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Pallet fit calculator
Pick a pallet and a vehicle. The calculator tries every pallet lengthwise, every pallet crosswise and mixed patterns, then adds a second tier if the height allows.
Your cargo
Inside 589 × 235 × 239 cm, payload 28,200 kg
Stacking
Results
Pallets in total
11
1 tier
On the floor
11
Total weight 5,500 kg
- All lengthwise: 8
- All crosswise: 7
- Mixed pattern: 11best
With pallets of one size this pattern search gets the floor count right. The EveryLoading optimizer finds the same mixed patterns automatically: 11 EUR pallets in a 20ft container, 25 in a 40ft and 26 industrial pallets in a 13.6 m trailer, and it also handles mixed cargo.
Your cargo is copied into the planner, which arranges every piece in 3D.
Save this as a plan or download a PDF in the planner: create a free account
How it is calculated
Pallets can stand lengthwise or crosswise, and the best floor often mixes both: a lane of pallets lengthwise beside a lane turned crosswise uses width that one orientation alone would waste.
Formula
- lengthwise = ⌊L ÷ pallet length⌋ × ⌊W ÷ pallet width⌋
- crosswise = ⌊L ÷ pallet width⌋ × ⌊W ÷ pallet length⌋
- mixed = best combination of lengthwise and crosswise lanes and blocks
- total = floor count × tiers that fit under the roof, capped by payload
- Inside sizes used: 20ft 589 × 235 × 239 cm, 40ft 1203 × 235 × 239 cm, 40ft HC 1203 × 235 × 269 cm, trailer 1360 × 245 × 270 cm.
- The count assumes pallets with no overhang and no gaps. Real loading needs a little play, so a pattern with zero spare length can lose one pallet.
Worked example
- 20ft container, EUR pallets: lengthwise 4 × 2 = 8, crosswise 7 × 1 = 7.
- Mixed: one lane lengthwise (80 cm wide, 4 pallets) beside one lane crosswise (120 cm wide, 7 pallets) uses 200 of the 235 cm and holds 11.
- In a 40ft container the same pattern gives 10 + 15 = 25.
Questions and answers
How many EUR pallets fit in a 20ft container?
11 on the floor, with one lane lengthwise and one crosswise. Stacked two high, if the loaded height is under about 119 cm, that is 22.
How many pallets fit in a 40ft container?
25 EUR pallets or 22 industrial pallets on the floor, both with mixed lengthwise and crosswise lanes. A 40ft High Cube has the same floor but 30 cm more height for stacking.
How many pallets fit in a 13.6 m trailer?
33 EUR pallets (11 rows of 3) or 26 industrial pallets (13 rows of 2, crosswise). Crosswise EUR pallets fit 17 × 2 = 34 only on paper: it leaves no play at all.
Why does a mixed pattern fit more pallets?
Because the container width is not a multiple of one pallet side. 235 cm takes 2 × 80 = 160 or 1 × 120, but 80 + 120 = 200 uses much more of it.
Can I plan mixed pallet sizes?
This calculator handles one pallet size. For several sizes, cartons and stacking rules, open the result in the 3D planner and let the optimizer place everything.
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20ft or 40ft? The container size, or mix of containers, your shipment needs.
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