How Many Pallets Fit in a Shipping Container? (2026 Guide)
Pallet loading is where a lot of container cost quietly leaks. Choosing the wrong pallet size or the wrong container can waste 15–20% of the paid volume — money that never shows up on a freight invoice but bleeds every shipment. This guide gives GCC importers and exporters exact pallets-per-container counts, box-per-pallet math and a practical loading playbook.
Standard pallet sizes worldwide
- Euro pallet (EUR-EPAL): 80 × 120 cm. Dominant in Europe, common on Turkey/Europe → GCC lanes.
- ISO / standard: 100 × 120 cm. Widely used in Asia, GCC and Africa.
- GMA (US): 101.6 × 121.9 cm (40 × 48 in). North American standard.
- Industrial: 116 × 116 cm. Used in some chemical and drum shipments.
- Half pallet: 60 × 80 cm. Retail display and small consignments.
Pallets per container by size
20-ft dry container (internal 5.90 × 2.35 × 2.39 m):
- 11 Euro pallets (80 × 120 cm) single tier
- 9–10 ISO pallets (100 × 120 cm) single tier
40-ft dry container (internal 12.03 × 2.35 × 2.39 m):
- 23–24 Euro pallets single tier
- 20–21 ISO pallets single tier
40HC (high cube): same footprint but 2.69 m internal height instead of 2.39 m — enables double-stacking on lightweight cargo like polymer bags, empty bottles or packaged consumer goods.
Carton optimisation for pallet loading
Pallet efficiency starts with carton design. A carton that is a whole-number divisor of the pallet footprint gives near-perfect coverage; awkward carton dimensions leave gaps that waste 8–15% of every layer. Aim for:
- Carton footprints of 30 × 40, 40 × 60, 30 × 50 cm for Euro pallets.
- Carton footprints of 25 × 40, 40 × 50, 33 × 50 cm for ISO 100 × 120 pallets.
- Layer height that lets you reach the container ceiling in whole layers.
Use Tradloc's Pallet Calculator to test carton dimensions against your target pallet before finalising packaging.
Container utilisation and why it matters
Container freight is paid per box, not per CBM. Every unused cubic metre is money you already spent. The gap between a well-planned load and a floor-thrown load is typically 12–20% of the volume — enough to add or lose an entire pallet on a 40-ft.
For accurate volume planning start with Tradloc's CBM Calculator. For carton-level packing use the Container Loading Calculator. Both feed into the sea-freight and landed-cost tools.
Export packing guidelines that pay for themselves
- Heat-treated wood pallets stamped ISPM-15 are mandatory for GCC entry.
- Shrink-wrap each pallet fully to prevent shift in transit.
- Corner boards + strapping on heavy loads (metals, tiles).
- Include a packing list on the outside of the container door for fast customs inspection.
- Photograph the loaded container before sealing — protects against damage disputes.
Boxes per pallet, layers per pallet and pallets per container.
Maximum cartons per 20-ft / 40-ft / 40HC with utilisation %.
Convert carton dimensions and quantity to cubic metres.