Pallet Loading
Pallets per container
(T11, T12, EUR)
Pallet count is determined by pallet footprint and container floor area. From Korea/Asia's T11 standard to Europe's EUR pallet, here's how many fit in each container, single-layer.
Standard pallet sizes
Common pallet standards by region
| Type | Size (L×W) | Common region |
|---|---|---|
| T11 | 1100 × 1100 | Korea, Japan, wider Asia standard |
| T12 (ISO) | 1200 × 1000 | North America, mixed export use |
| EUR / EPAL | 1200 × 800 | European standard |
Pallets per container
Single-layer (1-tier) floor loading
| Pallet | 20ft | 40ft | 40ft HC |
|---|---|---|---|
| T11 (1100×1100) | 10 | 20 | 20 |
| T12 (1200×1000) | 9 | 20–21 | 20–21 |
| EUR (1200×800) | 11 | 24–25 | 24–25 |
A 40ft HC has the same floor area as a standard 40ft, so single-layer counts are identical — but its extra internal height lets you double-stack short cargo for up to double the quantity.
Conditions for double-stacking
Check three things before stacking 2-high
Height
Two stacked pallets combined must fit within the container's internal height (239cm for 40ft, 269cm for HC).
Load bearing
The bottom pallet's cargo needs to withstand the weight of the pallet stacked on top (compressive strength).
Weight limit
Even with more pieces from stacking, you still can't exceed the container's max payload.
When the table does not hold
The counts above assume cargo sits within the pallet footprint. In practice overhang changes them. If the pallet is 1100 × 1100 but the cartons reach 1150, the calculation has to run on the cargo outline rather than the pallet. That is usually where one unit per row disappears.
It can work the other way too. Wrapped loads sometimes come in tighter than the nominal size, and an extra row becomes possible — worth re-checking with measured figures when the count is tight.
Double stacking has one more hurdle after height, load bearing and payload are all satisfied: can the forklift place the upper pallet safely. Stacking deep inside a container needs both mast height and working clearance, and that is a site question rather than a calculation.
How the numbers are worked out — why a 20ft takes 9 T12 pallets
Pallet counts don't come from dividing floor area by pallet area. They come from how many lanes the container width (about 2,350 mm) can be split into, and how many pallets fit end-to-end in each lane along the length (about 5,890 mm). Mixing orientations — short side across in one lane, long side across in the other — sometimes gains a pallet.
| Pallet | 20ft layout (2,350 mm wide × 5,890 mm long) | Count |
|---|---|---|
| T11 1100×1100 | 2 lanes 1,100 wide × 5 per lane (5,890 ÷ 1,100 = 5) | 10 |
| T12 1200×1000 | 1 lane 1,000 wide × 4 (5,890 ÷ 1,200 = 4) + 1 lane 1,200 wide × 5 (5,890 ÷ 1,000 = 5) — total width 2,200 mm | 9 |
| EUR 1200×800 | 1 lane 800 wide × 4 + 1 lane 1,200 wide × 7 (5,890 ÷ 800 = 7) — total width 2,000 mm | 11 |
Ten T12 pallets would need five per lane in both lanes — 1,200 mm × 5 = 6,000 mm — but a 20ft is only about 5,890 mm long inside. Tables quoting "10 T12 pallets in a 20ft" are common, but the geometric maximum is 9.
Area-based estimates mislead. A 20ft floor is about 13.8 m² and a T12 pallet is 1.2 m², which suggests 11.5 — but the leftover space is scattered in a 150 mm strip across the width and short gaps along the length, where no pallet fits. In a 40ft, T12 is 22 in theory (a lane of 10 plus a lane of 12), but the lane of 12 runs 12,000 mm against 12,030 mm inside — 30 mm of slack — so 20–21 is the practical figure.
Simulate your pallet or box load directly
Enter your pallet or box dimensions and get an automatic piece count and layout drawing per container — both single- and multi-layer supported.
Open the Loading SimulatorFAQ
Common questions about pallet loading
How many T11 pallets fit in a 20ft container?
About 10, single-layer — 2 across the 2.35m width and 5 rows along the 5.89m length.
How many EUR pallets fit in a 40ft?
24–25, single-layer. Mixing orientations (a pinwheel layout) can get you up to 25.
Does double-stacking really double the count?
Only if height, load-bearing and weight limits are all satisfied. When conditions allow, quantity does double — but heavy cargo tends to hit the weight limit first.