Loaded pallets: the standard numbers
These figures are for the standard 48 x 40 inch pallet, loaded one layer high on the floor. A 53-foot dry van trailer holds 26 pallets loaded straight, in two rows of 13. Turning some of the pallets sideways, often called pinwheeling, can bring that to 28 or 30. A 48-foot trailer holds 24 loaded straight.
A 24 to 26 foot straight truck, the kind often used for local deliveries, holds about 12. For ocean freight, a 20-foot container holds 10 standard pallets and a 40-foot container holds 20 or 21. Because containers are narrower inside than a trailer, the smaller 1200 x 800 mm Euro pallet fits better: about 11 in a 20-foot container and 23 to 25 in a 40-foot.
What changes the count
Weight usually runs out before floor space does. A trailer full of dense product such as canned goods, liquids, or stone will reach its legal weight well before all 26 positions are used, so confirm the payload limit with your carrier rather than counting positions.
Height matters too. If your product is light and sturdy enough to double-stack, the same trailer carries twice as many pallets. Overhang works the other way: product that sticks out past the edge of the pallet takes up the space of a larger pallet and is more likely to be damaged.
Pallet size changes everything. A 48 x 48 or 42 x 42 pallet has a different footprint, so the numbers above do not apply. If you use a non-standard size, work out the count from the inside dimensions of the trailer or container.
Empty pallets: how many make a truckload?
If you are buying pallets rather than shipping on them, the question is how many empty pallets fit. Empty 48 x 40 pallets are stacked about 20 to 22 high, and a 53-foot trailer takes 26 stacks, so a full truckload is roughly 500 to 570 pallets depending on how tall each pallet is.
That is why suppliers often quote in truckloads. If you use fewer than that, you can order a part load; if you use more, a standing weekly or monthly delivery usually works out better than large one-off orders that take over your yard.
Getting the right number for your order
When you ask for a quote, give the pallet size, roughly how many you use in a week or a month, and where they are going. Magic Pallets delivers across Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley, and we can help you work out a sensible order size for your space and your shipping volume.