How Many Pallets Fit in a 20ft or 40ft Container?

The short answer:

Where the numbers come from

Container internal dimensions:

| Container | Length | Width | Height |

|-----------|--------|-------|--------|

| 20ft standard | 5.9 m | 2.35 m | 2.39 m |

| 40ft standard | 12.0 m | 2.35 m | 2.39 m |

| 40ft high cube | 12.0 m | 2.35 m | 2.70 m |

Divide floor area by pallet footprint, subtract a working tolerance for door frames and side clearance, and you get the single-layer count. Try our container pallet calculator to run your exact size.

When stacking works

Stacking doubles your pallet count — sometimes. It only works when:

1. Cargo is stackable. Crushable cargo (fresh produce in unreinforced cartons, some cushioned goods) cannot support another loaded pallet on top.

2. Cargo height leaves room. A stack of two pallets plus dunnage clearance must fit under the container ceiling. A 40ft high cube gains 30 cm — the difference between one and two layers for many loads.

3. Weight allows. The container weight limit still applies. Two layers of dense cargo often hits the axle limit before the cube limit.

Choosing the right pallet size for the destination

| Destination | Standard pallet |

|-------------|-----------------|

| Europe | 1200 × 800 mm (Euro / EPAL) |

| North America | 1219 × 1016 mm (48" × 40") |

| Asia-Pacific | 1100 × 1100 mm |

| General export | 1200 × 1000 mm |

If your carton footprint wastes deck space on a standard pallet, a custom size built to your carton often pays for itself in container utilisation over even a few shipments — see the CeyPall custom pallets page.

What we tell exporters

The container calculator gives you the mathematical answer. The real answer includes cargo shape, weight, stackability and destination expectations. Send us your loading list and we will recommend the best pallet size and layout for the actual container.