Pallet Calculator: How It Works & Full Guide | Tradloc
Everything behind the Pallet Calculator: how to use it step by step, what the numbers mean, worked examples and the background reference importers ask about most. The tool itself stays one click away.
What the Pallet Calculator does
Geometric calculation for pallet loading. Enter box and pallet dimensions to see boxes per layer, layers per pallet and boxes per pallet, plus pallets per 40ft container.
- Optimize palletized loading
- Reduce damage from over-stacking
- Plan warehouse space accurately
How to use the Pallet Calculator
Calculate how many cartons fit on a pallet and how many pallets fit into a 20ft or 40ft container.
- 1Enter carton dimensions
Enter the length, width and height of one carton in centimetres.
- 2Enter pallet dimensions and max stack height
Use 120 × 100 cm for ISO pallets or 120 × 80 cm for Euro pallets, then set the maximum loaded pallet height allowed by your warehouse or carrier.
- 3Review boxes per layer and layers per pallet
The calculator tests both carton orientations to find the layout that fits the most boxes per layer, then multiplies by the number of layers.
- 4Check pallets per container
Compare the resulting pallets per 20ft and 40ft container against your order quantity before confirming packaging.
Free Pallet Calculator for Exporters & Importers
Tradloc's pallet calculator and pallet loading calculator tell you exactly how many boxes fit per pallet, how many layers stack safely, and how many pallets drop into a 20-ft or 40-ft container. Enter carton and pallet dimensions and the tool returns a precise loading plan — no spreadsheets, no guessing.
Export pallet standards
Euro pallet (EPAL): 80 × 120 cm. 11 fit in a 20-ft container, 24 in a 40-ft.
ISO standard: 100 × 120 cm. 9–10 fit in 20-ft, 20–21 in 40-ft.
GMA (US): 101.6 × 121.9 cm. 9 fit in 20-ft, 20 in 40-ft.
Industrial: 116 × 116 cm. 8 fit in 20-ft, 18 in 40-ft.
All GCC-bound wooden pallets must be ISPM-15 heat-treated and stamped.
Carton optimisation examples
| Pallet | Carton footprint | Boxes per layer | Coverage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Euro 80×120 | 40 × 30 cm | 8 | 100% |
| Euro 80×120 | 40 × 40 cm | 6 | 100% |
| ISO 100×120 | 40 × 50 cm | 6 | 100% |
| ISO 100×120 | 33 × 50 cm | 7 | 96% |
| GMA 40×48" | 10 × 12" | 16 | 100% |
Container utilisation explained
Sea freight is priced per container, not per CBM. A well-planned palletised load wastes 5–8% of container volume; a poorly planned one wastes 15–20%. On a Shanghai–Jebel Ali 40-ft at USD 1,800 all-in, that gap is USD 200+ per shipment — free money on the table.
How many pallets fit in a 20ft and 40ft container?
| Pallet size | 20-ft (single tier) | 40-ft (single tier) | 40HC double-stacked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Euro 80 × 120 cm | 11 | 23–24 | up to 46 |
| ISO 100 × 120 cm | 9–10 | 20–21 | up to 40 |
| GMA 101.6 × 121.9 cm | 9 | 20 | up to 40 |
| Industrial 116 × 116 cm | 8 | 18 | up to 36 |
Double-stacking assumes the lower tier can carry the load and total loaded height stays inside the container's internal height — 2.39 m in a standard dry box, 2.69 m in a 40HC.
Sea freight pallet size, weight and height limits
For ocean freight the practical loaded pallet is 1.80 m high in a standard container and 2.10 m in a 40HC, including the 14–15 cm pallet deck. Most carriers and warehouses cap a single loaded pallet at 1,000–1,200 kg; heavier units need forklift confirmation at both ends. Wooden pallets shipped into the GCC must be ISPM-15 heat-treated and stamped, or the consignment can be held at the port.
Pallet loading vs floor loading
Floor loading fits roughly 10–15% more cartons into the same container because you lose neither the pallet deck height nor the gaps between pallet rows. The trade-off is labour: manual stuffing and de-stuffing adds hours at both ends and raises damage risk. Palletised loading wins whenever the receiving warehouse is forklift-based, cargo is stackable and handling cost matters more than the last 2 CBM of space.
Stacking, overhang and pallet stability
- Keep cartons inside the pallet footprint — 2–3 cm of overhang can cost 20–30% of stacking strength.
- Interlock the top two layers or use column stacking with corner boards for heavy cartons.
- Shrink-wrap to the pallet deck, then strap in both directions for long ocean transits.
- Use slip sheets or dunnage bags between rows to stop lateral shift.
Worked example: cartons to pallets to container
A carton of 40 × 30 × 30 cm on a Euro 80 × 120 cm pallet gives 8 cartons per layer at full coverage. With a 1.80 m loaded height and a 15 cm pallet deck, 5 layers of 30 cm cartons fit — 40 cartons per pallet. A 40-ft container takes 23 Euro pallets, so the shipment is 920 cartons, roughly 33 CBM of cargo in a 67 CBM box. At a Shanghai–Jebel Ali all-in of USD 1,800, that is about USD 1.96 per carton.
Related tools
Maximum cartons per 20-ft / 40-ft / 40HC with utilisation %.
Convert carton dimensions and quantity to cubic metres.
Sea freight cost estimate per 20-ft, 40-ft and 40HC lane.
Port-to-port sea freight transit times by lane.
Full breakdown of pallet sizes and container fit.
Boxes per pallet and pallets per container.
Maximum cartons per container and utilization percentage.
Convert box dimensions and quantity into cubic metres.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Standard pallet size?
- Default is 120×100 cm; enter your own for EUR, US or GCC standards.
- How many cartons fit on a pallet?
- It depends on carton footprint and stack height. A 40×30×30 cm carton on a 120×100 cm pallet gives 10 cartons per layer and 6 layers at 1.8 m loaded height — 60 cartons per pallet. Enter your own dimensions above for an exact figure.
- How many pallets fit in a container?
- A 20ft container holds 11 Euro pallets (80×120 cm) or 9–10 ISO pallets (100×120 cm) single-tier. A 40ft holds 23–24 Euro pallets or 20–21 ISO pallets. A 40HC has the same floor area but more height for double-stacking.
- How do I use the pallet calculator?
- Enter carton dimensions, pallet dimensions and maximum stack height. The calculator returns boxes per layer, layers per pallet, total boxes per pallet and pallets per 20ft / 40ft container.
- What is the standard sea freight pallet size?
- Sea freight uses three common pallet sizes: the Euro pallet at 80×120 cm, the ISO/standard shipping pallet at 100×120 cm and the US GMA pallet at 101.6×121.9 cm. Loaded height is normally capped at 1.8 m for a 20ft/40ft dry container and 2.1 m in a 40HC.
- Is pallet loading or floor loading cheaper?
- Floor loading fits 10–15% more cartons into the same container because no pallet footprint or pallet height is lost, but it costs more in labour and increases damage risk. Palletised loading is faster to handle, safer for stacked cartons and usually cheaper once destination handling is included.
- Can pallets overhang or be double-stacked?
- Keep cartons within the pallet footprint — overhang above 2–3 cm loses stacking strength and risks damage in transit. Double-stacking is only possible when the loaded pallet height plus the second tier stays under the container's internal height and the lower cargo can carry the load.