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Freight tools · Pallets

Pallet Calculator

Total footprint, volume, CBM, cubic feet and weight for any number of pallets, with an optional estimate of how many fit in a container or 53-ft trailer.

Last reviewed: 2026-09-30 · Free · Nothing you enter is stored

Pallet Details

Size
Weight
Pallet size

01 · Dimensions per pallet

Height is the loaded height, pallet included. Editing length or width switches to Custom.

02 · Weight and count

03 · Equipment estimate (optional)

Equipment

Results

Enter shipment dimensions to see your results.

Educational estimate only, never a guarantee of capacity. Real pallet counts depend on the loading configuration, pallet overhang, axle and legal weight limits, the cargo and the equipment you actually get. Interior sizes are typical published values.

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Need cross-docking or pallet rework?

Pallets that arrive leaning, overhanging or overweight can be rebuilt, restacked and re-weighed on our dock, or moved straight across to outbound trailers.

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Quick answer: how many pallets fit in a container?

By floor space, a 40-ft standard or high cube container fits 18 standard 48 x 40 in. pallets in one tier and a 20-ft container fits 8, using published interior dimensions. A 53-ft dry van fits 26 loaded straight or 30 turned. Pallet height, stacking and weight limits can lower the real number.

The pallet calculator totals footprint, cube and weight for a pallet shipment and, if you pick a container or trailer, estimates how many pallets fit on the floor and how many loads you need. Choose a standard pallet size or enter your own.

How to Use the Pallet Calculator

  1. Pick a pallet size: 48 x 40, 42 x 42, 48 x 48 in., or Custom.
  2. Enter the loaded height (pallet included), the weight per pallet and the number of pallets.
  3. Optionally pick a 20-ft, 40-ft or 40-ft high cube container, or a 53-ft dry van, for a floor-space estimate. Tick stacking only if the freight can take it.

How RapidShips Calculates This

Formula
footprint = L x Wvolume = L x W x H x palletsCBM = volume in m³; ft³ = CBM x 35.3147
Floor positions
Pallets are placed in a plain grid, all facing the same way, and the calculator tries both floor orientations (48 in. along the length, or turned) and keeps the better one. Tiers = interior height ÷ loaded height, rounded down, only when stacking is ticked.
Equipment data
Container interiors from Maersk’s published dry container specifications. The 53-ft van uses about 630 x 100 x 108 in., the conservative interior used in our container vs. trailer guide.
Limitations
No mixed orientations, no overhang, no bracing or door clearance, and no axle weight check. A real load plan can differ in either direction.

How Many Pallets Fit in a Container or Trailer?

Single-tier floor positions from published interior dimensions, with pallets kept flush and all facing the same way:

Pallet floor positions, single tier (educational)
EquipmentInterior (typical)48 x 40 in42 x 42 in48 x 48 in
20-ft standard232.1 x 92.5 x 94.2 in8104
40-ft standard473.7 x 92.5 x 94.2 in18229
40-ft high cube473.7 x 92.5 x 106.2 in18229
53-ft dry vanabout 630 x 100 x 108 in30 turned (26 straight)3026

These are floor counts only. Weight usually decides first for dense freight: federal rules generally cap a truck at 80,000 lb gross on the Interstate System, tractor and trailer included.[2] See container weight rules for how ocean and road limits differ.

Worked Example

Twenty 48 x 40 in. pallets, 60 in. tall, 1,200 lb each:

  • Footprint: 48 x 40 = 1,920 in² = 13.33 ft² each, 266.67 ft² in total
  • Volume: 13.33 ft² x 5 ft = 66.67 ft³ each, 1,333.33 ft³ in total, or 37.76 CBM
  • Weight: 20 x 1,200 lb = 24,000 lb (10,886 kg)
  • 40-ft standard container: 18 floor positions, and two 60 in. tiers (120 in.) will not fit under 94.2 in., so the shipment needs about 2 containers by floor space

Frequently Asked Questions

What size is a standard pallet in the U.S.?
The 48 x 40 in. pallet, often called the GMA pallet, is the most common standardized size in the U.S. Square 42 x 42 in. and 48 x 48 in. pallets are also common for certain products, such as drums.
How do you calculate pallet CBM?
Multiply the pallet length, width and loaded height in meters, then multiply by the number of pallets. A 48 x 40 x 60 in. pallet is 1.219 x 1.016 x 1.524 m, about 1.888 CBM.
How many pallets fit in a 53-ft trailer?
On a floor of about 630 x 100 in., 26 standard 48 x 40 in. pallets fit loaded straight and 30 fit turned, in a single tier. Weight limits and the actual trailer can lower that number.
Can pallets be double-stacked in a container?
Only if two loaded heights fit under the interior height with clearance and the lower pallets can carry the weight. A 40-ft high cube is about 106 in. tall inside, so two pallets of up to about 53 in. can fit by height alone.
What is pallet footprint?
Footprint is the floor area one pallet covers: length x width. A 48 x 40 in. pallet covers 1,920 square inches, or 13.33 square feet.
Container Loading CalculatorCheck cargo volume, weight, volume utilization and remaining space in a 20-ft, 40-ft or 40-ft high cube container, for pallets or cartons. Freight Class & Density CalculatorGet cubic feet, total weight and density per handling unit, with the matching class on the 2025 NMFC density scale. CBM CalculatorCubic meters and cubic feet for cartons in cm, m, inches or feet, with every step shown in plain language. Dimensional Weight CalculatorDimensional and chargeable weight with the divisor your carrier uses: 139, 166, 5,000, 6,000 or your own.
40-ft Container vs. 53-ft TrailerPallet count and cube for transloads How a Damaged Pallet Gets RebuiltRestack, wrap, re-weigh, document ISPM 15 Wood PalletsWhen packaging fails inspection Cross-DockingInbound to outbound, 24/7

Sources

  1. Maersk, “Our fleet: equipment specifications, dry containers (PDF),” accessed September 2026.
  2. Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School, “23 CFR § 658.17: Weight,” accessed September 2026.

This page is general operational information. Equipment varies; confirm dimensions, weights and legal limits with your carrier before you build a load.