How many boxes fit on a pallet?
It depends on the carton size and the maximum load height. With a total height of 1.5 m and no overhang, a Euro pallet (120 × 80 cm) holds 12 cartons of 60 × 40 × 40 cm (4 per layer, 3 layers) or 48 cartons of 40 × 30 × 20 cm. A US pallet (48 × 40 in) loaded to 60 in holds 15 and 60 respectively.
Cartons per pallet by carton size
| Carton | Euro, 1.5 m | Euro, 1.8 m | US, 60 in | US, 72 in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 × 30 × 30 cm 11.8 × 11.8 × 11.8 in | 32 | 40 | 48 | 60 |
| 40 × 30 × 20 cm 15.7 × 11.8 × 7.9 in | 48 | 64 | 60 | 80 |
| 40 × 30 × 30 cm 15.7 × 11.8 × 11.8 in | 32 | 40 | 40 | 50 |
| 40 × 40 × 40 cm 15.7 × 15.7 × 15.7 in | 18 | 24 | 18 | 24 |
| 50 × 40 × 30 cm 19.7 × 15.7 × 11.8 in | 16 | 20 | 24 | 30 |
| 60 × 40 × 30 cm 23.6 × 15.7 × 11.8 in | 16 | 20 | 20 | 25 |
| 60 × 40 × 40 cm 23.6 × 15.7 × 15.7 in | 12 | 16 | 15 | 20 |
How to work it out
- Cartons per layer: fit the carton footprint onto the pallet, trying both orientations and mixed rows. 60 × 40 cm cartons fill a Euro pallet exactly: 2 × 2 = 4 per layer.
- Layers: subtract the pallet deck from the maximum height, divide by the carton height, round down.
- Multiply and check the weight against the pallet rating (a Euro pallet is commonly rated around 1,500 kg for evenly spread loads) and what your carrier accepts.
Pallet height limits
Many warehouses cap pallets at 1.5–1.8 m. For containers, the limit is the door: to double-stack pallets, keep each loaded pallet under about 114 cm (standard) or 129 cm (high cube). See pallets in a 40ft container.
Column or interlocking stacking?
Column stacking keeps the full strength of the cartons; interlocking makes the pallet more stable but weaker. See pallet stacking patterns for when to use each, and pallet weight for how much a loaded pallet may weigh.
Frequently asked questions
How many 60 × 40 × 40 cm boxes fit on a Euro pallet?
12 boxes to a total height of 1.5 m (4 per layer, 3 layers), or 16 to 1.8 m.
How high can you stack a pallet?
Common limits are 1.5–1.8 m including the pallet, but it depends on the warehouse, the carrier and carton strength.
Should cartons overhang the pallet?
No. Overhang damages cartons, weakens stacking strength and makes the pallet footprint larger in the container.