Container Payload

Container Payload (or Net Weight capacity) is the maximum legal weight of cargo that an ISO container is structurally certified to hold.

Payload is calculated by subtracting the container's tare weight from its certified maximum gross mass (MGM). Exceeding this limit compromises container integrity and violates international maritime safety conventions.

In addition to container structural payload limits, road highway weight regulations (such as the US 80,000 lbs gross vehicle weight limit) often restrict actual cargo payload below the container's technical capacity unless specialized tri-axle chassis are used.