ULD Fit
How many of your cartons plan into a unit load device, which limit binds first — volume or payload — and how much of each you are leaving unused.
Unit load device
- Base
- 318 × 244 cm
- Height
- 160 cm
- Planning volume
- 11.5 m³
- Payload
- 6,684 kg
Main or lower deck. The standard main-deck pallet, and the unit most general cargo is built onto.
Carton
Identical cartons only. Mixed sizes need a real load plan.
Fit
Best orientation 60 × 40 × 40 cm: 5 along × 6 across × 4 high = 120 by geometry. Space runs out before weight, so there is payload left on the table.
Orthogonal stacking on a rectangular envelope. Not modelled: mixed carton sizes, load spreading, stack strength, tie-down and net contour. Maximum gross weight also depends on the aircraft and the position in the hold, so the airline's load plan is the authority — confirm before you build the unit.
ULD reference
Nominal type dimensions and maximum gross weights — planning figures, not a loadability clearance.
| Code | Alias | Base (cm) | Height | Volume | Max gross | Payload | Deck |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AKE | LD3 | 156 × 153 | 163 | 4.3 m³ | 1,588 kg | 1,506 kg | lower · contoured |
| DPE | LD2 | 156 × 119 | 163 | 3.4 m³ | 1,225 kg | 1,150 kg | lower · contoured |
| ALF | LD6 | 318 × 153 | 163 | 8.9 m³ | 3,175 kg | 2,995 kg | lower · contoured |
| DQF | LD8 | 318 × 153 | 163 | 6.9 m³ | 2,449 kg | 2,289 kg | lower · contoured |
| ALP | LD11 | 318 × 153 | 163 | 7.0 m³ | 3,176 kg | 3,006 kg | lower |
| AAP | LD9 | 318 × 224 | 163 | 10.8 m³ | 4,626 kg | 4,376 kg | both |
| P1P | PAG | 318 × 224 | 160 | 10.4 m³ | 4,626 kg | 4,521 kg | both |
| P6P | PMC | 318 × 244 | 160 | 11.5 m³ | 6,804 kg | 6,684 kg | both |
| AMA | M1 | 318 × 244 | 244 | 17.6 m³ | 6,804 kg | 6,404 kg | main |
Maximum gross weight includes the unit's own tare; payload is what is left for cargo. Real limits depend on the aircraft type and the position in the hold — a pallet rated 6,804 kg may be capped much lower in a specific position — and pallet height is a build choice, taller on a main deck than a lower deck. Confirm with the carrier before building the unit.
Frequently asked
What is a ULD?
A unit load device — the container or pallet cargo is built onto before it goes on the aircraft. Containers are contoured or box-shaped shells; pallets are flat bases with a net over the load. The ULD is part of the aircraft, which is why its dimensions and weight limits are not negotiable.
What is the difference between a PMC and an AKE?
A PMC (P6P) is a 125 × 96 in main-deck pallet taking up to 6,804 kg — the unit most general cargo is built onto. An AKE (LD3) is a contoured half-width container for the lower deck of a widebody, taking about 1,588 kg. Different decks, an order of magnitude apart in payload.
Why does a contoured unit hold less than its dimensions suggest?
It is curved to follow the fuselage, so the top corners taper away. The rectangular envelope overstates capacity; the planning volume in the table below already allows for the taper, and the calculator derates the geometric fit accordingly.
Does a full ULD mean maximum payload?
Rarely. Light cargo fills the volume long before the weight limit, and dense cargo hits the weight limit with the unit half empty. Which one binds first is exactly what the calculator reports — and it is the same question chargeable weight answers on the pricing side.