Porcelain tile & container calculator
Enter your project area and tile format: we tell you how many boxes and pallets that is, how much it weighs and how many 20 ft containers you need. The figures come from the real packaging of our collections made in Spain.
Estimate only. We confirm exact boxes, pallets and containers with your quote.
How many m² of porcelain tile fit in a 20 ft container?
A 20 ft container fills up by weight long before it fills up by volume. With a load of about 24 tonnes, these are the approximate m² per format:
| Format | kg/m² | m²/box | m²/pallet | m² per 20 ft container |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30×30 | 18.5 | 0.54 | 32.4 | ≈ 1,300 |
| 30×60 | 16.7 | 1.26 | 75.6 | ≈ 1,440 |
| 20×120 | 20 | 1.2 | 54 | ≈ 1,200 |
| 30×90 | 19 | 1.08 | 51.84 | ≈ 1,260 |
| 29.5×120 | 20.8 | 1.06 | 50.88 | ≈ 1,150 |
| 60×60 | 20.4 | 1.08 | 51.84 | ≈ 1,180 |
| 26×160 | 20.8 | 1.25 | 60 | ≈ 1,150 |
| 40×120 | 19.4 | 1.44 | 28.8 | ≈ 1,240 |
| 80×80 | 20.3 | 1.28 | 61.44 | ≈ 1,180 |
| 60×120 | 20.1 | 1.44 | 57.6 | ≈ 1,190 |
| 100×100 | 18.3 | 2 | 60 | ≈ 1,310 |
| 80×160 | 20.3 | 1.28 | 53.76 | ≈ 1,180 |
| 120×120 | 20.1 | 1.44 | 60.48 | ≈ 1,190 |
| 240×120 | 14.5 | 2.88 | 60.48 | ≈ 1,660 |
| 260×120 | 14.6 | 3.12 | 65.52 | ≈ 1,640 |
| 280×120 | 14.5 | 3.36 | 70.56 | ≈ 1,660 |
How it is calculated
- m² to order = area × (1 + margin). Straight laying usually needs 5–10 %; herringbone, diagonal or large formats 10–15 %.
- Boxes are rounded up: open boxes are not sold.
- Weight uses the average kg per m² of each format in our catalogue.
- Containers = total weight ÷ 24,000 kg (a prudent load; the exact limit depends on each country’s road rules).
FAQ
How many m² of porcelain tile fit in a 20 ft container?
Roughly 1,150 to 1,650 m² depending on the format. In 60×120 cm, the most common format, it is about 1,200 m². Large thin slabs weigh less per m², so more fit.
Why not use a 40 ft container?
Because porcelain is very heavy: a 40 ft container takes almost the same weight as a 20 ft one, so it only costs more. Tiles ship in 20 ft containers.
What waste margin should I add?
5–10 % for straight laying and 10–15 % for herringbone, diagonal or large formats. Keep a few boxes from the same batch for future repairs.
What is Porcelain Company’s minimum order?
150 m² within Europe and one 20 ft container (≈1,200 m²) for the rest of the world.
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