How many pallets fit in a shipping container?

Containers are narrower than trailers, so pallet math changes. Pick your container and pallet type for the per-layer count.

Enter your setup

Container
Interior L×W×H in cm.
Your pallet
Length × width.
Use positive measurements and valid numbers.

Your estimate

FREIGHT · CONTAINER

Pallets that fit

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Do you need to secure the load?
Cargo ratchet strapsAmazonContainer desiccantAmazon

Hand-picked for this exact result — no generic lists.

Load it like a forwarder.

Container interiors are about 2.35 m wide — narrower than a truck trailer.

  1. Use the interior, not the nominal size.

    A '20 ft' box is 5.89 m inside, not 6.06 m.

  2. EUR pallets love containers.

    120×80 cm pallets were designed around container widths.

  3. Watch the door height.

    The door opening is lower than the interior — tall pallets may not pass.

  4. Distribute the weight.

    Heavy pallets centered; never all the weight at the doors.

Worked example

One concrete case, with the assumptions spelled out.

EUR pallets in a 40 ft container

A 40 ft container fits 20 EUR pallets per layer in a straight layout; mixed orientations reach ~25.

ƒ(x)per layer = max(floor(L÷pl)×floor(W÷pw), floor(L÷pw)×floor(W÷pl))

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Frequently asked questions

How many pallets fit in a 40 ft container?

20 standard GMA pallets single-stacked — 10 per row in 2 rows.

What is a GMA pallet?

The North American standard pallet: 48×40 inches (122×102 cm).

Can pallets be double-stacked in a container?

Only with stable, crush-proof loads — most freight ships single-stacked.

What fits in a 20 ft container?

10 GMA pallets single-stacked — exactly half the 40 ft count.