Buying guide

How Many Pilates Reformers Fit in a 20ft or 40ft Container

September 14, 2026 · 4 min read · by KETA PILATES

Freight is the hidden cost in every wholesale reformer order. Two buyers can pay the same price per machine and end up with very different landed costs — the difference is how well the container is filled.

This article gives you the numbers we work with every day, and explains what changes them.

The short answer

Container	Reformers (wooden crate packing)	Approximate gross weight
20ft standard	about 30 units	~3.3 tonnes
40ft high cube	about 75 units	~8.3 tonnes

These figures are for standard reformers packed in export wooden crates. A single reformer ships at roughly 110 kg gross weight, crate included.

Note that the weight is not the limiting factor here — a 20ft container can legally carry far more than 3.3 tonnes. What fills the container first is volume and shape, not weight.

Why the number is what it is

A packed reformer crate is roughly 0.9 cubic metres. That sounds small until you multiply it:

• 20ft container: about 28–30 m³ of usable space after packing losses → around 30 reformers
• 40ft high cube: about 68–70 m³ usable → around 75 reformers

Reformers are long and narrow, which actually helps. They can be stood on end or stacked in a way that uses the container height, so the real loading count is usually better than a simple volume calculation suggests.

What changes the number

Four things will move you away from 30 and 75:

1. Model mix. A standard reformer, a tower reformer and a Cadillac reformer are not the same size. Tower and Cadillac versions are taller, and taller crates waste vertical space unless the container is planned around them. If you mix models, ask for a loading plan before production rather than after.

2. Packing method. Wooden crates protect better but take more room than cartons. We use export crates with corner protection as standard because damage claims cost far more than the space.

3. Accessories in the same shipment. Ladder barrels, chairs, spine correctors and boxes pack differently and can often fill the gaps between crates — which is a good use of space you are paying for anyway.

4. Destination and container type. Some routes and carriers have weight restrictions that matter more than volume. Always confirm with your forwarder.

Freight per machine: the number that matters

Here is the calculation most buyers forget to do:

Total freight cost ÷ number of machines = freight per machine

If a 40ft container costs you the same to ship as a 20ft one on your route (which happens on many lanes), then filling the 40ft with 75 machines instead of 30 cuts your freight per machine by more than half.

This is why experienced buyers consolidate. Ordering 30 machines now and 30 machines three months later usually costs noticeably more in freight than ordering 60 at once.

Practical advice before you book

• Ask for a loading plan in writing before production starts. It takes the factory an hour and removes all surprises.
• Order spare parts with the machines. Springs, ropes, wheels and straps are small, and they fill gaps in the container. Shipping them separately later costs several times more than the parts.
• Confirm gross weight and crate dimensions for the exact models you are buying — not generic figures.
• Check whether your route favours 20ft or 40ft. On some lanes a 40ft costs only marginally more, which makes it the obvious choice.
• Plan the last metre. A container that ends up 5% empty still costs the same to ship.

Assembly and documentation on arrival

Selected models are supplied with an English printed manual, and installation videos are available for every model — send us the model code and we will send you the video, so your team can prepare before the container lands.

Every order also includes a set of spare screws and small fittings at no charge.

We build reformers, tower reformers and Cadillac reformers in aluminium, oak, maple and beech. MOQ is 5 pieces and different models can be mixed in one container. Samples ship in 5–7 days, containers in about 20–25 days, from Shanghai, Qingdao or Tianjin.

Tell us your quantity and destination port and we will work out the loading plan and the most economical shipping option — before you commit to anything.