How many pallets fit in a 40ft container?
A 40ft container fits 23–24 Euro pallets in practice (25 is the geometric maximum) or 20 standard US pallets (48 × 40 in) in a single layer. The 40ft standard (40GP) and 40ft high cube (40HQ) have the same floor, so the single-layer count is the same. The high cube's extra height lets you double-stack pallets up to about 129 cm tall, for up to 50 Euro or 40 US pallets.
Pallets per 40ft container at a glance
| Pallet | 40GP | 40HQ | 45HQ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Euro 120 × 80 cm (47.2 × 31.5 in) | 25 | 25 | 27 |
| US 48 × 40 48 × 40 in (121.9 × 101.6 cm) | 20 | 20 | 24 |
| 120 × 100 120 × 100 cm (47.2 × 39.4 in) | 22 | 22 | 24 |
The inside length of a 40ft container is about 1203 cm. Fifteen Euro pallets placed crosswise need 1,200 cm, which leaves only 3 cm of slack. That is why most load plans quote 23 or 24 Euro pallets rather than 25: forklift clearance, pallet overhang and slight differences between containers take up that last few centimeters. The same applies to 120 × 100 cm pallets: 22 fit geometrically, and 20–21 is a safer plan.
40GP vs 40HQ for double-stacked pallets
This is where the high cube earns its price. A 40GP door opening is about 228 cm high; a 40HQ door is about 258 cm. A stack of two pallets has to pass through that opening.
| Pallet height | 40GP | 40HQ |
|---|---|---|
| 100 cm (39.4 in) | 50 double | 50 double |
| 110 cm (43.3 in) | 50 double | 50 double |
| 120 cm (47.2 in) | 25 | 50 double |
| 125 cm (49.2 in) | 25 | 50 double |
| 130 cm (51.2 in) | 25 | 25 |
So Euro pallets that are 120 cm tall ship 25 per 40GP but 50 per 40HQ. If your pallets are between about 114 and 129 cm tall, the high cube doubles your capacity.
| Pallet height | 40GP | 40HQ |
|---|---|---|
| 100 cm (39.4 in) | 40 double | 40 double |
| 110 cm (43.3 in) | 40 double | 40 double |
| 120 cm (47.2 in) | 20 | 40 double |
| 125 cm (49.2 in) | 20 | 40 double |
| 130 cm (51.2 in) | 20 | 20 |
Check the weight before you book
A 40GP carries about 26,700 kg of cargo and a 40HQ about 26,500 kg. 50 double-stacked pallets can only average 530 kg each before you reach the container limit. Road limits in many countries are lower than the container limit.
Frequently asked questions
How many Euro pallets fit in a 40ft container?
Plan on 23–24 Euro pallets in one layer. 25 fit geometrically, but that leaves only 3 cm of clearance.
How many standard pallets fit in a 40ft container?
20 standard US pallets (48 × 40 in) fit on the floor of a 40ft container in one layer.
How many pallets fit in a 40ft high cube?
The same number per layer as a 40GP, but pallets up to about 129 cm tall can be double-stacked: up to 50 Euro or 40 US pallets.
Can you double-stack 120 cm pallets in a 40ft container?
Only in a high cube. Two 120 cm pallets are 240 cm tall, which is higher than the 228 cm door of a 40GP but fits through the 258 cm door of a 40HQ.