Boxes per Pallet Calculator

How many boxes fit on a pallet depends on the footprint pattern, the height limit and the weight limit. This calculator tests simple block patterns and two-block patterns that turn part of each layer by 90°, which often fits an extra row, then stacks as many layers as the height allows and checks the load weight against your limit.

How to use this tool

1. Choose units and a pallet size, or Custom to enter your own.
2. Enter the empty pallet height and the maximum height of the loaded pallet.
3. Enter the box length, width, height and weight.
4. Set the maximum load weight and overhang, and tick the box if boxes may lie on their side.

Formula

Boxes per pallet = boxes per layer × ⌊(maximum height − pallet height) ÷ box height⌋

Boxes per layer is the best of n × ⌊W ÷ w⌋ + ⌊(L − n × l) ÷ w⌋ × ⌊W ÷ l⌋ over every n, plus the same split across the pallet width (L and W are the pallet, l and w the box). If the weight limit is lower, the total is capped at ⌊maximum weight ÷ box weight⌋.

Example

Boxes of 16 × 12 × 10 in on a 48 × 40 in pallet with a 60 in height limit: a plain block pattern fits only 9 per layer (3 × 3). Two rows of three boxes with the 12 in side across the pallet (24 in deep) plus one row of four turned boxes (16 in deep) uses the full 40 in, giving 10 boxes per layer. With a 6 in pallet there is room for 5 layers, so the pallet holds 50 boxes, weighs 1,250 lb plus the pallet and stands 56 in tall.