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Pallet calculator

Updated

Enter your carton and pallet to see how many cartons fit per layer and per pallet, how tall and heavy the loaded pallet is, and how many pallets fit in a container or truck.

Units

Carton

Pallet

Estimate with no overhang, based on typical pallet, container and trailer sizes; empty pallet weights are typical values, so weigh yours. Pallets per container or truck are counted with almost no room to spare, so plan one or two fewer for loading. Real loads can fit a little less (bulging cartons, stretch wrap, corner boards). Stack pallets only if the cartons can carry the weight. Ask your warehouse, carrier or forwarder for their height and weight limits.

Pallets on the floor

EUR pallet 120 × 80 cmPallet 120 × 100 cmUS pallet 48 × 40 in
20ft standard (dry)1199
40ft standard (dry)252220
40ft high cube252220
45ft high cube272424
Semi-trailer 13.6 m (Europe)332624
53 ft trailer (US)393030
20ft standard (dry) – Pallets on the floor 1200 × 800 mm: 1140ft standard (dry) – Pallets on the floor 1200 × 800 mm: 2520ft standard (dry) – Pallets on the floor 1200 × 1000 mm: 940ft standard (dry) – Pallets on the floor 1200 × 1000 mm: 22

Pallets on the floor: one layer, laid out as in the pallet calculator. Where the fit is tight, one or two fewer is common in practice.

Guides on this topic

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How the calculation works

The calculator finds the layer pattern that fits the most cartons on the pallet, including turning part of the layer to use the space left over. It then counts how many layers fit under your maximum height and checks the total against your maximum weight. Cartons do not hang over the pallet edge. If "This side up" is not ticked, it also tries laying the cartons on their side.

What Ti-Hi means

Ti is the number of cartons in one layer, and Hi is the number of layers. Ti × Hi gives the cartons on a full pallet: for example, Ti 8 × Hi 5 = 40 cartons. Warehouses and retailers often ask suppliers for the Ti-Hi of each product so they can plan receiving and storage.

Pallet sizes and limits

The common sizes are 1200 × 800 mm (EUR pallet) in Europe, 48 × 40 in in North America, 1100 × 1100 mm (T11) in Korea and Japan and 1165 × 1165 mm in Australia. Warehouses, pallet networks and carriers set their own limits for the height and weight of one pallet, so enter the limits you were given before you promise a quantity.

Common questions

How many boxes fit on a pallet?

It depends on the box and the pallet. For 40 × 30 × 30 cm cartons on a EUR pallet (120 × 80 cm) with a 1.8 m height limit, 8 cartons fit in a layer and 5 layers fit, so 40 cartons. Enter your own carton above for the exact count.

What is the standard pallet size?

There is no single world standard. ISO 6780 lists six sizes: 1200 × 800 mm, 1200 × 1000 mm, 1219 × 1016 mm (48 × 40 in), 1165 × 1165 mm, 1100 × 1100 mm and 1067 × 1067 mm. Which one is used depends on the country and the industry.

How many pallets fit in a 20ft or 40ft container?

On the floor, one pallet high: 11 EUR pallets (120 × 80 cm) fit in a 20ft container. A 40ft takes 25 on paper, but with only about 3 cm to spare, so 23 or 24 is usual in practice. For US pallets (48 × 40 in), 9 fit in a 20ft and 20 in a 40ft. The table above counts it for your pallet.

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