Pallet Loading Guide: How Many Standard Pallets Fit in a Container?

Shipping loose cartons (floor loaded) maximizes space, but it makes unloading a nightmare. Because of this, many warehouses including Amazon FBA prefer or require goods to be delivered on pallets.

But pallets take up space. A lot of it. If you plan your CBM based on cartons but ship on pallets, you might find that 30% of your goods don’t fit in the container. This guide explains the math behind pallet loading.

Types of Pallets Matter

Before calculating, you must know which pallet you are using. The world uses two main standards:

1. Standard Pallet (ISO / American)

• Dimensions: 1000mm x 1200mm (39.37″ x 47.24″)
• Common Usage: USA, UK, Amazon FBA (US).

2. Euro Pallet (EUR 1)

• Dimensions: 800mm x 1200mm (31.50″ x 47.24″)
• Common Usage: Europe.

How Many Pallets Fit in a 20ft Container?

A standard 20ft container is roughly 2.35m wide and 5.9m long.

Standard Pallets (1000 x 1200 mm)

• Capacity: 9 to 10 Pallets
• Layout: One row lengthwise, one row widthwise.

Euro Pallets (800 x 1200 mm)

• Capacity: 11 Pallets
• Layout: One row lengthwise, two rows widthwise.

How Many Pallets Fit in a 40ft Container?

A standard 40ft container is roughly 12.03m long.

Standard Pallets (1000 x 1200 mm)

• Capacity: 20 to 21 Pallets

Euro Pallets (800 x 1200 mm)

• Capacity: 23 to 24 Pallets

The “Pallet Loss” Factor

When you palletize, you lose volume in two ways:

1. The Pallet Itself: A wooden pallet is about 15cm (6 inches) high. That is vertical space you cannot fill with boxes.
2. No Stacking: Unless your cartons are incredibly sturdy, you usually cannot stack one pallet on top of another inside the container (double stacking). This leaves the top half of the container empty.

The Cost Impact: Palletized shipments often cost 25% to 40% more per unit than floor-loaded shipments simply because you fit fewer units in the container.

ISPM 15 Regulations

If you are shipping wooden pallets to the USA, they must be heat-treated and stamped with the ISPM 15 mark. If your pallets do not have this stamp, US Customs can reject the entire container and send it back to China at your expense. Always confirm this with your supplier!