How Many Pallets Fit In a Trailer, Container or Van

A 53 ft dry van holds 26 to 30 standard 48" × 40" pallets, depending on the loading pattern:

• 26 straight-loaded (48" side along the trailer, two across)
• 28 pinwheel (alternating pairs: a straight pair, then a turned pair)
• 30 turned (40" side along the trailer, two across, which needs at least about 96" of inside width)

The calculator uses 98.5" of inside width, the narrowest in the sources, and 52' 6" of inside length. Actual counts depend on the trailer's inside length and width (reefers and some older vans are narrower) and on pallet overhang. Shippers should confirm the count with the carrier. Two high, pallets up to 55" tall clear the 110" door, which doubles the floor count when the freight can carry the weight.

A 48 ft flatbed takes 24 to 28 standard pallets on a 48' × 102" deck, depending on the loading pattern:

• 24 straight-loaded (48" side along the deck, two across)
• 26 pinwheel (alternating pairs: a straight pair, then a turned pair)
• 28 turned (40" side along the deck, two across, which needs at least about 96" of deck width)

Actual counts depend on the deck's length and width and on pallet overhang. Shippers should confirm the count with the carrier. Open-deck freight is strapped and often tarped, so the carrier confirms how the pallets are secured.

A 20 ft container fits 8 standard 48" × 40" pallets loaded straight and 9 with a pinwheel pattern. The inside is 232.1" × 92.5", so only one turned pallet fits across; a pinwheel puts a lane of straight pallets beside a lane of turned pallets (40" + 48" = 88" across).

A 40 ft container fits 18 standard pallets loaded straight and 20 with a pinwheel pattern, on 473.7" × 92.5" of floor. Two high, each pallet has to be 44.8" or less to clear the 89.5" door, so 48" pallets stay single layer.

A 40 ft high cube has the same floor as a standard 40 ft, so it also fits 18 pallets straight and 20 pinwheel. The extra height is what changes: pallets up to 50.7" tall can go two high under the 101.4" door, for 40 pallets at 48" tall.

A 40 ft container fits 22 pallets of 1200 × 1000 mm and 25 Euro pallets of 1200 × 800 mm with a pinwheel pattern; a 20 ft fits 9 and 11. Loaded straight only, a 40 ft holds 20 of 1200 × 1000 mm and 20 of 1200 × 800 mm. Both are ISO 6780 sizes used widely outside North America.

A 26 ft box truck holds 12 standard pallets loaded straight, and 13 with a pinwheel pattern in a body 92.4" wide inside. A 102" body (98.4" inside) fits 14 turned. The figures use a manufacturer's 26 ft body with 25' 11.5" of inside length; rental and fleet trucks vary.

A Sprinter van with the 144" wheelbase takes 3 standard pallets, and the 170" and 170" extended both take 4. Pallets ride single file between the wheel wells, which are 53" apart, with the 48" side across. The rear door is 73" high on the high roof and 61" on the standard roof.

In a 40 ft container, pinwheel loading fits 20 standard pallets where straight loading fits 18. Straight means every pallet has its long side along the length. Turned means every long side runs across. Pinwheel alternates the two. In a trailer wide enough for two turned pallets across, rows alternate a straight pair and a turned pair, which gives 28 in a 53 ft dry van against 26 straight and 30 turned. In a container, which is too narrow for two turned pallets, a lane of straight pallets runs beside a lane of turned pallets. Whether it pays depends on the inside width.

Turning adds 4 pallets over straight loading in a 53 ft dry van (30 against 26, with pinwheel at 28): two 48" sides fill 96" of the width, and each row then uses 40" of length instead of 48". Turned pallets are picked up from the other face, so the pallets need entry on that side.

Double stacking doubles the count only when two pallets clear the door and the ceiling as one stack: 30 becomes 60 in a 53 ft dry van with 48" pallets. In a standard 40 ft container the same pallets stay at 20, because two of them are over the door height. The freight also has to carry the weight on top, which the shipper confirms.

No: 30 floor positions in a 53 ft dry van is space, not weight. Heavy pallets reach the payload before the floor is full. Payload depends on the tractor, trailer, axle spacing and route; see the payloads in the equipment guide and the federal weight limits, 23 CFR 658.17 (opens in a new tab).

The calculator counts pallets only. Floor-loaded cartons are planned by cube and weight, and a transload warehouse can palletize them first; see transload and warehousing.