Euro pallet, 1200 x 800 mm
Used for general freight and export
The highest count, 11 per 20ft container.
- 23 to 25 per 40ft container
- 33 per 13.6 m trailer
How many pallets fit in a container or lorry?
A 20ft container holds 11 Euro pallets or 9 to 10 UK standard pallets in one layer. A 40ft container holds 23 to 25 Euro pallets or 20 to 21 UK standard pallets. A 13.6 m trailer holds 33 Euro pallets or 26 UK standard pallets.
These counts are floor space, with the goods kept inside the pallet edges. The pallet load calculator below gives the count for your own vehicle, pallet and loaded height.
Pallet load calculator
The pallet load calculator takes four inputs, a vehicle, a pallet, an optional loaded height and an optional quantity, and returns the count per layer, the layers and the total.
0Total pallets
- 0Pallets per layer
- 1Layers
- -Vehicles needed
- 0Floor used (%)
Floor space only; payload and axle limits are not checked.
How many pallets fit in a 20ft or 40ft container?
A 20ft container holds 11 Euro pallets or 9 to 10 UK standard pallets in one layer, and a 40ft container holds 23 to 25 Euro pallets or 20 to 21 UK standard pallets.
The count is a range because loading patterns differ and the container's internal width of 2,352 mm decides how the pallets sit across it. Three Euro pallets side by side need 2,400 mm, so Euro pallets go two across in a container.
| Container | Internal size (L x W x H mm) | Euro 1200 x 800 mm | UK standard 1200 x 1000 mm | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20ft | 5,898 x 2,352 x 2,393 | 11 | 9 to 10 | iContainers, xChange; floor space, one layer |
| 40ft | 12,032 x 2,352 x 2,393 | 23 to 25 | 20 to 21 | iContainers, xChange; floor space, one layer |
| 40ft high cube | 12,032 x 2,352 x 2,695 | 23 to 25 | 20 to 21 | iContainers, xChange; floor space, one layer |
A 40ft high cube has the same floor as a 40ft container, so it adds height and not pallet positions in a single layer.
How many pallets fit on a lorry or trailer?
A 13.6 m trailer holds 33 Euro pallets or 26 UK standard pallets in one layer, which is the usual load for a lorry on a standard artic.
| Pallet | Rows x across | Pallets | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Euro 1200 x 800 mm | 11 rows of 3 | 33 | 13.6 m semi-trailer, internal about 13.6 x 2.45 m, one layer |
| UK standard 1200 x 1000 mm | 13 rows of 2 | 26 | 13.6 m semi-trailer, internal about 13.6 x 2.45 m, one layer |
Three Euro pallets across need 2,400 mm, and the trailer is about 2,450 mm wide inside, so a trailer takes three Euro pallets across where a container takes two. Full loads from us arrive on a curtain-sider, covered in pallet delivery, priced by postcode.
TIMOCOM and Eurowag give these counts for a standard 13.6 m trailer.
Can you double stack pallets in a container?
Yes, you can double stack pallets in a container, and two layers fit when each loaded pallet is under half the container's internal height, so 1,196 mm in a standard container and 1,347 mm in a high cube.
Two layers double the floor count, so a 40ft container takes 46 to 50 Euro pallets when every pallet stands under 1,196 mm. The carrier decides what may be stacked and the weight limits, and the calculator does not check payload.
| Container | Internal height (mm) | Pallet loaded up to (mm) for two layers |
|---|---|---|
| 20ft | 2,393 | 1,196 |
| 40ft | 2,393 | 1,196 |
| 40ft high cube | 2,695 | 1,347 |
Goods that must not be stacked, goods with overhang and loads that need securing stay at one layer. A high cube stacks two layers only within the carrier's weight limit and securing rules.
How does the calculator count the pallets?
The calculator counts pallets by laying them on the internal floor of the vehicle, and it then multiplies by the layers the loaded height allows.
- Read the internal floor length and width from the table below.
- Lay the pallets in one direction and then rotate them 90 degrees.
- Split the floor into two blocks when the leftover strip fits more pallets.
- Divide the internal height by the loaded height to find the layers, up to three.
- Multiply the layers by the pallets per layer.
Each pallet is given 10 mm of clearance on its length and width, so the calculator returns the low end of each range, 23 Euro or 20 UK standard in a 40ft container and 9 UK standard in a 20ft container. The 10 mm is our assumption for handling room and not a published figure.
| Vehicle | Internal length (mm) | Internal width (mm) | Internal height (mm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20ft container | 5,898 | 2,352 | 2,393 |
| 40ft container | 12,032 | 2,352 | 2,393 |
| 40ft high cube container | 12,032 | 2,352 | 2,695 |
| 13.6 m trailer (about) | 13,600 | 2,450 | 2,700 |
The calculator checks floor space and height only. It does not check payload, axle weight or whether the goods overhang the pallet. The counts sit inside the published ranges in the tables above. For the weight of the load, use the pallet weight calculator.
How many pallets should you order for a full load?
Order the total the calculator gives for the vehicle, then send it with your delivery postcode for a quote.
We supply new and used UK standard and Euro pallets, so the total maps straight onto an order of Euro pallets or wooden pallets. Full loads arrive on a curtain-sider for forklift offload, priced by postcode, with no minimum order, and lead time is usually from the next working day to 3 working days for stock sizes, with the date confirmed on the quote. Repeat and contract orders go through bulk pallets and contract supply.
- Enter the vehicle and the pallet.
- Note the total.
- Send the total with your delivery postcode.
- Confirm the loading day.
Request a quote for these pallets
Press Quote these pallets and the vehicle, pallet and total go into the form, or request a pallet quote without the load. Call +44 7440 280642 if you prefer to talk it through.
Which pallet size fits a container best?
The Euro pallet fits the most pallets per container, with 11 in a 20ft container and 23 to 25 in a 40ft container, against 9 to 10 and 20 to 21 for the UK standard pallet.
UK standard pallets, 1200 x 1000 mm
Used in UK warehouses and retail
Fewer pallets, 9 to 10 per 20ft container.
- 20 to 21 per 40ft container
- 26 per 13.6 m trailer
CP pallets, CP1 to CP9
Used for chemical and container loads, named for container use by EPAL
Nine footprints, so the count depends on the type, and we give it on the quote.
- CP1 is 1,000 x 1,200 mm
- The family is CP1 to CP9
For square pallets, 1,000 x 1,000 mm gives 26 on a 13.6 m trailer and 1,200 x 1,200 mm gives 22. Full sizes are in Pallet sizes and dimensions in the UK.
Do export pallets in a container need heat treatment?
Pallets exported from Great Britain to the EU must be heat treated and marked to ISPM 15; other destinations set their own rules.
GOV.UK states the rules apply to wood packaging moving between Great Britain and other countries, including EU member states and Switzerland, and tells exporters to find out whether the destination country requires ISPM 15 compliant wood. A legible mark replaces an export certificate for empty pallets. We supply heat treated pallets for export, and ISPM 15 explained covers the mark.
Pallet load questions
How many pallets fit in a 40ft container?
A 40ft container holds 23 to 25 Euro pallets or 20 to 21 UK standard pallets in one layer. The count is a range because loading patterns differ, and a high cube has the same floor.
How many Euro pallets fit in a 20ft container?
A 20ft container holds 11 Euro pallets in one layer, because three side by side do not fit its 2,352 mm width. The container floor is 5,898 x 2,352 mm.
How many UK standard pallets fit in a 20ft container?
A 20ft container holds 9 to 10 UK standard pallets in one layer. The 1200 x 1000 mm footprint covers more floor than a Euro pallet, so the count is lower.
How many pallets fit in a lorry?
A 13.6 m trailer holds 33 Euro pallets or 26 UK standard pallets in one layer. Euro pallets go three across and UK standard pallets two across the trailer's 2.45 m width.
