What is ti-hi?
Also called: TI HI, ti x hi, tie high
Ti-hi describes how cases are stacked on a pallet: the ti is the number of cases in each layer and the hi is the number of layers. Ti times hi gives the cases per pallet; for example, a 10 × 5 ti-hi is 50 cases.
In depth: Cases per pallet (Ti-Hi)
Ti-hi is the shorthand buyers, distributors and warehouse systems use to describe a pallet load.
How it works
| Term | Meaning | Set by |
|---|---|---|
| Ti | Cases per layer | Case footprint and pallet footprint, plus the stacking pattern |
| Hi | Number of layers | Height limit, weight limit and case compression strength |
| Ti × hi | Cases per pallet | Both |
Example from a published PDS unit load: 16 × 12 × 10 in cases, 10 per layer, 5 layers, 50 cases, 1,000 lb (454 kg) of product and a 50 in (1270 mm) load height.
Why it matters for pallet design
Ti depends on the pallet footprint. A different footprint, or a custom size, can add a case per layer, which adds a full column of cases to every pallet. Hi depends partly on the pallet's height, since the load height limit usually includes the pallet. The cases per pallet calculator tests patterns.
On a spec sheet or RFQ
Give case dimensions and weight, ti, hi, and the maximum overall height including the pallet. Customer item-setup forms usually ask for ti-hi with the pallet type.
Common confusions
Ti-hi says how many cases, not how they are arranged. Two loads with the same ti can use different patterns, and one may interlock while the other is column stacked.
Frequently asked questions
What does ti-hi stand for?
Ti is the number of cases per tier (layer) and hi is how many tiers high the pallet is stacked. The terms are usually written together, as in "ti-hi 10 × 5".
How do you calculate cases per pallet from ti-hi?
Multiply them. A ti of 10 and a hi of 5 gives 50 cases per pallet. Check that the height and weight of 5 layers plus the pallet are within your limits.
Who sets the ti-hi?
The manufacturer proposes it from the case size, pallet footprint and height limit. Retailers and distributors often require it in their item setup data and may set maximum heights or weights that constrain it.
Related
- CalculatorsCases per pallet (Ti-Hi)Cases per layer, layers, total cases, load height, gross weight and cube utilization for any case and pallet size, with the layer pattern.
- GlossaryStacking patternA stacking pattern is the arrangement of cases on a pallet: how they are placed within each layer and how each layer relates to the one below. The main choices are column stacking, which maximizes box strength, and interlocking patterns, which improve stability.
- GlossaryCube utilizationCube utilization is the share of the available volume, in a pallet footprint up to its height limit, a trailer or a container, that is actually filled with product. It is usually expressed as a percentage.
- GlossaryUnit loadA unit load is a group of items, usually cases on a pallet or slip sheet, secured together so it can be stored and moved as a single unit by a forklift or pallet jack. It includes the pallet, the packaging, the stacking pattern and the stabilizers.
- GuidesPallet stacking patterns: column, interlock, pinwheel and brickColumn stacking puts each box directly on the box below and keeps the most compression strength. Interlocking patterns (brick, pinwheel) rotate alternate layers so boxes overlap, which adds stability but can cut stacking strength sharply. Many loads use columns with tie sheets, or interlock only the top layers.
More in Loading and shipping
- GlossaryColumn stackingColumn stacking is a stacking pattern where every case sits directly on top of the case below, with corners and walls aligned through the full height of the load. It keeps the most compression strength but is less stable than interlocking.
- GlossaryFloor loadingFloor loading is shipping cases or bags stacked directly on the floor of a trailer or container, without pallets. It fits more product in the vehicle but must be loaded and unloaded by hand or with special equipment. The term is also used for the load a floor can bear per unit area.
- GlossaryFreight densityFreight density is the weight of a shipment divided by the volume it occupies, measured at its outside dimensions with the pallet included. In the US it is given in pounds per cubic foot (pcf) and is the main factor in most LTL freight classes.
- GlossaryFTL (full truckload)FTL (full truckload) is a shipment that uses a dedicated trailer from origin to destination, with no terminal handling. A 53 ft dry van takes 26 standard 48 × 40 in pallets loaded straight or 30 turned, single stacked, subject to the legal weight limit.
- GlossaryInterlocking stackingInterlocking stacking is a stacking pattern where alternate layers are rotated or shifted so each case bridges the joints between cases in the layer below, like bricks in a wall. It ties the load together but reduces compression strength compared with column stacking.
- GlossaryLoad barA load bar is an adjustable steel or aluminum bar fixed across the inside of a trailer or container, either wedged between the walls or locked into wall track, to keep pallets from sliding during transit. Horizontal decking beams also let a second tier of pallets be carried.
Last reviewed 2026-09-24. 232 words.