Ever tried fitting pallets into a 20ft container and realised it’s like playing an oversized game of Tetris?
How Many Pallets Fit in a 20ft Shipping Container?: It sounds simple: 20ft container, pallets inside, job done. But anyone who’s actually tried to load one knows it’s not that straightforward. Pallets come in different sizes, containers have internal dimensions that don’t line up perfectly with them, and suddenly your “perfect plan” leaves awkward gaps, wasted space, and a headache for the poor soul trying to load it all.
In the UK, the most common pallet type is the UK Standard (1,200mm x 1,000mm). But if you’re exporting to Europe, you’ll encounter the Euro Pallet (1,200mm x 800mm). Ship something across the Atlantic, and the Americans will insist on their GMA Pallet (1,219mm x 1,016mm). Each type changes the magic number of pallets you can fit into your trusty 20ft container.
So how many can you actually squeeze in? Let’s run through the maths, the methods, and the reality checks—because in container logistics, every millimetre matters.
Internal Dimensions of a 20ft Container
Before counting pallets, let’s look at the inside of a 20ft standard container:
- Internal length: 5.9m (19ft 4in)
- Internal width: 2.35m (7ft 8in)
- Internal height: 2.39m (7ft 10in)
- Total volume: ~33 cubic metres
Sounds roomy, right? Until you start factoring in the awkwardness of pallets and the fact that steel walls don’t flex to accommodate your “just one more” approach.
Pallet Types and Capacities
1. UK Standard Pallets (1,200mm x 1,000mm)
- Can fit 10 pallets if loaded in a single layer, floor to floor.
- Arranged in two rows of five, using up most of the internal footprint.
- Stacking doubles capacity to around 20 pallets, assuming goods allow.
2. Euro Pallets (1,200mm x 800mm)
- Can fit 11 pallets in a single layer, with a tight “pinwheel” arrangement.
- Stacked, that’s around 22 pallets.
- More efficient for European transport, as they align better with container width.
3. US GMA Pallets (1,219mm x 1,016mm)
- Can fit 9 pallets in a single layer.
- Stacked, that’s 18 pallets.
- Slightly less efficient than UK or Euro sizes because of the width mismatch.
Why It’s Never Exact
Theoretically, you can do the maths and know exactly how many pallets fit. In practice, you’ll find:
- Overhang: Pallets aren’t always perfectly sized. A few millimetres of wood sticking out can ruin your arrangement.
- Packaging: Boxes or goods don’t always sit flush, creating wasted gaps.
- Weight distribution: You can’t just cram pallets in willy-nilly; they need balancing to avoid tipping or damaging goods.
- Stacking limits: Not all goods can be stacked safely. Imagine piling 10 pallets of champagne flutes on top of each other… disaster.
Pallet Stacking Strategies
Loading a container is half science, half art:
- Straight Stacking: Rows of pallets aligned neatly. Simple, efficient, but sometimes leaves wasted space.
- Pinwheel Loading: Alternating pallet orientation (like a windmill). Uses space more efficiently, especially for Euro pallets.
- Tetris Method: Trial and error with a forklift, moving pallets around until everything fits—common on Friday afternoons when the loading team just want to go home.
Weight Considerations
A 20ft container has:
- Tare weight (empty): ~2,300kg
- Max payload: ~28,000kg
- Gross weight limit: 30,480kg
This means you can technically load pallets until you hit the volume or the weight limit—whichever comes first. Heavy goods (tiles, machinery) will hit the weight cap long before the space is filled. Light goods (plastic cups, cushions) max out the volume.
Case Study: The Food Distributor
A UK food distributor needed to send sauces to Germany. Their goods came on UK standard pallets. The plan: fit 10 pallets in a 20ft container.
On loading day, the problem appeared—sauce cartons stacked on the pallets overhung slightly, leaving no room for pallet number 10. The container could only fit 9 pallets comfortably.
Solution? They switched to Euro pallets (1,200mm x 800mm). Suddenly, the load fitted neatly, with 11 pallets making the trip. The distributor saved money by maximising the container’s footprint, and deliveries ran smoothly.
Lesson: pallet type matters just as much as container size.
“Loading a container with pallets is like packing for a holiday—you’ll always have one extra pair of shoes that just won’t fit.”
Planning a shipment and not sure how many pallets you can fit in your container? Contact Cubus Containers today. We’ll help you maximise every inch of space, saving you money and headaches.
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