How to Pack a Shipping Container for Overseas Delivery

When it comes to international moves or exporting goods from Canada, packing a shipping container properly is one of the most important steps you can take to protect your belongings and avoid unexpected fees. Whether you're relocating abroad, sending commercial goods overseas, or shipping a vehicle, a poorly packed container can lead to damage, delays, or even customs complications.

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Here’s a practical, step-by-step guide to help you prepare your container for safe and efficient overseas transport.

Choose the Right Container Size

Most international shipments are packed in either a 20-foot or 40-foot container. Each has a standard width of 8 feet and height of 8.5 feet (or 9.5 feet for high-cube containers). A 20-foot container generally suits a two-bedroom home or a small business inventory. If you're shipping a vehicle or large furniture, you’ll likely need a 40-footer.

For temperature-sensitive goods, consider a refrigerated or insulated container. Make sure you understand what you're shipping and match the container type to the cargo.

Plan Your Packing Strategy

Before you load a single item, spend time planning. Group your cargo based on weight, fragility, and destination zone if unloading in stages. Take measurements and consider how to distribute weight evenly throughout the container. The goal is to create a tightly packed, stable load that won’t shift in transit.

Use graph paper, digital tools, or even tape on your driveway to visualize your layout before moving anything into the container.

Use the Right Packing Materials

Quality packing materials go a long way in protecting your goods from the rough ride of ocean freight. Here are the basics:

• Wood pallets or skids to elevate boxes off the floor and allow for airflow

• Shrink wrap to secure stacked items together

• Ratchet straps to tie down heavier objects

• Bubble wrap and moving blankets for fragile or sharp-edged items

• Plastic bins instead of cardboard boxes for long-term storage or damp environments

• Desiccant packs to absorb moisture and reduce mold risk

Avoid using plastic bags or grocery totes, as they’re not made for the pressure and moisture of a sea voyage.

Load Heavy Items First

Place the heaviest and sturdiest items on the floor near the back of the container. This gives you a stable foundation and helps keep the load balanced. Appliances, safes, machinery, and heavy boxes should go in first. Distribute weight side to side as evenly as possible.

Remember: shipping containers are lifted by cranes and tilted during transport, so balance is more than a preference — it’s a safety requirement.

Maximize Vertical Space

Don't waste vertical space. Use strong shelving units, stackable crates, or custom-built tiers to make use of the full height. Keep heavier items on the bottom shelves and lighter, more delicate ones above.

For residential moves, wardrobes, beds, and sofas can be stood on end (with proper padding and strapping) to open up floor space for boxes and bins.

If you're shipping a vehicle, load it first and use the remaining space above and around it for boxed items. Just ensure nothing is loose and everything is secured with straps or chocks.

Seal and Label Everything

Boxes and bins should be fully sealed and clearly labeled with contents and destination information. If your load is being inspected at customs, labels can help agents understand the cargo more quickly and reduce the need for a full unpacking.

Use waterproof markers or printed stickers. Labels should include:

• Contents

• Fragile/heavy indicators

• Destination address

• Handling instructions (if needed)

If you’re sending items to multiple addresses, keep each zone grouped and labeled clearly to avoid headaches during unloading.

Moisture Management Is Key

Canada’s climate — especially in winter — can introduce condensation into the container. This risk increases during long transoceanic trips.

Combat moisture with:

• Ventilation: Choose containers with functioning vents

• Desiccants: Use calcium chloride or silica gel packs

• Floor protection: Place cardboard or plywood under furniture legs and appliance bases

Avoid plastic tarps as they trap condensation. Breathable materials like moving blankets or cotton sheets work better.

Lock It Up Right

Once the container is fully loaded and the weight is evenly distributed, double-check all straps and padding. Make sure nothing shifts when you give it a push or shake. Secure the doors and use a high-quality lock, preferably a container lock box or bolt seal that meets international shipping standards.

Your shipping provider may require photos of the locked container for documentation, so snap a few shots before it heads to the port.

Understand Weight Limits and Documentation

Containers have weight limits — a 20-foot container holds up to about 24,000 kg, while a 40-foot unit maxes out around 30,000 kg. But you’ll also be bound by road and port regulations, so check with your freight forwarder to confirm what’s allowed.

Also make sure your Bill of Lading, packing list, and customs forms are completed correctly. Inaccurate or vague declarations can lead to penalties or denied entry at the destination country.

Final Inspection

Before your container leaves the yard or your driveway:

• Confirm all paperwork is complete

• Check for any loose items

• Inspect the container doors for tight seals

• Confirm the shipper has a seal number (if required)

If you’re working with a freight forwarder or container supplier in Canada, ask them to walk you through their checklist. A second set of eyes is never a bad idea.

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