Pallets per truck and container calculator
A 53 ft dry van holds 26 standard 48 × 40 in pallets loaded straight or 30 turned, single stacked. A 48 ft trailer holds 22 or 28. A 20 ft container holds 9 and a 40 ft container 20. EUR pallets (1200 × 800 mm) fit 11 in a 20 ft and 25 in a 40 ft container. Enter any size below.
Pallet
Resultssingle stacked
| Equipment | Straight | Turned | Best floor | Pallets | By weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 53 ft dry van | 156 | 160 | 160 | 30 | limit 30 |
| 48 ft dry van | 144 | 144 | 144 | 30 | limit 30 |
| 26 ft box truck | 78 | 76 | 78 | 6 | limit 6 |
| 20 ft container | 45 | 42 | 51 | 40 | limit 40 |
| 40 ft container | 100 | 90 | 110 | 38 | limit 38 |
| 45 ft high cube | 110 | 99 | 121 | 40 | limit 40 |
Load plan · 53 ft dry van160 turned
Interior about 52 ft 6 in × 8 ft 2.5 in. Reefers are 2 to 4 in narrower and shorter.
How the count is calculated
The calculator places pallets on the floor using the equipment’s interior length and width. Straight means the pallet’s length runs along the trailer; turned means its width does. It then searches mixed layouts: rows that combine straight and turned pallets side by side, and lanes that run a column of turned pallets beside a column of straight ones. That is how 11 EUR pallets fit in a 20 ft container instead of 8.
Interior dimensions used
| Equipment | Interior length | Interior width | Typical payload |
|---|---|---|---|
| 53 ft dry van | 630 in (16002 mm) | 98.5 in (2502 mm) | 45,000 lb |
| 48 ft dry van | 570 in (14478 mm) | 98.5 in (2502 mm) | 45,000 lb |
| 26 ft box truck | 312 in (7925 mm) | 96 in (2438 mm) | 10,000 lb |
| 20 ft container | 232 in (5898 mm) | 92.6 in (2352 mm) | 61,000 lb |
| 40 ft container | 474 in (12032 mm) | 92.6 in (2352 mm) | 58,000 lb |
| 45 ft high cube | 534 in (13556 mm) | 92.6 in (2352 mm) | 60,000 lb |
Payloads are typical figures. US road loads are limited by the 80,000 lb gross vehicle weight and by axle limits, so the legal cargo weight depends on the tractor and trailer. Container payloads are the ISO maximum; road limits at origin and destination are often lower.
What reduces the count in practice
- Overhang. Product that overhangs the pallet takes floor space. Use the load footprint, not the pallet size. See pallet overhang.
- Reefers. Refrigerated trailers lose 2 to 4 in of width and length to insulation, which can drop a turned 48 × 40 row.
- Weight. Dense loads such as beverages, paper, bagged concrete or steel reach the payload limit before the floor is full.
- Stackability. Double stacking needs a load that supports the pallet above and a trailer height (typically about 110 in inside a 53 ft van) that clears both.
More detail: pallets per truckload, pallets per container, and the pallet sizes chart.
Frequently asked questions
How many pallets fit in a 53 foot trailer?
26 standard 48 × 40 in pallets loaded straight (48 in along the trailer, two across) or 30 loaded turned (40 in along the trailer), single stacked. Double stacking doubles that if the load and weight allow it.
Why is turned loading better for 48 × 40 pallets?
Turned, two 48 in sides fill 96 in of the roughly 98 to 100 in trailer width, and each row uses only 40 in of length, so 15 rows fit in about 630 in instead of 13.
How many pallets fit in a 40 ft container?
About 20 standard 48 × 40 in pallets or 25 EUR pallets on the floor. 1200 × 1000 mm pallets fit about 22. The 40 ft high cube has the same floor, so the count only changes if you can stack.
Does weight limit the count before space does?
Often. A US tractor-trailer is limited to 80,000 lb gross, which usually leaves 42,000 to 45,000 lb of cargo. 30 pallets at 1,500 lb each is 45,000 lb, so heavy loads run out of weight before floor space.
Are these counts exact for my trailer?
They are geometric floor positions using typical interior dimensions and no gaps. Refrigerated trailers are narrower, and load bars, wheel wells, doors and overhanging loads reduce the count. Measure your equipment for a firm plan.