How many Australian pallets fit in a 40ft container?
Australian pallets of 1,165 × 1,165 × 1,000 mm (also called 1165 × 1165 pallets) in a 40-foot standard container (40GP) — inner dimensions 12,032 × 2,352 × 2,393 mm. Calculated by the Cubestow engine on 2026-09-08.
Single layer, floor-loaded (standard practice). 40% of the space used, 1 layer high, about 9,000 kg (34% of payload). Open this load in the 3D planner →
Top view — floor layer (20 on the floor)
Side view — first row along the wall (1 layer)
The answer in detail
The square 1,165 × 1,165 mm Australian standard pallet was sized for rail wagons, not ISO containers — two across need 2,330 mm of the 2,352 mm inner width, which is why it packs a 20ft so tightly and why some forwarders prefer slip sheets for export.
Twice the floor of a 20ft at the same width and height. Its rated payload is usually a little lower than a 20ft, so dense cargo often maxes out weight before space.
The simple grid estimate is 10 along the length × 2 across × 1 high = 20. Here no mixed pattern beats the best uniform grid, so the engine's plan is exactly that grid (20).
Variants
| Loading rule | Fits | Layers | Volume used | Total weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single layer, floor-loaded (standard practice) (headline figure) | 20 | 1 | 40% | 9,000 kg (34% of payload) |
| Double-stacked (only if each loaded pallet is at most 1,196 mm tall and rated to carry another) | 40 | 2 | 80% | 18,000 kg (67% of payload) |
How many 40ft containers for a given order?
| Australian pallets | 10 | 20 | 33 | 50 | 100 | 250 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40ft containers needed | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 13 |
| Last one filled to | 50% | 100% | 65% | 50% | 100% | 50% |
Mixed cargo, different carton sizes or delivery stops? Plan the exact shipment in 3D — free, in the browser, nothing uploaded.
Frequently asked
How many Australian pallets fit in a 40ft container?
20 Australian pallets of 1,165 × 1,165 × 1,000 mm fit in a 40ft container (inner dimensions 12,032 × 2,352 × 2,393 mm), single layer, floor-loaded (standard practice). That uses 40% of the 67.7 m³ available and weighs about 9,000 kg.
What are the inner dimensions of a 40ft container?
Typical inner dimensions are 12,032 mm long, 2,352 mm wide and 2,393 mm high (473.7 × 92.6 × 94.2 in), giving 67.7 m³ of space and a rated payload of about 26,700 kg. Individual units vary by a few centimetres, so check the actual box for tight loads.
How much does a full load of Australian pallets weigh?
20 × 450 kg ≈ 9,000 kg, which is 34% of the 26,700 kg payload — so this load is limited by space, not weight.
How was this number calculated?
By running the Cubestow 3D load-planning engine on the exact dimensions above, allowing rotation on the floor plane only, no stacking and the container's payload limit, then re-validating the plan for overlaps, support and weight. Real loads leave room for dunnage, door clearance and uneven cartons, so treat the figure as the practical maximum.