Pallet Loading Calculator
Enter total carton quantity, carton dimensions, pallet size and maximum stack height to calculate how many pallets are needed for a full shipment and average pallet utilisation. Automatically tries both carton orientations.
Enter total carton quantity, carton dimensions, pallet size and maximum stack height to calculate how many pallets are needed and average utilisation. Tries both carton orientations automatically.
Carton Dimensions
Pallet Dimensions
Formula
Cartons per pallet = best(orientA, orientB) × floor(Max Height ÷ Carton H) | Pallets needed = ceil(Total Cartons ÷ Cartons per pallet)
Both 0° and 90° carton footprint orientations are compared. The orientation fitting more cartons per layer is used. Total pallets round up — the last pallet may be partially loaded. Average utilisation is total cartons divided by theoretical maximum capacity across all pallets.
Worked Example
200 cartons (40 × 30 × 25 cm) on Euro pallets 120 × 100 cm, max height 150 cm:
Best orientation: 9 cartons per layer (orientation A)
Layers: floor(150÷25) = 6
Cartons per pallet = 9 × 6 = 54
Pallets needed = ceil(200÷54) = 4 pallets
Last pallet: 200 - 3×54 = 38 cartons (70.4% full)
Average utilisation: 200÷(4×54) = 92.6%
Four pallets with average 92.6% utilisation is efficient. The last pallet is 70% full — acceptable for most shipments. If the carton quantity were 216 (4 × 54), all pallets would be 100% full, reducing any risk of the freight forwarder charging for a fifth pallet.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Use this in your workflow
Use pallet count to calculate total shipment CBM with the Pallet CBM Calculator, then check container fit with the Container Utilization Calculator. Browse all Free Business Calculators.
When to use this calculator
- →Planning pallet count and truck space for outbound shipments
- →Booking palletised LTL freight — confirming pallet count before raising a booking
- →Checking supplier packing plans to verify stated pallet count matches carton dimensions
- →Identifying low-utilisation last pallets where order quantity adjustment could save freight cost