A 20ft container holds 10 standard 48 × 40 pallets or 11 euro pallets on the floor. A 40ft container holds 20 standard pallets or 24–25 euro pallets. A high cube has the same floor, so the counts stay the same - it only adds height for double-stacking.
Here's the catch most charts skip: a standard container is only about 92.6 inches (2,352 mm) wide inside. Two 48″ pallets side by side need 96″, so US pallets can't be loaded two-across "turned" the way they are in a 53′ trailer. They fit only in mixed or pinwheel patterns, which leaves gaps, and that's why the 48 × 40 is noticeably less efficient in a container than the euro pallet the box was designed around.
Key takeaways
- 20ft: 10 standard 48 × 40 pallets, 11 euro pallets, 9–10 UK (1200 × 1000) pallets.
- 40ft and 40ft high cube: 20 standard pallets, 24–25 euro pallets, 21 UK pallets.
- Double-stacking is limited by the door, not the ceiling: 89.8″ (2,280 mm) in a standard box, 101.8″ (2,585 mm) in a high cube.
- On US roads, weight runs out before the container does: about 36,000 lbs of cargo in a 20′ and 44,000 lbs in a 40′ on a typical triaxle chassis.
- All wood in the box must be ISPM-15 compliant - pallets and dunnage alike.
10 / 11 | 20 / 24–25 | 92.6″ | ~44,000 lbs |
|---|---|---|---|
20ft: standard / euro pallets | 40ft: standard / euro pallets | Container inside width | Practical cargo in a 40′ on US roads |
How many pallets fit in a 40ft container?
A 40ft container holds 20 standard 48 × 40 pallets on the floor - 40 double-stacked if the loads are low and light enough - and 24–25 euro pallets (1200 × 800 mm). A 40ft high cube has the same floor, so the same counts apply.
Pallet | Size | 40ft - floor | 40ft - double-stacked | How it's loaded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Standard US (GMA) | 48 × 40 in (1219 × 1016 mm) | 20 | 40 | 5 pinwheel blocks of 4 |
Euro (EPAL 1) | 1200 × 800 mm (47.2 × 31.5 in) | 24–25 | 48–50 | One lane lengthwise, one crosswise |
UK / industrial | 1200 × 1000 mm (47.2 × 39.4 in) | 21 | 42 | Mixed orientation |
Square | 42 × 42 in (1067 × 1067 mm) | 22* | 44 | 11 rows, two across |
Asia standard | 1100 × 1100 mm (43.3 × 43.3 in) | 20* | 40 | 10 rows, two across |
Drum pallet | 48 × 48 in (1219 × 1219 mm) | 9* | 18 | One across - two need 96″ |
\* Calculated from the ISO interior (12,032 × 2,352 mm); no forwarder data. Your forwarder's load plan decides.
How many standard pallets fit in a 40ft container?
20. A "standard pallet" in the US is the 48 × 40. The 40ft container is about 474″ (12,032 mm) long and 92.6″ wide. Five pinwheel blocks - four pallets turned alternately inside an 88″ × 88″ square - use 440″ and leave about 34″, which is too short for another pallet. Some load charts quote 21, which needs pallets slightly under nominal size or overhanging floor space; plan on 20.
Why not straight or turned? Straight (40″ side across, two per row) gives 9 rows × 2 = 18. Turned (48″ side across) needs 96″ of width - the container doesn't have it. Pinwheeling, or running one lane of pallets lengthwise and one crosswise, recovers two positions.
How many euro pallets fit in a 40ft container?
24–25. Euro pallets load in two lanes: one lane with the 800 mm side along the container (15 pallets) and one with the 1200 mm side along it (10 pallets), for 25 in theory. Many load plans count 24 to leave working space at the doors.
How many UK pallets fit in a 40ft container?
21. UK and industrial pallets (1200 × 1000 mm) are loaded in mixed orientation, and 21 is the figure major forwarders such as Kuehne+Nagel use. Loaded straight, two across with the 1000 mm side across, you get 20.
How many pallets fit in a 20ft container?
A 20ft container holds 10 standard 48 × 40 pallets on the floor, or 20 double-stacked, and 11 euro pallets. The 20ft box is about 232″ (5,900 mm) long inside and the same 92.6″ wide as a 40′.
Pallet | Size | 20ft - floor | 20ft - double-stacked | How it's loaded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Standard US (GMA) | 48 × 40 in | 10 | 20 | 2 pinwheel blocks + 1 straight row |
Euro (EPAL 1) | 1200 × 800 mm | 11 | 22 | 7 lengthwise + 4 crosswise |
UK / industrial | 1200 × 1000 mm | 9–10 | 18–20 | Mixed orientation |
Square | 42 × 42 in | 10* | 20 | 5 rows, two across |
Asia standard | 1100 × 1100 mm | 10* | 20 | 5 rows, two across |
Drum pallet | 48 × 48 in | 4* | 8 | One across |
\* Calculated from the ISO interior (5,900 × 2,352 mm).
For the 48 × 40: two pinwheel blocks take 176″, leaving about 56″ - enough for one more row of two pallets loaded straight (48″ deep). That's 10.
How many euro pallets fit in a 20ft container?
11. One lane of 7 pallets with the 800 mm side along the container, and one lane of 4 with the 1200 mm side along it. Three across doesn't work: 3 × 800 mm is 2,400 mm, wider than the 2,352 mm inside.
UK pallets in a 20ft: forwarders often quote 10. By strict geometry, 1200 × 1000 mm pallets give 9 in a 5,900 mm box (5 one way + 4 the other), so confirm the count with your forwarder before you book.
40ft high cube: more height, same floor
A high cube is 1 ft taller than a standard container, but its floor is identical. The pallet count on the floor doesn't change - 20 standard pallets, 24–25 euro. What changes is what you can put on top.
The limit for a second tier is the door opening, not the ceiling. You can't lift a pallet over the door header, so a pre-built two-high stack (or a pallet placed on top of another at the door) has to pass under it:
Standard 40′ | 40′ high cube | |
|---|---|---|
Interior height | 2,395 mm (94.3″) | 2,698 mm (106.2″) |
Door height | 2,280 mm (89.8″) | 2,585 mm (101.8″) |
Max for two tiers through the door | ~89″ total | ~101″ total |
Two 48 × 40 loads fit if each unit (incl. pallet) is under about | 44″ | 50″ |
If your loaded pallets are 48″ or taller, a standard container won't take a second tier; a high cube may, if each unit stays around 50″ and the stack is stable. Leave a couple of inches of clearance for the forklift - check with the loading dock before you plan on it.
Container dimensions at a glance
Container | Inside length | Inside width | Inside height | Door (W × H) | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
20′ standard | 5,900 mm (232.3″) | 2,352 mm (92.6″) | 2,393 mm (94.2″) | 2,340 × 2,280 mm (92.1 × 89.8″) | 33.2 m³ (1,172 ft³) |
40′ standard | 12,032 mm (473.7″) | 2,352 mm (92.6″) | 2,395 mm (94.3″) | 2,340 × 2,280 mm (92.1 × 89.8″) | 67.7 m³ (2,391 ft³) |
40′ high cube | 12,032 mm (473.7″) | 2,352 mm (92.6″) | 2,698 mm (106.2″) | 2,340 × 2,585 mm (92.1 × 101.8″) | 76.3 m³ (2,694 ft³) |
45′ high cube | 13,556 mm (533.7″) | ~2,352 mm (92.6″) | ~2,698 mm (106.2″) | - | 86 m³ (3,037 ft³) |
Sources: ISO 668, carrier specifications (Maersk, CMA CGM). Exact dimensions vary slightly by manufacturer and carrier - check the container's CSC plate or the carrier's spec.
A 20′ standard container can carry a payload of about 28,200 kg (62,000 lbs) - far more than you can legally haul on US roads (see below).
45′ high cube: by the same geometry, 533.7″ takes 6 pinwheel blocks - about 24 standard 48 × 40 pallets - and about 27 euro pallets (16 + 11). Calculated, not forwarder data.
Pallet-wide containers - with about 2,420–2,444 mm inside, enough for three euro pallets or two 48″ pallets across - hold 30 euro pallets in a 40′ length. They are common in European short-sea and inland shipping but rare on US lanes, so don't count on one for US export.
Reefer containers: fewer pallets
Refrigerated containers hold fewer pallets because their insulated walls are thicker: a 40′ reefer is only about 2,284–2,290 mm (89.9–90.2″) wide inside, and its T-bar floor and airflow space at the doors cut usable length. A 40′ reefer holds about 20–23 euro pallets, depending on the unit and load plan.
For 48 × 40 pallets, a 90″ width still takes an 88″ pinwheel block, but with the shorter usable length, plan on about 18–20 standard pallets in a 40′ reefer and confirm with the carrier. Don't block the floor channels or the air return - cold air has to circulate under and around the load.
Weight: the limit you hit on US roads
A container can carry more weight than US roads will let you haul in it. Federal law caps a truck at 80,000 lbs gross vehicle weight, with 20,000 lbs per single axle and 34,000 lbs per tandem (23 CFR 658.17). Subtract the tractor, the chassis and the empty container, and on a typical triaxle chassis you have roughly:
Container | Practical cargo weight on US roads |
|---|---|
20′ | ~36,000 lbs (16,300 kg) |
40′ / 40′ high cube | ~44,000 lbs (20,000 kg) |
Varies with the tractor, chassis and state. Some states issue overweight permits for containers moving to and from ports - Texas, for example, allows +5% gross weight and +10% per axle with a permit.
What that means for pallet loads:
20 pallets × 1,500 lbs = 30,000 lbs in a 40′ - well within the limit.
20 pallets × 2,500 lbs = 50,000 lbs in a 40′ - over it. Load fewer pallets, split the shipment, or use a permitted overweight move.
10 pallets × 3,600 lbs = 36,000 lbs in a 20′ - at the limit. Dense cargo (tiles, metals, liquids) is why 20′ containers are often half empty by volume and full by weight.
Distribute weight evenly along the container floor and don't concentrate it at the door end - axle weights count, not just the total. The international CTU Code (IMO/ILO/UNECE) sets a rule of thumb: keep the center of gravity close to the middle of the container's length, with no more than 60% of the cargo weight in either half. For ocean shipping, the shipper must also declare the container's verified gross mass (VGM) before loading on the vessel, under the SOLAS convention.
For how much a pallet itself weighs and what it can carry, see pallet weight and load capacity.
How many empty pallets fit in a container?
Empty pallets are stacked in columns, so the count is floor positions × stack height. Stack height is set by the door: a stack built outside and driven in has to pass under the door header. On typical ~5″ recycled 48 × 40 stock:
Container | Floor positions | Stack height (pre-built / built in place) | Empty 48 × 40 pallets |
|---|---|---|---|
20′ standard | 10 | 17 / 18 | 170–180 |
40′ standard | 20 | 17 / 18 | 340–360 |
40′ high cube | 20 | 19–20 | 380–400 |
Calculated from door and ceiling heights on ~5″ pallets; thicker new pallets (6–6.5″) stack fewer per column. Some sources claim 500–600 empty pallets in a 40′ high cube - that isn't possible on 20 positions with the height available.
Compare that with a 53′ dry van, which carries 480–680 empty pallets - see how many pallets fit in a 53-foot trailer. Shipping empty pallets by container only makes sense when they're going overseas, and then they are cargo themselves: wood pallets shipped as freight must also be ISPM-15 treated and marked.
How to load pallets in a container
Plan the pattern before the container arrives. Decide pinwheel or mixed lanes and the number of tiers; check each unit's height against the door (89.8″ standard, 101.8″ high cube).
Check pallets and packaging. Every pallet needs a legible ISPM-15 stamp; loads should be stretch-wrapped and, if heavy, strapped.
Load heavy pallets first and spread them along the floor. Keep the center of gravity near the middle of the container's length, and put heavy units on the bottom tier.
Load from the nose to the doors, keeping pallets tight against each other and the walls.
Fill voids. Gaps left by the pinwheel pattern and at the doors let the load shift at sea. Fill them with dunnage bags (airbags), blocking or bracing.
Treat dunnage like pallets. Wood blocking and bracing are wood packaging material under ISPM-15 and must be heat treated and marked too.
Photograph the load before the doors close and record the seal number - your evidence if there's a damage claim.
Declare the weight (VGM) and make sure the gross weight works for the US road leg.
For stacking, wrapping and strapping each pallet, see how to stack, wrap and strap a pallet.
Do pallets in a container need to be heat treated?
Yes, if they're solid wood and the container is crossing a border. Under ISPM-15, wood pallets, crates and dunnage used in international shipping must be heat treated (or fumigated) and carry the IPPC mark. Plastic, presswood and plywood pallets are exempt. Shipments between the US and Canada on US- or Canadian-origin wood are also exempt. See our ISPM-15 heat treated pallet guide for the stamp and country rules.
Choosing pallets for container shipping
Export to Europe: if the buyer uses euro pallets, ship on 1200 × 800 or 1200 × 1000 - you'll fit more per container and avoid restacking at destination.
Export on 48 × 40: plan on 10 per 20′ and 20 per 40′, and budget for void fill.
Heavy freight: check the weight on US roads first - the container will almost always hold more pallets than you can legally haul.
Import side: containers arriving from overseas leave you with pallets of all sizes. Standard sizes in good condition have resale value.
Need ISPM-15 heat treated pallets for export? Buy pallets on Repackify from vetted suppliers. Unloading import containers and left with pallets? Sell them. For every pallet size and footprint, see standard pallet sizes and dimensions, and plan truck loads with the pallet loading calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How many pallets fit in a 40ft container?
20 standard 48 × 40 pallets on the floor, or 24–25 euro pallets (1200 × 800 mm). UK/industrial pallets (1200 × 1000 mm): 21. Double-stacking can double those numbers if the loads are low and light enough.
How many pallets fit in a 20ft container?
10 standard 48 × 40 pallets or 11 euro pallets on the floor. With double-stacking, 20 standard or 22 euro pallets.
How many pallets fit in a 40ft high cube container?
The same as a standard 40ft on the floor - 20 standard or 24–25 euro pallets. The high cube's taller door (101.8″ vs. 89.8″) makes double-stacking possible for units up to about 50″ tall each.
Can you double stack pallets in a container?
Yes, if the loads are stackable and the two tiers fit through the door: about 89″ total in a standard container and 101″ in a high cube. Check that the bottom load can carry the top one and that the total weight is legal for the road.
How many euro pallets fit in a 40ft container?
24–25 in a standard or high cube 40ft container, loaded in two lanes - one lengthwise and one crosswise. A 40′ pallet-wide container holds 30, but those are rare on US lanes.
How many empty pallets fit in a 40ft container?
About 340–360 empty 48 × 40 pallets in a standard 40′ and 380–400 in a 40′ high cube, on ~5″ pallets. A 53′ trailer carries 480–680.
Do pallets in a container need to be heat treated?
Yes, for international shipments. Solid-wood pallets and dunnage must meet ISPM-15 - heat treated and stamped with the IPPC mark. Plastic, presswood and plywood pallets are exempt, as is US- or Canadian-origin wood moving between the US and Canada.
How much weight can a 40ft container hold on US roads?
Roughly 44,000 lbs of cargo on a typical triaxle chassis, because the whole truck is limited to 80,000 lbs gross. A 20′ is limited to about 36,000 lbs. Some states issue overweight permits for port moves.