Blog · Efficiency
How many pallets fit in a 20ft and 40ft container
A 40-foot container holds about 23–25 EUR pallets (1,200 × 800 mm) or 20–21 industrial pallets (1,200 × 1,000 mm) in a single layer; a 20-foot, about 11 EUR or 9 industrial pallets. Calculated from shipping lines' interior dimensions and EN 13698-1 and ISO 6780 pallet sizes: clearance, the door and the load change it, and weight usually limits first.
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In short
- 20′: about 11 EUR pallets or 9 industrial pallets (1,200 × 1,000 mm), in a single layer.
- 40′ and 40′ HC: about 23–25 EUR pallets or 20–21 industrial pallets; the High Cube gains height, not floor space.
- It is calculated with the shipping lines' interior dimensions and the pallet dimensions of EN 13698-1 and ISO 6780: it changes with clearance, the door and the load.
- With heavy goods, the payload runs out before the floor is full.
How many pallets fit in a 40ft and a 20ft container?
A 40-foot container holds about 23–25 EUR pallets or 20–21 industrial pallets (1,200 × 1,000 mm) in a single layer; a 20-foot container, about 11 EUR pallets or 9 industrial pallets. This is calculated with the shipping lines’ interior dimensions (Hapag-Lloyd, Maersk) and the pallet dimensions of EN 13698-1 and ISO 6780, not the exact figure for your load.
| Container | Approx. interior (L × W × H) | EUR pallets (1,200 × 800 mm) | Industrial pallets (1,200 × 1,000 mm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20′ Dry Van | 5.90 × 2.35 × 2.39 m | 11 | 9 |
| 40′ Dry Van | 12.03 × 2.35 × 2.39 m | 23–25 | 20–21 |
| 40′ High Cube | 12.03 × 2.35 × 2.69–2.70 m | 23–25 | 20–21 |
Calculated in a single layer with the shipping lines’ interior dimensions (Hapag-Lloyd, Maersk) and the pallet dimensions of EN 13698-1 (EUR pallet) and ISO 6780 (1,200 × 1,000 mm); the real figure depends on clearance, the door and the load. Internal dimensions: shipping line specifications; external: ISO 668; pallets: EN 13698-1 and ISO 6780. For a quick lookup, use the pallets per container calculator.
Same width, twice the length: 11 EUR pallets in the 20′ and 23–25 in the 40′
- 20′ interior
- 5.90 × 2.35 m
- 40′ interior
- 12.03 × 2.35 m
Why doesn’t a 40′ High Cube take more pallets than a 40′?
Because it has the same floor. The High Cube is about 30 cm taller (about 2.69–2.70 m inside, compared with 2.39 m), but just as long and as wide. In a single layer, the same number of pallets fits.
The extra height is for tall goods or light, bulky goods, or for stacking when the cargo allows it. If your pallets are low and cannot be stacked, a standard 40′ gives you the same number of positions.
Why is the figure a range and not an exact number?
Because it depends on things that change with every load:
- Clearance. The interior varies slightly by manufacturer, and not all pallets measure exactly their nominal size: cargo that overhangs the pallet takes up space.
- The door. Every pallet has to go through it. In a standard 20′ or 40′ it is about 2.34 × 2.28 m, and about 2.58–2.60 m high in a High Cube. A pallet can fit inside and still not go through the door.
- The load. How the pallets are arranged, whether they are mixed with other packages, or whether space has to be left to secure them.
- The container type. A refrigerated container has thicker walls because of the insulation and less usable space than a dry container of the same size, so fewer pallets fit. Check its internal dimensions on the 20′ reefer and 40′ reefer pages.
That is why the figure helps you estimate how many containers you need, not finalise the load plan.
Which limit comes first, weight or space?
With heavy goods, weight. Each container has a maximum payload (its maximum gross mass minus the tare), and it cannot be exceeded even if there is space left.
The typical payload is about 28,100–30,200 kg in a 20′ and 26,500–28,800 kg in a 40′; the volume, tare and other figures for each container are in the 20ft vs 40ft comparison.
Do the maths with your own data. In a 40′ with a 26,500 kg payload and 24 EUR pallets, the average comes to about 1,100 kg per pallet (26,500 ÷ 24). If your pallets are heavier, the container reaches its limit before the floor is full. In a 20′ with 28,100 kg and 11 EUR pallets, the average rises to about 2,550 kg per pallet.
In other words: the 40′ doubles the volume of the 20′ with a similar payload. Heavy, dense goods are better suited to a 20′; light, bulky goods, to a 40′ or a 40′ High Cube. The exact figure for each unit is on its CSC plate.
Can pallets be stacked inside the container?
Yes, if the pallets can take a load on top and the internal height allows it; the figure can then be up to double. But weight still decides, and stacking does not change the payload.
When stacking, follow the distribution guidance of the CTU Code: heavy items at the bottom and never on top of light cargo.
How do you know whether your pallet load complies?
Counting how many pallets fit is the first step; the second is checking that the load can ship as it is. Before you book, check the total weight and the VGM with the VGM calculator and the VGM guide, and check that the load is distributed and secured.
With SendContainer you can validate your pallet load against the weight and stowage rules and see whether it has any warnings, each with its reason. Validation uses the data you enter: it does not replace the scales.
Validate this type of load: Validate a container load.
Sources
- Hapag-Lloyd: Container Specification (includes the ISO 668 table of external dimensions)
- ONE: Container Information (dry, reefer, open top and flat rack)
- Maersk: equipment specifications (dry)
- ISO 668: dimensions of series 1 containers
- EN 13698-1: EUR pallet, 1,200 × 800 mm
- ISO 6780: 1,200 × 1,000 mm pallet
- MSC.1/Circ.1497: full text of the CTU Code
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