Typical pallet counts
The table shows how many pallets fit on the floor of each container, single stacked, as arranged by the same packing engine the calculators use. The engine keeps pallets upright and turns them where a mixed arrangement fits more.
| Pallet | 20ft Container | 40ft Container | 40ft High Cube Container | 45ft High Cube Container |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Euro pallet (EUR 1) 1200 × 800 mm | 11 | 25 | 25 | 27 |
| Euro pallet (EUR 2) 1200 × 1000 mm | 9 | 22 | 22 | 24 |
| North American GMA 48 × 40 in | 9 | 20 | 20 | 24 |
| Asian standard 1100 × 1100 mm | 10 | 20 | 20 | 24 |
| Australian standard 1165 × 1165 mm | 10 | 20 | 20 | 22 |
Floor positions for single-stacked pallets, as arranged by the packing engine with pallets kept upright and turned where that fits more. Stacking can add more where loaded pallets are low and strong enough; payload and handling space can reduce the count.
Why the numbers vary
- Pallet footprint. Euro pallets (1200 × 800 mm) suit the container width better than 1200 × 1000 mm or 48 × 40 in pallets, which leave more unused floor.
- Arrangement. Turning some pallets sideways can add one or two positions. Loaders also leave room for handling and securing, so many real loads carry one or two fewer pallets than the theoretical maximum.
- Stacking. If loaded pallets are low and strong enough, a second tier can nearly double the count, especially in a high cube container.
- Weight. Heavy pallets can reach the container's payload before the floor is full. 20 pallets of 1.3 tonnes already weigh 26 tonnes.
- Overhang and height. Cartons overhanging the pallet edge or loads taller than the door opening reduce what fits.
A worked check
A 20ft container is about 5.90 m long and 2.35 m wide inside. Two Euro pallets side by side with their 1.2 m sides across would need 2.4 m, which is too wide. Instead, loaders run two lanes along the container:
Lane 1: pallets turned, 1.2 m across, 0.8 m along → 5.90 ÷ 0.8 = 7 pallets Lane 2: pallets lengthwise, 0.8 m across, 1.2 m along → 5.90 ÷ 1.2 = 4 pallets Width used: 1.2 + 0.8 = 2.0 m of 2.35 m → 11 pallets
That is the commonly quoted figure of 11 Euro pallets in a 20ft container.
Checking your own pallets
- Build your pallets with the Pallet Calculator to find the loaded height and weight.
- Enter that loaded pallet in the Pallets per Container Calculator to compare container types, including stacking and payload.
- For mixed loads, or to compare loose cartons against pallets, use the Container Loading Calculator.
Container sizes are compared in 20ft vs 40ft vs 40HC Container.