Learn › Pallets per container
How many pallets fit in a shipping container?
Quick answer: 9 US pallets (40 x 48 in) fit on the floor of a 20 ft container and 20 in a 40 ft. Euro pallets: 11 and 25.
The answer depends on the pallet size, the container, and how the pallets are turned. The numbers below come from the same layout engine as the HexaEcom Pallet Planner, with no overhang and room to close the doors.
US 40 x 48 in pallets (Amazon, GMA)
| Container | Straight rows | Two lanes | Most on the floor | Stacked 2 high |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20' Standard | 8 | 9 | 9 | 18 |
| 20' High Cube | 8 | 9 | 9 | 18 |
| 40' Standard | 18 | 20 | 20 | 40 |
| 40' High Cube | 18 | 20 | 20 | 40 |
| 45' High Cube | 22 | 24 | 24 | 48 |
| 20' Reefer | 8 | 9 | 9 | 18 |
| 40' High Cube Reefer | 18 | 20 | 20 | 40 |
A 20 ft container takes 9 US pallets on the floor; a 40 ft takes 20, and a 45 ft high cube takes 24. Some forwarders quote one more by mixing directions near the doors; check with yours before you book.
EUR 120 x 80 cm pallets
| Container | Straight rows | Two lanes | Most on the floor | Stacked 2 high |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20' Standard | 8 | 11 | 11 | 22 |
| 20' High Cube | 8 | 11 | 11 | 22 |
| 40' Standard | 20 | 25 | 25 | 50 |
| 40' High Cube | 20 | 25 | 25 | 50 |
| 45' High Cube | 22 | 27 | 27 | 54 |
| 20' Reefer | 8 | 10 | 10 | 20 |
| 40' High Cube Reefer | 18 | 23 | 23 | 46 |
Euro pallets are narrower, so more fit: 11 in a 20 ft and up to 25 in a 40 ft when they are loaded in two lanes (one lane long side across, one short side across).
Straight rows or two lanes?
Straight rows turn every pallet the same way: easy to load, but they leave a strip of empty width. Two lanes run one lane with the long side across and one with the short side across, which uses the 2.35 m width better and usually fits more. The planner shows both and how many containers each needs.
Can pallets be stacked?
Double-stacking doubles the count, but only if the pallets are strong, flat on top and low enough. In a standard container (about 2.39 m inside) two pallets must stay under about 2.3 m together; a high cube (about 2.70 m) allows two pallets of up to about 1.3 m each. Stacks taller than the door opening must be built inside the container. Heavy pallets also hit the payload limit long before the floor is full.
Questions
How many 40 x 48 pallets fit in a 20 ft container?
9 on the floor, or 18 if they can be stacked two high.
How many 40 x 48 pallets fit in a 40 ft container?
20 on the floor in a two-lane layout, or 40 stacked two high (usually a high cube).
How many euro pallets fit in a 40 ft container?
Up to 25 EUR 120 x 80 cm pallets on the floor in two lanes.
Does a high cube fit more pallets?
Not on the floor: the floor is the same size. The extra 30 cm of height makes double-stacking easier.
Plan your own load
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