Pallets per Container Calculator
Enter your loaded pallet size and weight to compare how many pallets each container type can take.
Results
Assumptions
Container dimensions, door openings and payloads are planning references. Actual dimensions and payload can vary by carrier, equipment and manufacturer.
Counts are pure geometry with no handling space unless you enter a gap between pallets; real loading often fits one or two fewer pallets.
Pallets stay upright and may turn 90° on the floor. Stacked pallets must be at least 75% supported by the pallet below.
This is an optimized planning layout and is not a certified cargo-loading or safety plan.
How the Pallets per Container Calculator works
Enter the loaded pallet's footprint, height and weight and say how many pallets can be stacked on top of each other. The packing engine places the pallets in each container you select, keeping them upright but turning them where a mixed arrangement fits more. It reports the count, how the pallets are arranged, the floor space left and whether the space or the payload ran out first.
Formula
Pallets per container = pallets placed by the engine, limited by floor positions × stack height (space) payload ÷ loaded pallet weight (weight) Volume utilization = pallet volume ÷ container volume Payload utilization = pallet weight ÷ container payload
Worked example
Euro pallets (1200 × 800 mm), 1,600 mm high, 900 kg each, single stacked, in a 20ft container (5,898 × 2,352 mm inside):
Lane 1: pallets turned (1200 across) → 5,898 ÷ 800 = 7 Lane 2: pallets lengthwise (800 across) → 5,898 ÷ 1200 = 4 Floor positions = 11 Weight: 11 × 900 kg = 9,900 kg, well within the payload
When to use it
- Comparing container sizes for palletized cargo.
- Checking whether heavy pallets will hit the payload limit.
- Deciding whether double stacking is worth arranging.
Limitations
Container figures are planning references; actual equipment varies. The count assumes all pallets are identical. Leave room for securing and forklift access as your loader requires, and check that loaded pallets pass under the door opening. For mixed pallets or loose cartons, use the Container Loading Calculator.
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Frequently asked questions
How many Euro pallets fit in a 20ft container?
Usually 11 Euro pallets (1200 × 800 mm) on the floor, single stacked, using a mixed arrangement of turned and lengthwise pallets.
Can pallets be stacked in the container?
Yes, if the loaded pallets are strong enough and low enough. Set how many pallets can stand on top of each other and the calculator checks the container height and payload.
Why does the calculator show fewer pallets than floor area allows?
Pallets cannot be split, so the container width and length leave strips of unused floor. Heavy pallets can also reach the payload first.