How Many Pallets Fit in a 20-ft and 40-ft Container

If you’re planning a move, a warehouse restock, or a cross-border freight run, the fastest way to control costs is to know your layout before anything gets lifted. This guide from Midstatecontainers breaks down how many pallets fit in a container, using common pallet formats and practical loading rules so you can protect your cargo, stay within weight limits, and make the most of your space.

Shipping Container Pallet Sizes and Types

To avoid wasting floor space, choosing the right pallet format matters as much as the box size. The two most common types you’ll see in real-world logistics are the Euro pallet and the standard pallet. Both are built for easy handling with forklifts and pallet jacks, and both work well for storage and freight staging.

The Euro pallet is the go-to in global trade. It’s widely used because its footprint packs efficiently in many international freight setups. Its typical dimensions are 800 x 1,200 mm (31.50 x 47.24 in), and it’s rated for strong working weight capacity when the load is built correctly. Because it’s so common, many warehouses already design their racking and workflows around the Euro pallet.

The standard pallet is also common, especially for industrial loads. A typical industrial standard pallet is 1,200 x 1,000 mm (47.24 x 39.37 in). It often supports heavy, compact cargo where weight matters more than volume. If your products are dense or your load pattern needs more stability, the standard pallet is usually easier to plan around.

In North America, you’ll also see the 40 x 48 in GMA footprint in grocery and retail. When people ask about the standard pallet size for containers, they’re often referring to these North American norms, which influence dock doors, forklifts, and local transportation systems. Different regions, different types, same goal: predictable loading with minimal wasted space.

20ft Container Pallet Capacity

A standard 20-ft unit has external dimensions of 20 ft (L) x 8 ft (W) x 8.6 ft (H). In practice, the 20 ft container pallet capacity is usually up to 10 standard American pallets (48” x 40”) or 11 to 12 European pallets (47.24” x 39.37”) when arranged efficiently. If you’re researching how many pallets in a 20ft container, this is the number most planners start with for single-stacked floor layouts.

40ft Container Pallet Capacity

A standard 40-ft unit is roughly 40 ft long, 8 ft wide, and 8.6 ft in height. It can hold up to 20 to 22 standard pallets and around 24 to 30 European pallets, depending on aisle clearance and how tight your layout is. That range is what most people mean when they search for how many pallets in a 40ft container or check 40 ft container pallet capacity for planning.

Calculating Shipping Container Pallet Capacity

Accurate planning comes down to calculating floor fit first, then checking height and weight against the unit’s rated limits. Even if the floor layout looks perfect, your real capacity depends on the total weight of the cargo, the stacked height, and whether you can safely go beyond single-stacked layers.

How Many Pallets Fit in a 20ft Container?

A typical 20-ft unit is designed for smaller volumes of heavy cargo, including equipment and construction materials. Its internal dimensions are often around 19’4” L x 7’8” W x 7’10” H, giving an internal volume close to 1,172 ft³. For most shipments that must stay single-stacked, you can generally fit 11 Euro pallet units or 10 standard pallet units on the floor, depending on the exact footprint and door clearance. That answers the common question of how many pallets fit in a 20ft container for single-layer loads.

How Many Pallets Fit in a 40ft Container?

A 40-ft unit is well-suited for larger quantities of lighter goods, like boxed retail, furniture, or electronics. Internal dimensions are commonly about 39’4” L x 7’8” W x 7’10” H, with internal volume around 2,385 ft³. When single-stacked, you can often fit about 24 Euro pallet units or roughly 21 standard pallet units, depending on the layout. That’s the planning baseline for how many pallets fit in a 40ft container.

Pallet Capacity Considerations

A clean floor plan is only step one. These factors often reduce real-world capacity:

1. Load height and weight limits
   Every unit has a rated max payload. Your cargo weight plus dunnage, straps, and pallet mass must stay below it. Your stacked height also matters because high stacks shift during transportation.

2. Overhang and footprint waste
   All cases should stay within the pallet footprint. Overhang can crush cartons, snag door frames, and eat up usable space. It also makes single-stacked layouts harder to lock in.

3. Securing and handling gaps
   Some loads need bracing, airbags, or strap clearance. That extra space can lower pallet count, but it often protects the shipment, which is worth it.

4. Stack quality and stability
   Poor stack patterns reduce capacity and increase damage. Even when you can double-stack, stability and weight distribution decide whether it’s safe.

Discover How to Properly Pack Pallets in a Shipping Container

Packing Your Pallets for Optimal Container Shipping

If you want the best results, treat pallet prep like a system, not a last-minute wrap job. Here are practical checkpoints that improve loading speed and protect cargo:

1. Check pallet load height and total weight
   Confirm how tall the product becomes once stacked. Your final height affects whether you can move beyond single-stacked tiers. It also affects airflow and carton crush risk.

2. Confirm shipping requirements for international movement
   Export loads often need compliant wood treatment and markings. Meeting shipping requirements early prevents delays and rework during logistics handoffs.

3. Match pallet material to your use case
   Wood is common, but plastic can be useful for moisture-sensitive loads. Pressed wood can reduce weight in some cases. Your goal is stable cargo with predictable loading behavior.

4. Wrap and strap with intention
   Stretch wrap holds cartons together. Straps lock the load to the pallet deck. Corner boards help distribute pressure. This improves stability during transportation and reduces claims.

Pick Your Pallets Accordingly

The most suitable pallet depends on where you’re sourcing, where you’re delivering, and how your receiver unloads. This is where logistics gets real: the best layout on paper can fail if the receiver can’t handle your pallet choice.

Start with the basics:

• Pallet load height: Confirm the stacked height of your product. This influences whether you can safely add a second tier or must stay single-stacked.

• Load weight: Heavy loads can reduce the total count. Even if you have floor space, your max payload can cap your capacity.

• Floor fit and door access: Some layouts improve square footage use, but make unloading slower. A clean path can reduce time and damage.

• Receiver constraints: Some customers require a specific container pallet size because of racking, dock plates, or forklift limitations.

To keep your plan simple, decide your pallet standard first, then confirm how many units fit on the floor. From there, check weight, stacked height, and securing gaps. That process gives you a reliable pallet per container estimate without last-minute surprises.

Tips to Optimize Your Container Space

Here are practical ways to squeeze more value out of each load while keeping it safe:

1. Build stable tiers when possible
   If your cargo allows it, stacking can improve capacity. Use heavier cases on the bottom and lighter on top. Confirm total height and weight before committing.

2. Keep loads square and flush
   A tight, squared load wastes less space and reduces shifting. Avoid carton overhang. It hurts stability and can reduce usable floor fit.

3. Use dunnage strategically
   Dunnage can protect cargo and prevent movement, especially near doors. Yes, it uses space, but it often saves you from damage and repacking.

4. Plan your unload sequence
   If you need fast access to certain goods, stage them closer to the doors. This may reduce maximum capacity, but it improves real-world logistics efficiency.

5. Confirm your unit’s interior clearances
   Small differences in internal dimensions can change the final layout. Always validate before final loading.

If you’re deciding between a Euro pallet and a standard pallet for a specific run, ask your carrier or warehouse team what fits their equipment best. The best container pallet is the one that moves smoothly through your full workflow, not the one that looks perfect in a diagram.