We are Hebei Leeter Import and Export Co., Ltd ("Leeter"), a construction wire, mesh and fencing manufacturer in Dingzhou, Hebei, China, exporting since 2006 to buyers across North America and Europe. This guide explains how temporary fence loading actually works on our packing floor so you can budget freight per panel instead of guessing.
How temporary fence panels are loaded
Temporary fence panels are flat, so they ship stacked and nested vertically on edge or laid in tight horizontal stacks, banded into bundles of 20 to 30 panels. Because the mesh is mostly open air, panels are light for their footprint and a container almost always "cubes out" (fills by volume) before it "weights out" (hits the weight cap). That is the opposite of solid steel hardware.
The feet are the swing factor. Plastic block feet and concrete feet are dense and bulky, and they do not nest inside the panel bundles. They are packed separately, usually stacked on the container floor as the heavy base layer, with panel bundles loaded on top. Concrete feet in particular can pull a light panel load up toward the weight ceiling, so a container full of panels plus concrete feet may weight out early.
Clamps, couplers and stay bars are small, dense items that fill the voids at the container ends and between bundles, using almost no extra volume while squaring the load.
Container types and practical limits
| Container | Internal length | Usable volume | Practical cargo weight | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20ft standard | 5.9m / 19.4ft | ~33 m³ / ~1,165 ft³ | ~21–24 t / 46,000–53,000 lb | Small mixed orders, heavy concrete-foot loads |
| 40ft standard | 12.0m / 39.5ft | ~67 m³ / ~2,365 ft³ | ~26–28 t / 57,000–61,000 lb | Balanced panel + foot loads |
| 40ft high-cube (40HQ) | 12.0m / 39.5ft | ~76 m³ / ~2,690 ft³ | ~26–28 t / 57,000–61,000 lb | Maximum panel count, the export default |
The extra 0.3m (1ft) of interior height in a 40HQ lets one more layer of horizontally stacked panels ride on top, which is why the HQ is the standard box for temporary fencing exports.
Indicative panels per 40HQ container
The table below is an illustration only, based on typical welded-mesh temporary fence and Heras-style panels with feet packed separately. Real counts move with wire diameter, frame tube size, bundle strapping and whether you ship feet in the same box.
| Panel type (indicative) | Panel size | Approx. panels per 40HQ | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Welded-mesh temp fence | 2.0m x 2.1m / 6.6 x 6.9ft | 500–650 | Lightest, cubes out |
| Heras round-top mesh panel | 3.5m x 2.0m / 11.5 x 6.6ft | 350–550 | Standard UK/EU size |
| Anti-climb mesh panel | 3.5m x 2.0m / 11.5 x 6.6ft | 300–450 | Smaller mesh, heavier |
| Steel-tube crowd control barrier | 2.0–2.5m x 1.1m / 6.6–8.2 x 3.6ft | 250–400 | Frame + feet integral, bulkier |
Feet are quoted separately. As a rule of thumb, plan one to two feet per panel, and remember dense concrete feet can cap the container weight before the panels fill the space.
How importers should request an exact loading plan
Never book freight on a rule-of-thumb count. Before you confirm a purchase order, ask your manufacturer or wholesale supplier for a written container stuffing plan that states:
- Exact panel dimensions, wire diameter and frame spec
- Bundle configuration (panels per bundle, banding, pallet or floor-loaded)
- Foot type, quantity and whether feet ship in the same container
- Total gross weight versus the destination road-legal cap
- Accessories (clamps, couplers, stay bars) and how void space is used
A good supplier will run the load against both limits and give you a per-panel landed cost. That number, not a generic panels-per-container figure, is what you should quote your own customers on.
Frequently asked questions
How many temporary fence panels fit in a 40ft container?
Roughly 350 to 600 standard 2.0m x 3.5m welded-mesh panels fit in a 40ft high-cube, with feet packed separately. A standard 40ft holds slightly fewer than a high-cube because of the lower interior height. Always confirm with a stuffing plan, because gauge and foot type change the count significantly.
How are temporary fence panels shipped?
Panels ship stacked and nested in banded bundles of 20 to 30, loaded flat or on edge. Plastic or concrete feet are dense and do not nest, so they are packed separately as the floor layer. Clamps and couplers fill the voids. Panels typically cube out before they weight out unless heavy concrete feet are included.
Do the feet ship in the same container as the panels?
They can, and often do, but feet are the item most likely to push a light panel load to the weight limit, especially concrete feet. For large orders, buyers sometimes split feet across containers or switch to lighter plastic recycled feet to maximise the panel count per box.
Can I mix panel sizes in one container?
Yes. Mixing sizes is common and can actually improve loading efficiency because smaller panels and accessories fill the gaps around larger bundles. Ask your supplier to model the mix in the stuffing plan so the gross weight stays under your destination's road-legal limit.
