What it is
A customer's packaging spec says how a part ships: the container, the layout inside and how many parts. That count is the standard pack quantity, often shortened to SPQ. It is on the packaging sheet, and it is why a receiving plant can count a delivery by counting containers.
When a backup gaylord replaces a returnable, the count must not change. A plant that expects 120 parts per container and gets 140 in one box and 100 in another has a counting problem. So the first thing to settle is the count, and the second is what box holds it.
From count to box
- Count. Get the standard pack quantity from the sheet.
- Layout. Note how the parts sit: layers, dividers, trays.
- Height. Add up the layers to get the inside height. Leave room at the top.
- Weight. Multiply the part weight by the count, then add dunnage and the packaging weight.
- Wall count. Compare the loaded weight to the ranges for the wall counts that fit the height.
A worked example
Made-up numbers, no part numbers. A part weighs 9.2 lb. The pack is 120 parts per container. The parts alone weigh 120 x 9.2 = 1,104 lb. Dividers and dunnage add about 46 lb. Gross weight is about 1,150 lb. Sellers cite 1,000 to 1,600 lb for a 3-wall gaylord, so 1,150 lb is inside that range, and a 3-wall box is a candidate. The parts stack in four layers of 30 and each layer is 7.5 in, so the inside height is 30 in plus room at the top: about 34 in. That is inside the 34 to 40 in cited for 3-wall.
| Line | Number | Working |
|---|---|---|
| Parts | 120 | From the packaging sheet |
| Part weight | 9.2 lb | Weighed |
| Parts weight | 1,104 lb | 120 x 9.2 |
| Dunnage | about 46 lb | Estimated |
| Gross weight | about 1,150 lb | 1,104 + 46 |
| Layers and height | 4 x 7.5 in = 30 in; about 34 in inside | Plus room at the top |
| Walls | 3-wall candidate | 1,150 lb inside 1,000 to 1,600 lb; 34 in inside 34 to 40 in |
Send the count, the weight and the height, and check them against a box. See the pack spec checklist. The spec finder accepts a standard pack quantity and puts it in the notes it hands to the request.
Which sizes can carry a count
| Size | Cu ft | Listed (lb) | Floor | Layers | Ceiling |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 48 x 40 x 36 in | 40 | 1,500 | 30 | 2 | 60 |
| 48 x 45 x 40 in | 50 | n/a | 28 | 2 | 56 |
| 48 x 40 x 24 in | 26.7 | 1,500 | 30 | 3 | 90 |
| 48 x 40 x 48 in | 53.3 | 1,500 | 30 | 2 | 60 |
| 48 x 48 x 36 in | 48 | 1,400 | 26 | 2 | 52 |
| 48 x 48 x 48 in | 64 | 1,400 | 26 | 2 | 52 |
| 40 x 40 x 40 in | 37 | 1,300 | 30 | 2 | 60 |
| 36 x 36 x 36 in | 27 | 1,200 | 34 | 2 | 68 |
| 40 x 30 x 30 in | 20.8 | 1,200 | 45 | 3 | 135 |
| 48 x 24 x 28 in | 18.7 | 1,200 | 52 | 3 | 156 |
| 46 x 38 x 36 in octabin | octagon | 1,300 | 32 | 2 | 64 |
Facts and figures
- The longer the logistics leg, the less practical returnable packaging becomes, and spare parts shipped to service centers usually go one-way in expendable packaging. (macfarlanepackaging.com, retrieved 2026-11-11.)
- Automotive packaging for ocean containers is generally one-way (expendable) because returning it costs too much (Automotive Logistics, January 13, 2017). (automotivelogistics.media, retrieved 2026-11-11.)
Terms
- standard pack quantity: How many parts go in one container under the customer's packaging spec.
- backup pack: The expendable pack a supplier ships when its returnable containers are short; it should match the returnable's footprint and pack quantity.
- returnable container: A plastic, metal or wood container that cycles between a supplier and a plant; gaylords stand in for them when the returnables run short.