How Many Boxes Fit on a Pallet?
The number of boxes that fit on a pallet depends on the pallet dimensions, carton footprint, carton height, maximum loaded height and weight restrictions. Use the calculator below to determine your pallet capacity.
Unit system
Dimensions in mm, weight in kg.
Carton
Pallet
1200 × 800 mm · pallet height 144 mm · 25 kg
Limits
Includes pallet height
Includes pallet weight
Result
40 cartons / pallet
5 full layers of 8 cartons
Cartons per layer
8
Layers
5
Total cartons
40
Loaded height
1,394mm
Total pallet weight
345.0kg
Total carton weight
320.0kg
Footprint utilization
100.0%
Volume utilization
85.9%
Limiting factor
Height
What Determines How Many Boxes Fit on a Pallet?
Five inputs decide the answer:
- Pallet footprint — commonly 1200 × 800 mm (EUR) or 1200 × 1000 mm (industrial).
- Carton footprint — how many cartons tile the pallet surface without overhang.
- Carton height — how many whole layers fit under the height limit.
- Maximum loaded height — set by racking, trailers, doorways or handling equipment.
- Weight limits — rack beam capacity, forklift capacity and transport rules.
Boxes Per Layer Formula
Boxes per layer = floor(pallet length ÷ carton length) × floor(pallet width ÷ carton width). Because whole cartons cannot be split, both divisions are rounded down. The calculation is run twice — once with the carton length along the pallet length, once rotated 90° — and the orientation producing more cartons is used.
Number of Pallet Layers
Layers = floor((maximum loaded height − pallet height) ÷ carton height). The pallet deck consumes part of the height allowance, typically 144 mm on a EUR pallet. Total boxes are then boxes per layer × layers, before the weight check.
Weight Restrictions
The carton payload is the maximum total pallet weight minus the pallet's own weight. Dividing that by the weight per carton gives the maximum quantity by weight. The final answer is the lower of the height-based and weight-based quantities, which is what the calculator reports as the limiting factor.
Euro Pallet Example
A 400 × 300 × 250 mm carton on a 1200 × 800 mm EUR pallet: rotating the carton so 300 mm runs along the 1200 mm length gives 4 cartons along the length and 2 across the width — 8 cartons per layer, covering the full 0.96 m² footprint. With a 1600 mm maximum loaded height, 1456 mm remains above the 144 mm pallet, allowing five 250 mm layers, so 40 cartons by height. If each carton weighs 8 kg and the maximum total pallet weight is 1000 kg, weight is not the constraint at that quantity. Change any input in the calculator above to see how the limiting factor shifts.
Common Pallet Sizes
- EUR / EPAL — 1200 × 800 mm, pallet height about 144 mm.
- Industrial / ISO — 1200 × 1000 mm.
- North American — 48 × 40 in (1219 × 1016 mm).
- Half pallet — 800 × 600 mm, used for display and small-store deliveries.
Related Pages
Frequently Asked Questions
- How many boxes fit on a standard pallet?
- There is no single number. On a 1200 × 800 mm EUR pallet, a 400 × 300 mm carton gives 8 boxes per layer while a 600 × 400 mm carton gives 4. The total depends on how many layers the height and weight limits allow.
- What is the boxes per layer formula?
- Boxes per layer = floor(pallet length ÷ carton length) × floor(pallet width ÷ carton width), calculated for both horizontal orientations, keeping the higher result.
- How do I calculate the number of layers?
- Layers = floor((maximum loaded height − pallet height) ÷ carton height). Only whole layers count, and a partially filled top layer still occupies a full layer height.
- Can boxes overhang the pallet edge?
- Overhang is generally avoided because it reduces stacking strength and can conflict with racking and transport requirements. This calculator assumes no overhang.
- Does box weight change how many fit?
- Yes. When the maximum permitted pallet weight is reached before the height limit, the number of boxes is capped by weight and the top layer may be incomplete.