How Many Pallets Fit in a 40ft Container? (2026 Complete Guide)

Standard pallets (120×100cm) in a 40ft container

Euro pallets (120×80cm)

110×110cm pallets

2×

a 20ft container

A 40ft container fits exactly double the pallets of a 20ft container — 20 standard pallets using simple grid loading, which is already the optimal layout for this size. Unlike the 20ft where pinwheel loading adds 2 extra pallets, a 40ft container's dimensions align perfectly with 10 × 2 rows of standard 120×100cm pallets.

40ft Container Pallet Count by Type

Container Type	Standard (120×100cm)	Euro (120×80cm)	110×110cm
40ft Standard	20 pallets	24 pallets	20 pallets
40ft High Cube	20 pallets	24 pallets	20 pallets
40ft Reefer HC	19 pallets	23 pallets	19 pallets

High Cube vs Standard: Both hold the same number of pallets on the floor — the High Cube is 31cm taller (270cm vs 239cm), allowing taller pallet stacks. If your products can be stacked higher, the High Cube gives you more cargo volume at a similar freight cost.

40ft Container Internal Dimensions

Container	Length	Width	Height	CBM	Max Payload
40ft Standard	1203 cm	235 cm	239 cm	~67 m³	26,500 kg
40ft High Cube	1203 cm	235 cm	270 cm	~76 m³	26,460 kg
40ft Reefer HC	1159 cm	229 cm	256 cm	~67 m³	27,700 kg

Why 40ft Gets 20 Pallets (Not 22)

The 40ft container floor is 1203cm × 235cm. With 120×100cm pallets:

Along length: floor(1203 ÷ 120) = 10 columns × 120cm = 1200cm used (3cm remaining)
Along width: floor(235 ÷ 100) = 2 rows × 100cm = 200cm used (35cm remaining)
Total: 10 × 2 = 20 pallets

The remaining 35cm of width is not wide enough for another pallet (needs 100cm), and the remaining 3cm length obviously fits nothing. So 20 is the maximum regardless of loading orientation.

20ft vs 40ft — Pallets and Cost Comparison

	20ft Container	40ft Container
Standard pallets	10	20 (exactly double)
Euro pallets	11	24
Floor area	13.7 m²	28.2 m²
Volume	~33 CBM	~67 CBM
Freight cost ratio	1×	~1.2–1.3× (not double)
Best for	Small shipments, samples	Full production runs

Cost tip: A 40ft container typically costs only 20–30% more than a 20ft container but carries double the pallets. If you can fill a 40ft, it is almost always cheaper per pallet than using two 20ft containers.

How Many Cartons Fit on Each Pallet?

With 20 standard pallets (120×100cm) and a typical stack height of 180cm, the number of cartons per pallet depends entirely on your box dimensions. For example:

Carton Size	Per Layer	Layers (180cm)	Per Pallet	Full 40ft (20 pallets)
30×24×13 cm	15	13	195	3,900 CTNs
40×30×25 cm	9	7	63	1,260 CTNs
50×40×30 cm	6	6	36	720 CTNs
60×40×40 cm	5	4	20	400 CTNs

Use ContainerLoad to calculate the exact count for your specific carton dimensions.

Tips for Maximising a 40ft Container

Use 40ft High Cube for tall cargo. The extra 31cm height allows an extra layer of cartons on each pallet — potentially 10–15% more cargo for a minimal freight premium.
Balance weight across pallets. A 40ft container has a 26,500kg payload. With 20 pallets that is 1,325kg average per pallet. Heavy cargo may be limited by weight before volume.
Plan door-end placement carefully. The last 2 pallets near the container doors should be easily accessible if the consignee needs to unload in sequence.
Consider double-stacking for light cargo. Products like apparel, empty bottles, or foam goods can often be double-stacked, doubling your effective pallet capacity to 40 slots.

Get the Exact Count for Your Carton Size

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many pallets fit in a 40ft high cube container?

The same number as a standard 40ft — 20 standard pallets or 24 Euro pallets. The High Cube has the same floor dimensions but is 31cm taller (270cm vs 239cm), allowing taller pallet stacks but not more pallets.

Can you fit 21 pallets in a 40ft container?

Some sources claim 21 using pinwheel loading. In practice, with standard 120×100cm pallets and a 1203cm floor, the floor divides perfectly into 10×2=20 with virtually no space remaining. 20 is the standard count.

How many kg can a 40ft container hold?

A 40ft standard container has a maximum payload of 26,500kg. With 20 pallets that allows 1,325kg per pallet on average. Actual limits may vary by shipping line.

What is the CBM of a 40ft container?

A 40ft standard container has approximately 67 CBM (cubic metres) of internal volume. A 40ft High Cube has approximately 76 CBM due to its greater height.