How many Australian pallets fit in a 40ft reefer?
Australian pallets of 1,165 × 1,165 × 1,000 mm (also called 1165 × 1165 pallets) in a 40-foot high-cube refrigerated container (40RH) — inner dimensions 11,583 × 2,294 × 2,557 mm. Calculated by the Cubestow engine on 2026-09-08.
Single layer, floor-loaded (standard practice). 18% of the space used, 1 layer high, about 4,050 kg (14% of payload). Open this load in the 3D planner →
Top view — floor layer (9 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.
Inner length and width are reduced by the insulation and the machinery. Cargo must not block the airflow along the ceiling or the T-floor.
The simple grid estimate is 9 along the length × 1 across × 1 high = 9. Here no mixed pattern beats the best uniform grid, so the engine's plan is exactly that grid (9).
Variants
| Loading rule | Fits | Layers | Volume used | Total weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single layer, floor-loaded (standard practice) (headline figure) | 9 | 1 | 18% | 4,050 kg (14% of payload) |
| Double-stacked (only if each loaded pallet is at most 1,278 mm tall and rated to carry another) | 18 | 2 | 36% | 8,100 kg (28% of payload) |
How many 40ft reefers for a given order?
| Australian pallets | 10 | 20 | 33 | 50 | 100 | 250 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40ft reefers needed | 2 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 12 | 28 |
| Last one filled to | 11% | 22% | 67% | 56% | 11% | 78% |
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 reefer?
9 Australian pallets of 1,165 × 1,165 × 1,000 mm fit in a 40ft reefer (inner dimensions 11,583 × 2,294 × 2,557 mm), single layer, floor-loaded (standard practice). That uses 18% of the 67.9 m³ available and weighs about 4,050 kg.
What are the inner dimensions of a 40ft reefer?
Typical inner dimensions are 11,583 mm long, 2,294 mm wide and 2,557 mm high (456.0 × 90.3 × 100.7 in), giving 67.9 m³ of space and a rated payload of about 29,000 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?
9 × 450 kg ≈ 4,050 kg, which is 14% of the 29,000 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.