How Many Pallets Fit in a 40ft Container?
A 40 ft container typically holds around 23 to 25 EUR pallets in a single tier, but the real number depends on pallet size, orientation, stacking and cargo weight. Use the calculator to check your own configuration.
Cargo
0 = fill the container
Container
12032 × 2352 × 2393 mm internal · max payload 26,700 kg
Result
20 pallets
20 units per floor × 1 layer
Units per floor
20
Vertical layers
1
Max by dimensions
20
Max by weight
44
Total cargo weight
12,000.0kg
Floor utilization
67.8%
Volume utilization
45.4%
Unused volume
37.0m³
Limiting factor
Dimensions
10 × 2 = 20 units per floor
1 layer of 1600 mm inside 2393 mm internal height
Container Internal Dimensions
- 20 ft standard — approximately 5900 × 2350 × 2390 mm internal, payload around 28,000 kg.
- 40 ft standard — approximately 12,030 × 2350 × 2390 mm internal, payload around 26,500 kg.
- 40 ft high cube — approximately 12,030 × 2350 × 2690 mm internal, same floor area, 300 mm more height.
These are nominal figures. Manufacturers, container age and carrier specifications all cause small variations, so confirm the exact internal dimensions for the equipment you book.
Single-Tier Pallet Counts
With EUR pallets in a 40 ft container, placing the 1200 mm dimension across the width fits two pallets per row across 2350 mm and ten rows along 12,030 mm — 20 pallets. Rotating so 800 mm runs across the width fits two per row with more rows along the length, and mixed orientations in practice push the total to roughly 23 to 25. Industrial 1200 × 1000 mm pallets typically reach about 20 to 21.
Does Stacking Help?
Only when the cargo allows it. A 40 ft standard container has 2390 mm of internal height, so two 1100 mm loaded pallets fit comfortably while two 1400 mm pallets do not. A high cube adds 300 mm, which is often exactly what makes double stacking viable. Stacking also requires load-bearing packaging and a stable top surface.
When Weight Becomes the Limit
A 40 ft container's payload is roughly 26,500 kg. At 24 pallets that averages just over 1100 kg per pallet. Dense cargo — liquids, tiles, metals — reaches the payload limit with the container floor only partly used, which is why the calculator reports the weight limit separately from the dimensional limit.
Practical Loading Factors
- Door opening is narrower than the internal width and constrains handling.
- Loaders leave clearance so pallets can be positioned without damage.
- Dunnage, airbags and securing materials consume usable space.
- Load distribution rules may prevent concentrating heavy pallets in one area.
Treat calculated figures as planning estimates and confirm with your freight forwarder before booking.
Related Pages
Frequently Asked Questions
- How many EUR pallets fit in a 40ft container?
- A 40 ft standard container typically holds around 23 to 25 EUR pallets (1200 × 800 mm) in a single tier, depending on orientation and the clearance needed for loading.
- How many industrial pallets fit in a 40ft container?
- For 1200 × 1000 mm industrial pallets, a 40 ft container usually holds about 20 to 21 pallets in a single tier.
- How many pallets fit in a 20ft container?
- A 20 ft container typically holds around 11 EUR pallets or about 9 to 10 industrial pallets in one tier.
- Does a 40ft high cube hold more pallets?
- The floor area is the same, so single-tier capacity is unchanged. The extra height helps only when pallets can be double stacked or when the cargo is taller.
- Why do quoted pallet counts vary?
- Internal dimensions differ between containers, loaders leave clearance for handling, and cargo weight can hit the payload limit before the floor is full.