Pallet Container Calculator

Measure the loaded unit, not just the empty pallet

A nominal pallet size is only a starting point. Measure the furthest edges of the finished load, including wrapping or overhang. A short final pallet should not inherit the height or weight of a full pallet.

The EPAL Euro pallet reference describes an empty unit of 800 x 1200 x 144 mm and approximately 25 kg. That is not a measurement of your loaded pallet. Use the actual tare and finished envelope rather than assuming every wooden pallet matches that reference.

Transfer boxes on pallets into the container planner

1. Calculate the package arrangement in the pallet calculator and wait for its server-verified result.
2. Select Plan loaded pallets in a container. The handoff uses the complete plan, not a limited results table or just one selected 3D preview.
3. Review the full and partial units. Supply the actual outside dimensions, pallet base height and tare requested for each run.
4. Review the destination’s replacement confirmation. Cancel if you want to keep its current cargo rather than replace it.
5. Select the equipment and explicitly run the container plan. Check every container, not only the first 3D view.

Transferred units remain upright, horizontal-only, non-stackable and protected against repalletizing. The full/partial inventory is retained. Any packages unplaced in the source calculation are reported separately; transferring some pallets does not mean the entire order has been placed.

The transfer subtotal adds entered package weights and pallet tare. If wrapping or other materials are missing from those inputs, they are missing from that subtotal. Correct the source data, or enter a measured complete unit manually. Do not add the same tare again.

Already have loaded pallets? Enter them directly

Enter gross unit weight and total loaded height directly, with quantity meaning pallets rather than cartons. Keep palletizing off, choose Horizontal only and This side up, and disable stacking. Manual rows do not carry the confirmed-transfer marker, so review these controls explicitly.

For mixed pallet sizes, add a row for each different envelope and rule set. Converting an inch-based footprint to centimetres does not remove cargo overhang. Use the unit shown beside each field and do not mix millimetres, centimetres and inches in one unit setting.

20ft, 40ft or high cube: what changes pallet fit?

Compare the same measured cargo and restrictions in the 20DC guide, 40DC guide and 40HC guide. In these software profiles the two 40-foot options have the same floor dimensions; the high cube adds height, not floor area. It does not automatically add non-stackable pallet positions.

A mixed horizontal floor pattern can differ from a single-orientation grid. Pallet overhang can eliminate a position that fits an empty pallet, and an internally fitting tall load can still exceed the door opening. Check the actual equipment dimensions and loading access. Carrier specifications vary between units and manufacturers.

Dividing container CBM by pallet CBM is a volume comparison, not a physical-fit proof. Weight may become limiting before space. The model also cannot infer that a lower pallet can safely carry another loaded pallet merely because there is spare height.

Worked example: 139 packages become four loaded pallets

This synthetic case uses the EUR/EPAL 120 x 80 cm profile, a 180 cm cargo-height limit, a 1000 kg cargo-weight limit, zero allowed overhang and horizontal package rotation. Load the pallet calculator example and change the first quantity to 113. All package dimensions below are in centimetres and all weights in kilograms.

The package weights total 1220 kg. For the transfer test, confirm a 120 x 80 cm outside footprint and 15 cm base height for every unit. Use the following synthetic tare values, not assumed manufacturer weights. Three rows describe four pallets because the first row represents two identical units.

Total tare is 83 kg and gross weight is 1303 kg. The four loaded envelopes occupy 6.624 m3. The tested plan places 4/4 in one 20DC with the transferred restrictions intact. This is a reproducible shipment example, not a claim that four is the container’s maximum pallet capacity or that the arrangement is approved for transport.

Read placed units, remaining cargo and each container

Count the placed and unplaced loaded units and compare their sum with the submitted quantity. Read the breakdown for every container. A completed calculation can still leave cargo unplaced or use more than one container. After any change, rerun the plan rather than using an out-of-date result.

The 3D boxes represent loaded-pallet envelopes. They are not detailed models of the packages inside each unit, pallet strength, wrapping performance or restraint design. Review centre-of-gravity estimates and warnings as planning information, not certification.

The known cargo-and-pallet subtotal is not the packed container’s verified gross mass. IMO’s VGM guidance includes the required verification process and mass components, including container tare and relevant packing/securing materials. This tool does not issue a VGM certificate or replace the responsible shipper’s checks.

Pallet loading questions

How many Euro pallets fit in a 20ft container?

Test the quantity and complete dimensions of your loaded Euro pallets. A published floor count assumes a particular footprint, floor pattern and clearances; it is not a guarantee for an overhanging, tall or heavy shipment. Read the placed count together with the container count.

Will a 40ft high cube hold more pallets than a standard 40ft?

Not necessarily. Extra height does not expand the floor. The transferred units in this workflow cannot be stacked, so additional headroom alone is not a reason to claim extra pallet positions.

Can I mix Euro, industrial and custom pallets?

Yes, represent their actual loaded envelopes in separate rows and use the correct quantity and gross weight for each. Review the resulting arrangement rather than multiplying one nominal floor count.

Should I add pallet height and tare again after transfer?

No. Confirmed transfer already includes the entered base height in total height and tare in gross weight. Check the confirmation values; adding them again would count them twice.

Can I double-stack transferred pallets?

Not in this protected handoff: transferred units remain non-stackable and upright. Physical strength, stability and securing require a separate assessment; a geometric height allowance is not permission to double-stack.

References and scope

Named technical references: EPAL UK & Ireland, EPAL Euro Pallet (EPAL 1); Hapag-Lloyd, Container Offerings; IMO, Verification of the gross mass of a packed container. These references explain empty-pallet specifications, equipment variability and VGM scope. They do not approve this software or the example load.

Editorial and example review: 6 October 2026. Calculator 11.63.53 and Pallet Calculator 3.4.3. Entered test data and current software behaviour are distinct from measured cargo and operational loading approval.