Free, no signup. Updated October 2026. Typical trailer and container sizes
Pallet calculator: how many pallets fit in a trailer
Pick a trailer and a pallet to see how many fit, the best way to load them and the linear feet.
A typical 53 ft dry van takes 26 standard 48 × 40 in pallets loaded straight, 30 turned sideways or 28 in a pinwheel. The answer changes with the pallet size, the trailer, stacking and weight. Enter yours to get a floor plan drawn to scale, the floor positions and linear feet it takes, and a payload check.
How many pallets fit in a 53 ft trailer?
On one layer, a typical 53 ft dry van holds 26 to 30 standard 48 × 40 in pallets. The pattern decides which. The numbers below use about 630 in (52 ft 6 in) of inside length and 100 in of width.
Straight: 26
The 48 in side runs down the trailer. Each row of two takes 48 in, so 13 rows fit.
Turned: 30
The 40 in side runs down the trailer and the 48 in sides sit across, 96 in in all. Each row takes 40 in, so 15 rows fit. Turning needs pallets a forklift can lift from all four sides.
Pinwheel: 28
Pallets go in squares of four, two straight and two turned. Each 88 in square locks the load against shifting, at the cost of a few spots.
Stacked: up to 60
Two 48 in pallets stacked are 96 in tall and clear a 110 in door. Turned and two high, that is 60 pallets, if the freight can bear it and the weight stays under the payload.
Square 48 × 48 in pallets fit 26 either way, because they are the same in both directions. These counts match the ATS pallet loading guide.
| Equipment (typical) | 48 × 40 GMA in | 48 × 48 in | 42 × 42 in |
|---|---|---|---|
| 53 ft dry van | 30 turned | 26 straight | 30 straight |
| 48 ft dry van | 28 turned | 22 straight | 26 straight |
| 28 ft pup | 16 turned | 12 straight | 14 straight |
| 20 ft container | 8 straight | 4 straight | 10 straight |
| 40 ft container | 20 pinwheel | 9 straight | 22 straight |
| 40 ft high cube container | 20 pinwheel | 9 straight | 22 straight |
Most pallets on one layer, and the pattern that gets there, from the calculator on the typical sizes in the next table.
Trailer and container inside dimensions
These are typical sizes for planning. The calculator uses them. Real equipment varies, so measure the trailer or container you are given before you load it.
| Equipment (typical) | Inside L × W × H (in) | Door W × H (in) | Payload (lb) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 53 ft dry van | 630 × 100 × 110 | 98 × 110 | 45,000 | ATS pallet loading guide, Morsa equipment specification reference |
| 48 ft dry van | 567 × 99 × 108.5 | 93 × 105 | 45,000 | YRC historical trailer dimensions, Morsa equipment specification reference |
| 28 ft pup | 327 × 100 × 107 | 93 × 104 | 22,500 | YRC historical trailer dimensions, ArcBest dry van equipment guide |
| 20 ft container | 232.3 × 92.6 × 94.3 | 92.1 × 90.2 | 62,016 | Hapag-Lloyd 20 ft standard |
| 40 ft container | 473.7 × 92.6 × 94.3 | 92.1 × 90.2 | 63,383 | Hapag-Lloyd 40 ft standard |
| 40 ft high cube container | 473.7 × 92.5 × 106.3 | 92.1 × 102.2 | 63,052 | Hapag-Lloyd 40 ft standard high cube |
- The 53 ft size combines typical inside length and height with the most common 100 in inside width. The trailer’s outside width is about 102 in.
- The 48 ft and 28 ft rows are measured older trailers. Their inside length is shorter than the name.
- Container payloads are the container’s own rating. Road weight limits for the truck and chassis are lower. Sources checked October 2026.
What linear feet means in LTL
Linear feet is how much of the trailer’s length your freight takes, front to back. It ignores how much of the width you use. Two pallets side by side take the same linear feet as one, because no one else can use the floor beside them.
The common rule of thumb is for 48 × 40 in pallets loaded straight, two across, not stacked: divide the pallet count by 2, round up and multiply by 4 ft. Six pallets take 12 linear feet. Turned pallets, stacks and other sizes change that, so the calculator measures the plan itself.
Carriers use linear feet because a light load that can’t stack still fills floor. Each carrier sets its own limits. For example, Estes quotes volume LTL from 5,000 lb or 8 linear feet, and truckload from 30,000 lb or 48 linear feet.
Not sure which one your load is? Read LTL vs FTL freight.
Stacking and weight limits
A stack has to clear the lower of the door opening and the inside height. The calculator caps each stack by that clearance, by the number you allow and by the max stack weight you enter.
Then it checks the whole load against the payload. A typical 53 ft dry van carries about 42,000 to 45,000 lb. At 2,000 lb a pallet, 30 pallets would be 60,000 lb, so the load weighs out at 22 pallets with floor to spare.
Spread the weight evenly down the trailer. ATS warns that pallets bunched in one area move around in transit and can damage the freight and the trailer.
How to plan a pallet load
Five checks before you book the truck.
Step 1
Measure each pallet
Measure length, width and height with the freight on it, at the widest points. Weigh it the same way, pallet and wrap included.
Step 2
Pick the equipment
Choose the trailer or container, or enter its measured inside length, width, height and payload. Liners, doors and load bars can take a few inches.
Step 3
Decide on stacking
Tick stackable only if the freight can carry the load above it. Add a max stack weight if the bottom pallet has a limit.
Step 4
Compare the patterns
Check straight, turned and pinwheel. Turned usually fits the most 48 × 40 pallets, and pinwheel locks the load in place.
Step 5
Check weight and linear feet
Make sure the load is under the payload, and use the linear feet to see whether it ships as LTL, volume LTL or a full truckload.
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Simpl Fulfillment is a 3PL in Austin, TX. Along with eCommerce orders, we ship wholesale orders to retail stores and distributors. If you would rather hand off the B2B side, take a look at our B2B fulfillment.
Pallet and trailer FAQs
- How many pallets fit in a 53 ft trailer?
- A typical 53 ft dry van holds 26 standard 48 × 40 in pallets loaded straight, 30 turned sideways, or 28 in a pinwheel, on one layer. That assumes about 630 in of inside length and 100 in of width. If the pallets can stack two high and stay under the payload, the turned count doubles to 60.
- Why do turned pallets fit more than straight ones?
- A straight 48 × 40 pallet takes 48 in of trailer length per row, and a turned one takes 40 in. Two pallets still fit across a 100 in floor either way, because 2 × 48 = 96 in. In 630 in of length that is 13 straight rows or 15 turned rows. Turning needs pallets a forklift can lift from all four sides.
- How many skids fit on a 53 foot trailer?
- The same number as pallets with the same footprint. The count depends on the floor each one takes. A 48 × 40 in skid fits 26 straight or 30 turned on one layer, and a 48 × 48 in skid fits 26.
- How many pallets fit in a 48 foot trailer?
- With about 567 in of inside length, a 48 ft dry van holds 22 standard 48 × 40 in pallets straight or 28 turned sideways. You will often see 24 straight quoted. That number uses the full 48 ft (576 in), which is longer than the inside of many 48 ft trailers.
- How many pallets fit in a 40 ft container?
- A 40 ft container is about 92.6 in wide inside, too narrow for two pallets side by side on their 48 in sides. With 48 × 40 in pallets you get 18 straight or 20 in a pinwheel. A 20 ft container holds 8. Check your container's own sizes, because they vary by maker.
- What are the inside dimensions of a 53 ft trailer?
- A typical 53 ft dry van is about 630 in (52 ft 6 in) long, 100 in wide and 110 in high inside, with a door opening of about 98 × 110 in. The 53 ft is the outside length. Payload is commonly 42,000 to 45,000 lb. Trailers differ, so measure yours.
- What is the max pallet height for a 53 foot trailer?
- The lower of the door opening and the inside height. On the typical 53 ft van used here, that is about 110 in. A single pallet or a stack has to clear it, so two 48 in pallets fit stacked, and two 60 in pallets don't.
- How do you calculate linear feet for freight?
- Measure how much of the trailer's length your freight takes, front to back, in inches, and divide by 12. For standard 48 × 40 in pallets loaded two across and straight, a common shortcut is the number of pallets divided by 2, rounded up, times 4 ft. Six pallets take about 12 linear feet. The calculator measures the plan itself, so stacks and turned pallets count correctly.
- How many linear feet is a 48 inch pallet?
- Loaded straight, a 48 in pallet takes 4 linear feet, and a second pallet beside it shares the same 4 ft. Turned so its 40 in side runs down the trailer, it takes 3 ft 4 in.
- What is the linear foot rule in LTL?
- It is a carrier rule that rates a shipment by the trailer length it takes, not just its weight and class. Each carrier sets its own threshold. Estes, for example, quotes shipments of 5,000 lb or more, or 8 linear feet or more, as volume LTL, and 30,000 lb or more, or 48 linear feet or more, as truckload. Check your carrier's tariff.
- Can you double stack pallets in a trailer?
- Yes, if the freight can carry the weight above it, the stack clears the door and the total stays under the payload. Set a max stack weight in the calculator if the bottom pallet has a limit. Heavy pallets often reach the payload before they fill the floor.