Star Citizen cargo ships by capacity range from compact holds to ships listed with enormous cargo volumes. The listed examples run from the MPUV Cargo at 2 SCU to the Hull E at 98,304 SCU, with the M2 Hercules Starlifter at 522 SCU and the Merchantman at 2,880 SCU. [1]
Capacity gives you a quick sense of the scale of load a ship is listed to carry, so it’s a useful way to compare a small shipment with a much larger one. Treat published figures as comparison points, not a guarantee of current in-game capacity: cargo listings can be version-sensitive, so check the figures against the game before planning around them.
This comparison focuses on volume—not an overall “best ship” ranking. Use the figures to shortlist ships for the load you have in mind, then consider handling and solo workload before choosing.
How the cargo capacities compare
Ship | Stated cargo capacity |
|---|---|
MPUV Cargo | 2 SCU [1] |
M2 Hercules Starlifter | 522 SCU [1] |
Merchantman | 2,880 SCU [1] |
Hull E | 98,304 SCU [1] |
The listed figures range from 2 SCU for the MPUV Cargo to 98,304 SCU for the Hull E, with the M2 Hercules Starlifter and Merchantman between them. [1] As a concrete scale check, a 500-SCU load is close to the M2’s listed 522 SCU, while it is far beyond the MPUV Cargo’s listed 2 SCU. [1]
The Hull E’s listed capacity is 12,288 in another cargo-stat listing, so published figures do not match across these listings. [2][1]
Treat the table as a comparison of stated figures, not a guarantee of current in-game capacity. Check the current in-game information before planning around a particular load. Once you have shortlisted ships that fit your planned volume, compare handling and solo workload before deciding.
What smaller capacities mean for a run
A lower-capacity ship moves less cargo volume per trip, so the size of your planned shipment is the clearest way to judge whether that limit matters. If your run is small, a compact hold may fit the job; if the shipment grows, you may need more trips or a ship with more listed space.
Match the hold to the shipment
Think in terms of the load you actually want to carry.
That comparison is about volume, not a claim that either ship is the right choice for every run. If the load you have in mind is larger than a ship’s listed capacity, you cannot count on moving it all in that ship in one trip; you would need to reduce the load or plan additional trips.
For a smaller shipment, compare its volume directly with each candidate’s capacity rather than choosing a ship based only on a dramatic maximum figure.
Use capacity as a planning filter
Capacity gives you a straightforward first filter: set the shipment size, then check whether a candidate’s listed hold can accommodate that volume. If it cannot, consider splitting the shipment into trips or looking at a ship with more listed cargo space.
Keep the comparison focused on cargo volume. This section is not a handling or solo-workload recommendation; once you have a capacity shortlist, compare how the candidates fly and what managing their cargo operation involves before deciding.
Your next step is to shortlist ships that fit your planned load, then compare handling and solo workload. For a modest run, keep the shipment’s actual volume at the center of the comparison instead of assuming that the biggest hold is automatically the best fit.
When a larger cargo hold matters
Capacity matters most when it changes how much of a planned shipment you can move in one load. The figures in this comparison span from the MPUV Cargo’s 2 SCU to the Hull E’s 98,304 SCU, with the M2 Hercules Starlifter at 522 SCU and the Merchantman at 2,880 SCU. [1]
That spread gives you a quick sense of scale: a 2-SCU hold represents a very small cargo volume, while the listed Hull E capacity is built around a vastly larger load.
Think in loads, not just ship size
Picture a shipment that fits within the listed 522 SCU of an M2 Hercules Starlifter. A ship with a listed 2,880 SCU capacity has room for more cargo volume per load on paper, while a listed 2-SCU hold is suited to a much smaller volume. [1] If your planned shipment is small, the larger figure may simply mean unused space; if it is large, more listed capacity can reduce how much you need to split the cargo across loads.
Treat that as a volume comparison, not a complete trip plan. Check the current in-game capacity before you commit to a run, since listed figures do not by themselves confirm how the ship functions in the version you are playing. Then match the planned shipment to the capacity that makes sense for that load.
Capacity is only one filter
A maximum-capacity figure alone does not prove that a ship is the right choice for you. Use it to narrow the comparison to ships that can fit your planned cargo, then weigh how the ship handles and whether its solo workload suits your run.
For example, if two ships both have enough listed space for your shipment, the bigger hold does not settle the decision. Shortlist the ships whose capacity fits the load, and compare handling and solo operation before deciding; for smaller trading runs, focus on the ship’s fit for that kind of trip rather than chasing the largest number.
Why capacity figures can differ by game version
Check cargo capacity against current in-game information before you plan a load, because published listings may not show how a ship functions in every game version. [2][3][1]
Treat published figures as a starting point
A cargo table can help you compare listed space, but treat it as a reference rather than a guarantee of what you can load in your current session. [2][1] For example, a listing may show a ship’s capacity while the in-game interface or cargo interaction you encounter in your version presents a different practical result. Check the current in-game information before you commit to a shipment.
Ship information can also be presented in different contexts: the Ship Matrix describes the Clipper as having expanded cargo capacity, while a cargo listing gives named ships specific capacity figures. [3][1] That makes it useful to confirm that you are comparing the same ship and the same kind of capacity, rather than treating every description as a current, directly comparable number.
Verify before you plan a run
Before loading, check the ship’s current in-game cargo information and compare it with the size of the load you intend to carry. If a published table suggests a large hold, do not assume that every listed unit will be usable in your current version; verify what the game shows for the ship you are flying. This simple check can help you avoid planning a run around a figure that does not match your experience in-game.
Keep version caveats practical: confirm the present capacity, then make your plan around what you can actually load. Once you have shortlisted ships that fit the planned volume, compare handling and solo workload before deciding. For those questions, use focused guidance on piloting, solo cargo operation, and small trading runs rather than treating a capacity listing as the whole decision.
What to compare after capacity
Shortlist ships with enough capacity for the load you plan to carry, then compare handling and solo workload before you decide. A cargo figure can narrow your options, but your next choice should reflect what you expect to do in the cockpit and whether you’ll be managing the run alone.
For example, if your planned shipment is modest, keep your shortlist focused on ships that fit that load rather than automatically reaching for the largest hold. If you expect to move more cargo in a run, compare ships that meet that need, then consider whether their handling and workload suit the way you want to fly. Treat these as separate checks: a capacity match is a starting point, not the whole decision.
Use focused comparisons to answer the questions capacity alone cannot settle. Check a handling comparison if you want to prioritize how a ship flies, a solo-cargo comparison if you’ll run it by yourself, or small-trading-run coverage if you’re choosing around limited loads. Those narrower comparisons can help you weigh the remaining tradeoffs without turning capacity into an all-purpose ranking.
Your next step is simple: write down the load you expect to haul, shortlist ships that fit it, and compare handling and solo workload across those candidates. Choose based on the job you actually plan to do, not cargo volume in isolation.