How Many Boxes Fit on a Pallet?
Boxes per pallet comes down to two numbers: how many cartons tile onto the deck, and how many layers you can stack. Here is the math, with a worked example.
Boxes per pallet = boxes per layer × number of layers. Work out how many cartons tile onto the pallet deck (trying both orientations), then divide your usable stack height by the carton height for the number of layers. For example, 40 × 30 × 20 cm cartons on a EUR pallet stacked to 1.2 m give 8 per layer × 5 layers = 40 boxes.
The two-step formula
Every pallet-loading question reduces to:
boxes per pallet = boxes per layer × layers
Boxes per layer is how many cartons fit on the flat deck of the pallet. You try the carton both ways round (length-aligned and rotated 90°) and keep whichever fits more.
Layersis your stack height limit, minus the pallet's own deck height, divided by the carton height — rounded down to a whole number.
Worked example
Cartons of 40 × 30 × 20 cm, on a EUR pallet (1.20 × 0.80 m deck, ~0.14 m base), stacked to a 1.2 m height limit:
| Step | Calculation | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Layer, orientation A | ⌊1.20/0.40⌋ × ⌊0.80/0.30⌋ = 3 × 2 | 6 boxes |
| Layer, orientation B | ⌊1.20/0.30⌋ × ⌊0.80/0.40⌋ = 4 × 2 | 8 boxes |
| Boxes per layer | take the denser layout | 8 boxes |
| Usable height | 1.20 − 0.144 (pallet base) | 1.056 m |
| Layers | ⌊1.056 / 0.20⌋ | 5 layers |
| Boxes per pallet | 8 × 5 | 40 boxes |
So 40 cartons fit on the pallet. Rotating the carton (orientation B) gained two boxes per layer over the obvious layout — which is why it always pays to check both.
Common pallet sizes
The pallet footprint sets your boxes per layer, so start with the right one:
| Pallet | Footprint | Floor positions (20ft / 40ft) |
|---|---|---|
| EUR / EPAL | 1.20 × 0.80 m | 11 / 24 |
| GMA (North America) | 48 × 40 in (1.219 × 1.016 m) | 10 / 20 |
| EUR2 | 1.20 × 1.00 m | 10 / 21 |
From pallet to container
Once you know boxes per pallet, total container capacity is boxes per pallet × pallet positions. A 20ft holds about 11 EUR pallets, so 40 boxes per pallet works out to roughly 440 cartons by this method. That is often more realistic than a raw volume estimate, because it respects how goods actually stack.
To check the volume side, see how many CBM fit in a container, and for the cube of a single carton, read what CBM means in shipping.
Frequently asked questions
How many boxes fit on a pallet?
It depends on the box size and pallet. Work out boxes per layer (how many cartons tile onto the deck) and multiply by the number of layers you can stack within the height limit. For example, 40 × 30 × 20 cm cartons on a EUR pallet stacked to 1.2 m give 8 per layer × 5 layers = 40 boxes.
What is the formula for boxes per pallet?
Boxes per pallet = boxes per layer × layers. Boxes per layer is the better of two deck orientations; layers is the usable stack height (total height minus the pallet base) divided by the carton height, rounded down.
What size is a standard pallet?
The two most common are the EUR/EPAL pallet at 1.20 × 0.80 m and the North American GMA pallet at 48 × 40 in (1.219 × 1.016 m). The EUR2 (1.20 × 1.00 m) is also widely used.
How high can you stack a pallet?
A common working limit is about 1.2 m of cargo for a single-stacked pallet and up to ~2.2 m when a pallet fills the height of a container. Subtract the pallet's own deck height (about 12–15 cm) before dividing by your carton height.
How many pallets fit in a container?
A 20ft container takes about 10–11 EUR pallets on the floor and a 40ft about 20–25, depending on the pallet footprint. Multiply that by boxes per pallet for total carton capacity.
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