Boxes per Pallet Calculator
Find how many cartons fit on a pallet: the best pattern for each layer, how many layers stack under your height limit, and the total weight.
- Pattern
- Boxes per layer
- Layers
- Load height
- Layer footprint
- Pallet area used
- Load weight
- Limited by
- Pallets Needed
- Add boxes to ship
| Pattern | Per Layer |
|---|
Comparison
Setups you add are saved in this browser, so you can compare box and pallet sizes.
| Box | Pallet | Per Layer | Layers | Per Pallet | Area Used | Load Weight | Pallets | Remove |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nothing yet. Set up a box and pallet above and choose Add to comparison. | ||||||||
How to Figure Boxes per Pallet
Work it out one layer at a time. Find how many boxes fit on the pallet deck in one layer, then how many layers fit under the height limit, and multiply. If the load has a weight limit, the total can't go over it.
The ⌊ ⌋ brackets mean round down to a whole number.
Finding the Best Layer
The simplest layer lines every box up the same way: a column pattern. For 16″ × 12″ boxes on a 48″ × 40″ pallet, 3 boxes fit along the 48″ side and 3 along the 40″ side (36″ used), so 9 per layer. Turning them the other way fits 4 × 2 = 8.
Mixing directions often does better. Two lanes of boxes running one way use 24″ of the 40″ side and hold 3 each; the leftover 16″ takes a lane of 4 boxes turned the other way. That's 10 per layer, filling 100% of the deck. This calculator checks column, turned, mixed rows and lanes, and also searches block patterns made of any number of rectangular blocks, and shows the best. Rare interlocking layouts that can't be split into blocks with straight cuts sometimes fit one more box.
Boxes per Layer on a 48″ × 40″ Pallet
Best single-layer count with no overhang.
| Box (L × W) | Column | Best | Area Used |
|---|
Tips for Building Loads
Column stacking, with every box directly on top of the one below, keeps the most of a carton's stacking strength. Interlocking the layers ties the load together but can cost a large share of that strength, so column-stack heavy or tall loads and use stretch wrap to hold them. Avoid overhang: boxes hanging over the deck edge lose strength and get damaged by forks. Height limits depend on your racks, doors and carrier, so check them before you set the max load height.