Ocean freight is charged per container, not per chair. That means the number of chairs you fit in a 40HQ directly sets your landed unit cost. Most suppliers answer this question with “contact us.” We show the math instead — and our actual loading records once you share your target model.
Why container math decides your unit cost
A 40HQ costs roughly the same to ship whether it holds 300 or 550 chairs. Spread that fixed ocean + local charge across more units and your per-chair freight drops. Before negotiating chair price, negotiate the loading count — it often moves the landed cost more than a 5% discount on the chair itself.
KD vs assembled: the packing difference
KD (knock-down) chairs ship flat-packed: backrest, seat, base, gas lift and casters in a carton. Assembled chairs ship in one bulky piece. For task chairs, KD typically yields roughly 2.5–3× more units per container than assembled. KD（散件平装）是我们出口的标配——不这么装柜子根本装不满。每个型号的具体包装方式我们都会跟你确认。
Loading ranges by chair type (typical, KD)
The table below shows typical industry ranges for KD-packed chairs. Your exact count depends on model dimensions and carton design — we confirm it per spec.
| Chair type | 20GP (typical) | 40HQ (typical) |
|---|---|---|
| Task / mesh chair | 200–280 pcs | 480–560 pcs |
| Executive (padded) | 150–220 pcs | 360–460 pcs |
| Visitor / stackable | 300–420 pcs | 700–920 pcs |
Our actual records: 20GP 20GP 我们一般能装 250–350 把 KD 办公椅，具体看型号的 cbm。把目标椅子告诉我，我按我们的装柜记录给你实数。 · 40HQ 40HQ 按我们的经验通常能上 600–750 把 KD 办公椅。混装不同型号算法会变，我会按你的实际订单算清楚。. Carton dimensions: 拿我们最走量的网布办公椅举例，纸箱大概 60×60×110 cm，单箱约 0.04 cbm——不过每个型号都不一样，你定下椅子我直接发你对应规格表。
How to calculate freight per chair
Freight per chair = (ocean freight + THC + local charges) ÷ loaded quantity. If a 40HQ to your port is $2,800 all-in and you load 520 chairs, that’s about $5.38 per chair. Push the count to 560 and it drops to $5.00 — a 7% freight saving from packing alone.
Mixed containers: combining models
You don’t need a full container of one SKU. Mixed-model loading lets you combine several chairs in one shipment and still hit viable volumes. See our MOQ guide for how mixing lowers the per-model minimum.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I mix models in one container? Usually yes. Mixed loading is standard for distributors; MOQ may apply per model — confirm with the factory.
What carton size should I expect? It depends on the chair. 拿我们最走量的网布办公椅举例，纸箱大概 60×60×110 cm，单箱约 0.04 cbm——不过每个型号都不一样，你定下椅子我直接发你对应规格表。
Need the exact numbers for your project?
The figures above are industry baselines. For a real quote — loading count for your specific model, MOQ, lead time and certifications for your market — contact our sourcing team with your target specs.