optimization).
Export PDF — loading instructions for the warehouse.
Export packing order (CSV) — placement sequence.
Export Results — metrics spreadsheet.
Export JSON — portable load plan backup.
Finalize Plan — locks the plan (newsletter signup may be required first).

Typed rates only — see surcharge glossary and landed cost worksheet for full quote audits.

Results tab showing freight cost banner, Share link, and export buttons after optimization — After a successful run: utilization metrics, 3D view, amber **Est. ocean freight cost** banner (when rate is set), **Share link**, and export row.

In-app help

Inside the calculator, tap the blue ? button (bottom-left on desktop, above the mobile tab bar) for the same topics as this guide.

Calculator help panel with quick start and topic list — Help panel mirrors this guide — load plans, share links, freight, exports, and Free vs Pro limits.

Troubleshooting

No results yet — run Start Optimization on Settings after adding at least one carton.
Failed to fetch — network or API unreachable; retry on a stable connection.
Share link invalid — plan too large (200+ SKUs); use Export JSON instead.
No freight banner — enter ocean rate on the plan or per-type fleet rates.
Hit a limit — Free: 3 SKUs, 2 containers shown, 3 saved plans; upgrade via Upgrade to Pro.