Cartons per layer
Pallet length divided by carton length, times pallet width divided by carton width, rounded down. The calculator also tries the carton turned 90 degrees and keeps the better result. Mixed pinwheel patterns can add a few percent.
Freight planning
Pallet and Container Load Calculator
Enter your carton size and weight, pick a pallet, set a maximum stack height, and get cartons per layer, layers per pallet, cartons per pallet, loaded pallet weight, and a planning count of pallets and cartons per 20 ft, 40 ft and 40 ft high-cube container.
Free to use, no login, nothing you type leaves your browser.
50-unit minimum
Free dieline and proof
Free US shipping
48 x 40in GMA pallet
10 / 20pallets per 20 / 40 ft
Freedieline + proof
50unit minimum
Key Takeaway
The Pallet and Container Load Calculator estimates how many cartons fit on a pallet and in a shipping container from the carton's outside dimensions and weight. It tests both carton orientations on the pallet footprint (48 x 40 in GMA, 48 x 48 in, 1200 x 800 mm EUR, 1200 x 1000 mm ISO, or a custom size), fits whole layers under the stack height you set, and reports cartons per layer, layers, cartons per pallet and loaded weight, then pallets per 20 ft, 40 ft and 40 ft high-cube container using typical single-stacked loading. It is a planning estimate, not a load plan, and forwarders confirm final counts. Teal Packaging, a US-based packaging supplier, custom prints shipping cartons from a 50-unit minimum with free dieline design and free US shipping.
Questions or ready for a quote? Contact Teal Packaging at info@tealpackaging.com or (224) 546-8325.
Pallet footprints and container interiors
| Pallet | Footprint | Typical pallets per 20 ft / 40 ft |
|---|---|---|
| GMA (North America) | 48 x 40 in | 10 / 20 to 21 |
| Square | 48 x 48 in | straight fit only (one across the container width) |
| EUR (EPAL) | 1200 x 800 mm (47.2 x 31.5 in) | 11 / 24 to 25 |
| ISO industrial | 1200 x 1000 mm (47.2 x 39.4 in) | 10 / 20 |
| Container | Interior (L x W x H) | Door height |
|---|---|---|
| 20 ft dry | 232 x 92 x 94 in | about 90 in |
| 40 ft dry | 474 x 92 x 94 in | about 90 in |
| 40 ft high-cube | 474 x 92 x 106 in | about 100 in |
The typical counts assume single-stacked pallets loaded in the mixed orientations forwarders use. The calculator also shows a straight-fit count from the container's interior dimensions, which is lower for 48 x 40 in pallets because two of them do not fit side by side lengthwise. Confirm the final load plan with your forwarder.
How the pallet math works
The calculator uses whole-carton fits so every number is one you can reproduce by hand.
Layers per pallet
The stack height limit minus the pallet's own height (about 5.5 in for a GMA pallet), divided by carton height, rounded down. Most US receivers and LTL carriers work with 48 to 60 in total heights; check the limit your receiver sets.
Pallets per container
A 20 ft dry container typically takes 10 GMA pallets single-stacked and a 40 ft takes 20 to 21; 1200 x 800 mm EUR pallets fit 11 and 24 to 25. If loaded pallets are short enough to double-stack, those counts can double.
Then quote the exact box
Your numbers carry straight into the quote. A free dieline and a digital proof come back before anything prints, from a 50-unit minimum.
Weight limits matter too
A loaded pallet that is too heavy gets refused at the dock. The calculator shows loaded weight so you can spot the problem before the carrier does.
Use outside dimensions
Layers only fit as calculated if you enter the carton's outside size: inside size plus about 1/8 in per wall for B-flute.
No overhang
Cartons that hang past the pallet edge get crushed and refused, so the calculator never allows overhang.
From a load plan to a quote
Send the carton inside size, weight and quantity; Teal returns a free dieline and a digital proof before printing, from a 50-unit minimum.
Quote this spec
Your result is already filled in below. Add quantity and where to send the proof.
Link to this tool
Free to use and free to link. Paste this into a resource page, a course, a blog post or a forwarder's help center.
Or cite it as: Pallet and Container Load Calculator, Teal Packaging, https://tealpackaging.com/pallet-and-container-load-calculator/
Questions buyers ask
How many boxes fit on a standard pallet?
It depends on the carton. On a 48 x 40 in GMA pallet, 12 x 10 x 8 in cartons fit 16 per layer (4 x 4) and 6 layers under a 54 in stack height, so 96 cartons. Enter your own size above for the exact count.
How many pallets fit in a 20 ft container?
Typically 10 standard 48 x 40 in pallets or 11 EUR 1200 x 800 mm pallets, single-stacked. A 40 ft container takes 20 to 21 standard pallets or 24 to 25 EUR pallets. Double-stacking short pallets can double these numbers.
What stack height should I use?
48 in is a safe default for LTL freight and most retail receivers, and 60 in is common for floor-loaded warehouses. A standard container's door opening is about 90 in high and a high-cube about 100 in, less the pallet. Confirm the limit your receiver specifies.
Does the calculator account for pallet weight limits?
It shows loaded weight (cartons plus about 40 lb for a wood GMA pallet) so you can compare it with your receiver's limit. It does not stop at a limit because limits vary by pallet grade and carrier; many receivers cap loaded pallets between 1,500 and 2,500 lb.
Can Teal build the order to my pallet spec?
Add the receiver's pallet type, stack height and labeling rules to your quote request so the shipment can be planned to them. Custom carton orders ship free within the US, with a free dieline and a digital proof before printing, from a 50-unit minimum.
