Compact Mode and packing layouts
How placement choices affect a load, with an example you can check
Where the Compact Mode name comes from
Compact was an experimental algorithm option in an earlier 3DPACK.ING interface. The current planner selects its search settings automatically, so there is no Compact setting to choose in the current interface. Enter your cargo, usable internal dimensions and loading constraints, then calculate the load.
For eligible requests, automatic selection compares candidate layouts. The selection considers results such as containers used, items left unpacked and how tightly the cargo is arranged. A different item mix or loading constraint can change the result; there is no fixed percentage improvement that applies to every shipment.
A reproducible example: turning cartons within a layer
Consider identical 600 × 400 × 400 mm cartons, kept upright, in an empty 5,898 × 2,352 × 2,393 mm interior. These internal dimensions match an ACL 20 ft dry-container example; actual equipment can differ.
The following counts come from two explicitly constructed geometric layouts. They use no pallets, packing gaps, weight limit or handling allowances. They are an explanation of carton placement, independent of the full planner and the former Compact option.
| Layout | Cartons per layer | Layers | Cartons |
|---|---|---|---|
| One horizontal orientation | 9 × 5 = 45 | 5 | 225 |
| One row plus three turned rows | 9 + 3 × 14 = 51 | 5 | 255 |
In the first layout, the 600 mm carton side runs along the container: nine cartons fit along its length and five fit across its width. Five layers, each 400 mm high, give 225 cartons.
For the second layout, make one 400 mm-wide row containing nine cartons. Turn the remaining cartons on the floor and add three 600 mm-wide rows of fourteen. The rows use 2,200 mm of width; the longest is 5,600 mm. Five layers reach 2,000 mm high. Every dimension is within the stated interior, giving 255 cartons.
You can reproduce the second pattern in the free container carton-fit calculator using the 20 ft preset and upright 60 × 40 × 40 cm cartons, with payload left blank. Its complete basic result includes the layer drawing. The 255-carton arrangement demonstrates a fit under these assumptions; it does not establish the maximum possible count or compare packing products.
What this tells you about packing layouts
A carton can leave a different shape of free space depending on its position and orientation. Repeating one orientation is easy to calculate, while combining orientations can use some of that remaining space. The useful question is which arrangement fits your actual dimensions and permitted rotations.
For mixed carton sizes, start with the full 3D planner and inspect the resulting positions and unpacked items. Keep the dimensions, quantities, weights and handling rules the same when comparing two plans. A larger packed count is useful only when the load also meets the requirements of the shipment.
An earlier Compact Mode illustration
The earlier article also linked to a saved packing example. It remains a historical reference; recalculating saved inputs with the current planner may produce a different layout.
Choose a layout you can use
Review the unpacked items, occupied space and loading order together. Leave the room your operation needs for handling and securing the cargo. The loading-order guide explains why a denser arrangement can take more work on the dock.
Use the free carton-fit calculator for one carton size, or preview a mixed load in the 3D planner. Full custom 3D results unlock with a $9 pack or subscription.