Freight
How many pallets fit in a 40 ft container?
Independent site, not a government agency or a customs broker. General information, not legal advice or customs advice.
Enter the inside size from your carrier and pick a pallet: the floor count with whole pallets and no overhang, each way round.
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 count is a division. Take the inside length and width of your container, divide by the pallet’s length and width, keep whole numbers only, and try the pallet both ways round. We have no verified inside size to give you, because the carrier sheet we could read does not allow reuse without consent and others refused our reader on November 2, 2026. So the tool starts from a round example of 12,000 by 2,300 mm, which is no carrier’s measure. On that example, it gives 18 pallets of 48 by 40 inches and 20 Euro pallets. Replace it with your own carrier’s figures, because a few millimeters of width can change a row. A mixed pattern, where some pallets are turned, can change the count. So can what your load needs around it. If your goods stand a second level, enter it in the tool, and weight then becomes the main check.
Does your cargo fit this container?
With these figures
fits on paper
| Volume used | 83% |
| Weight used | 75% |
The first two fields hold examples, not measures of any container. Ask your trucker for the road limit too.
Rates read by Radif Partners · Editorial policy · Method and sources
The count, by hand
| Pallet | Lengthwise | Crosswise | Best |
|---|---|---|---|
| 48 × 40 in | 9 × 2 = 18 | 11 × 1 = 11 | 18 |
| Euro, 1,200 × 800 mm | 10 × 2 = 20 | 15 × 1 = 15 | 20 |
| 1,200 × 1,000 mm | 10 × 2 = 20 | 12 × 1 = 12 | 20 |
Height and weight next
Each loaded pallet must clear the inside height and, while it goes in, the door height. Multiply the pallet count by your weight per pallet and compare with the payload on your carrier’s sheet. The second tool does this from your total figures.
When not to use pallets
Floor loading takes more labor but fits more cartons, and you may save on freight per unit. See the pallet calculator for other boxes and the CBM calculator for cartons.