Pallets per Truck Calculator
Find how many pallets fit in a 53 ft or 48 ft trailer, pup or shipping container: straight vs turned loading, double stacking and a payload check.
Estimate pallet capacity from inside dimensions, selected row and lane layouts, stacking height and payload. The result is a geometric planning count; actual loading also depends on access, securement, axle weights and load stability.
How to use this tool
- Pick the trailer or container, or choose Custom and enter its inside size.
- Pick the pallet size and add any overhang.
- Enter the loaded pallet height and whether pallets may be stacked.
- Enter the weight of one loaded pallet and your maximum cargo weight.
Formula
Floor positions = max over patterns of (straight rows × pallets across) + (turned rows × pallets across)
Straight means the pallet's first side (48 in on a 48 × 40) runs along the trailer. A straight row uses 48 in of length and holds ⌊width ÷ 40⌋ pallets; a turned row uses 40 in and holds ⌊width ÷ 48⌋. Lanes along the length are tried too, which is how a 40′ container takes 20 US pallets. The load is the smaller of the space count and ⌊payload ÷ weight per pallet⌋.
Example
A 53′ dry van is about 630 in long and 100 in wide inside. With 48 × 40 pallets loaded straight, 630 ÷ 48 = 13 rows of two, or 26 pallets. Turned, 630 ÷ 40 = 15 rows and two 48 in sides fit in 96 in of width, so the floor takes 30 pallets. At 1,200 lb each that is 36,000 lb, inside a 44,000 lb payload. At 1,500 lb each the weight limit allows only 29 pallets.
Frequently asked questions
How many pallets fit on a 53-foot trailer?
With the displayed 630 × 100 in preset and no gap, the tested layouts give 26 straight or 30 turned pallets per layer. Other trailers, doors and freight can change this count.
How many pallets fit in a shipping container?
The displayed presets yield 20 standard pallets in a 40-foot container and 9 in a 20-foot container. Euro pallets yield 11 and 25 respectively. These are layout estimates using illustrative inside dimensions, not universal container capacities.
What does straight vs turned loading mean?
Straight puts the pallet's long side along the trailer, turned puts it across. Turned fits more 48 × 40 pallets in a 53′ van because two 48 in sides use 96 of the 100 in width.
Why does my count come out lower in practice?
Door frames, posts, handling access and cartons can reduce usable space. Measure the equipment and add the clearance your loading plan requires. The presets and gaps are not loading specifications.
Last updated: 2026-10-30