How many boxes fit on a pallet?
It comes down to fitting your box footprint onto the pallet deck and stacking layers up to a height limit. A standard US (GMA) pallet is 48 × 40 inches; the EUR/EPAL pallet is 1200 × 800 mm. You work out how many boxes tile one layer (trying different rotations), then how many layers fit under your maximum stack height, and multiply. The calculator tries the orientations for you and returns cases per layer and per pallet.
What are standard pallet and container sizes?
The two everyday pallets are the US 48″×40″ and the Euro 1200×800 mm, usually loaded to about 1.8–2.2 m tall including the pallet. For sea freight, a 20-ft container holds roughly 10–11 Euro pallets or 9–10 US pallets on the floor, and a 40-ft about double. Knowing these lets you turn a box count into pallets, and pallets into a shipment.
Why pallet math saves money
Freight is charged by the pallet space or the container, so squeezing one more case per layer, or one fewer wasted pallet, changes the cost of every shipment. Poor cube utilisation — air shipped as if it were product — is one of the biggest hidden costs in logistics. Running the layout before you pack tells you the most efficient box orientation and whether a smaller case or different pallet would ship cheaper.
Weight, overhang and stack limits
Fitting boxes is only half of it — you also can't exceed the pallet's weight rating (often around 1,000–1,500 kg for a static load) or your stack height, and boxes shouldn't overhang the pallet edge, which crushes corners and voids many carriers' cover. The calculator focuses on the fit; keep these limits in mind and it becomes a realistic loading plan, not just a geometry puzzle.
Layouts are geometric estimates. Confirm against the pallet's weight rating, your carrier's height limits and no-overhang rules before shipping.
Frequently asked questions
How many boxes fit on a pallet?
It depends on your box size, the pallet (US 48×40″ or Euro 1200×800 mm) and the stack height. Enter your dimensions above and the calculator returns cases per layer and per pallet.
What is the standard pallet size?
The US GMA pallet is 48 × 40 inches; the European EUR/EPAL pallet is 1200 × 800 mm. These are the two most common.
How many pallets fit in a 40ft container?
Roughly 20–21 Euro pallets or about 18–20 US pallets on the floor of a 40-ft container; a 20-ft holds about half that.
How tall can a pallet be stacked?
Commonly loaded to about 1.8–2.2 m including the pallet, but check your carrier and the pallet's weight rating — height, weight and no overhang all apply.
Why does box orientation matter?
Rotating the box can fit more per layer and waste less pallet space, which lowers freight cost. The calculator tries orientations to find the best fit.