Freight
Pallet dimensions: common sizes compared
Independent site, not a government agency or a customs broker. General information, not legal advice or customs advice.
Choose a pallet and a container: how many fit on the floor, then read what each size is and how we know.
How many pallets on the floor of a container?
Pallets, simple pattern
18
| Per level | 18 |
| Lengthwise | 18 |
| Crosswise | 11 |
Whole pallets in one orientation, no overhang, from the inside size you enter. The size shown first is an example. A mixed pattern can add a pallet; a carrier’s load plan decides.
The 48 by 40 inch pallet, about 1,219 by 1,016 mm, is offered in the tools as a common size. We could not read an official sheet for it on November 2, 2026, so please confirm its figures with your pallet supplier. The EPAL Euro pallet has a published sheet. It gives 1,200 by 800 by 144 mm, about 25 kg, and a safe working load of 1,500 kg, which we read directly. You can also test a size of 1,200 by 1,000 mm in the tools, which we did not verify either. These footprints fit containers differently, because a container’s inside width is what limits them. So one size may leave more wasted floor than another. Use the tool at the top to compare, with no overhang and one orientation.
Pallets in a trailer
Pallets, simple pattern
30
| Per level | 30 |
| Lengthwise | 26 |
| Crosswise | 30 |
The inside size is an example to replace: no federal rule fixes it, so ask the carrier.
Rates read by Radif Partners · Editorial policy · Method and sources
Three sizes, and what we know about each
| Size | Metric | What we read |
|---|---|---|
| 48 × 40 in | 1,219 × 1,016 mm | No official sheet read: a trade convention, not verified |
| EPAL Euro | 1,200 × 800 × 144 mm | EPAL’s sheet |
| 1,200 × 1,000 mm | 1,200 × 1,000 mm | Not verified: test it in the tool |
Why footprints matter more than you would think
Container floors are narrower than two Euro pallets laid crosswise. Two pallets side by side, lengthwise, use 1,600 mm and leave a large gap. Turned crosswise, they need 2,400 mm, wider than a floor of the example width in our tool. So on such a floor a mixed pattern may fill more of it, and our simple count does not try one. The tool shows both orientations.
How the rest of the shipment changes
The pallet adds height and weight. With 144 mm of deck on each EPAL pallet, a load of several levels loses that much height each time. When you work out volume or density, count it. The Euro pallet page and the 40-foot page go further.