With pallets such an indispensable supply chain tool, determining how many pallets can fit in a container or trailer is critical for shippers when developing a transportation plan, calculating freight costs and booking carriers.

While early versions of the pallet actually date back to ancient Mesopotamia, the familiar platform for stacking and transporting goods came into its own in support of military logistics in World War II. It has since become a fixture in warehouses, factories, and retail, rolling on trucks and stacked in ports and facility yards.

Starting with this backdrop, let’s unpack the question of how many pallets fit in a container or trailer, both here and abroad, under various scenarios. This will serve as a guide as you formulate your freight shipping plan and calculate needed capacity and cost. Your logistics partner, such as a 3PL or freight forwarder, will help match the volume and type of goods to the capacity needed and how it will be stowed and conveyed.

We’ll start with a summary chart, then dive into the details.

Pallet Volumes Per Container/Trailer

*loads must stay within legal weight limits

How many pallets fit in a 20-foot container?

The standard pallet dimensions in the US are 40” by 48”. A 20’ dry container’s internal dimensions are 19’ 4’ inches long by 7’ 8” wide by 7’ 10” high, for an internal capacity of 1,170 cubic feet.

You can fit two rows of pallets five deep, for a total of 10 pallets, single stacked. By double stacking, at a maximum height of 43” each, you can fit 20 pallets, allowing for clearance to load and unload.

In any double stacking scenario, the bottom pallets must support the weight of the top pallets without damage. Avoid stacking fragile goods unless you’re using load protectors or racking. 

Even weight distribution prevents imbalance during shipment. The heaviest pallets should always go at the bottom to maintain a low center of gravity. Distribute weight evenly across the length and width of the load to prevent shifting and overweights on axles.

How many pallets fit in a 40’ container?

A 40’ container – with internal dimensions of 39’ 5” long by 7’ 9” high by 7’ 10” wide, and a capacity of 2,390 cubic feet – can fit twice as many double-stacked (40) or single-stacked US pallets (20) as a 20’ container. 

How many pallets fit into a 40’ high cube container?

Just like the regular 40’ container, a 40’ high cube container can fit either 20 pallets single stacked, or 40 double stacked. The added benefit here is the extra foot of clearance for taller pallets. 

How many pallets fit in a 40’ or 20’ reefer container?

If you’re shipping goods such as food, beverages or pharmaceutical products that need to be temperature controlled, you’ll need a refrigerated shipping container, known as a “reefer.”

In general, a 20’ reefer container can fit fewer pallets due the space needed for insulation. It can typically fit 8 pallets in a single, unstacked layer. A 40’ reefer can still fit 20 pallets.

You can find more helpful details on reefer shipping here. 

How many pallets fit on a 48-foot flatbed trailer?

A 48-foot flatbed trailer can accommodate two rows of 12 pallets each, or 24, when they’re loaded in a single stack using a straight side-by-side configuration.

The maximum height for a loaded flatbed, including pallets, is typically 13’ 6’ in most US states. A standard flatbed deck is 5’ high, leaving 8’ 6’ (102”) for cargo height. With a low-profile pallet 48” high when loaded, double stacking (96”) is pretty much the limit to stay within height restrictions. So that gives you a total of 48 pallets, double stacked.

How many pallets fit in a 48-foot dry van trailer?

A 48-foot dry van trailer has an interior width of approximately 8’ 2” and an interior length of 47’ 6.”  It can accommodate two rows of 12 pallets each, for a total of 24.

Pallets can be double stacked with lighter goods, uniform boxes, or using rigid packaging and evenly distributed weight. The typical maximum height per pallet for double stacking is 4’ to 4’ 6” (48” to 52”), to stay within the trailer height of 110”.

How many pallets fit in a 53-foot dry van trailer?

A 53-foot dry van is 100” wide, which allows for two pallets to fit side by side. Thirteen rows of pallets gives you a single-stack capacity of 26 pallets. Double stacked, it’s 52 pallets.

How many pallets fit on a 53-foot flatbed trailer?

A 53-foot flatbed trailer typically has a width of 8’ 6”, and a usable deck length of 53’. In a side-by-side configuration, you get 13 rows of 2 pallets per row, totaling 26 pallets, or 52 double stacked.

When shipping freight, maximize the space to lower your spend

Freight shipping can seem like an endless exercise in geometry from school days, calculating how much of your goods can be transported using different types of containers or trailers. Maximizing the space – or “cube utilization” in logistics parlance – can make a huge difference in terms of cost savings, which adds up depending on your volume and frequency.

I.C.E. Transport, a licensed Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier (NVOCC) based in New Jersey, provides small and mid-sized businesses the right blend of expertise, global freight forwarding capabilities and the highly personalized service of a family-owned operation. With decades of experience in cargo shipping between the US and Europe, we will accurately calculate freight capacity, then save you money based on our extensive carrier network and volume pricing. This includes finding ways of economizing by shipping fewer, heavier containers.

For US imports, I.C.E. offers customs brokerage services through a partnership, ensuring your shipment doesn’t run afoul of CBP regulations, which can lead to delays and fees. Contact I.C.E. today to learn more.