How many half pallets fit in a 20ft container?
Half pallets of 800 × 600 × 900 mm (also called Düsseldorfer pallets, 800 × 600 pallets, display pallets) in a 20-foot standard container (20GP) — inner dimensions 5,898 × 2,352 × 2,393 mm. Calculated by the Cubestow engine on 2026-09-08.
Single layer, floor-loaded (standard practice). 34% of the space used, 1 layer high, about 5,200 kg (18% of payload). Open this load in the 3D planner →
Top view — floor layer (26 on the floor)
Side view — first row along the wall (1 layer)
The answer in detail
The 800 × 600 mm half pallet ("Düsseldorfer") is the retail display pallet. Three fit across a 2,352 mm container with the 600 mm side across (3 × 600 = 1,800 mm), and the plan mixes in turned pallets to use the remaining width.
The most common dry container for smaller export loads. Inner dimensions are typical for a steel ISO 20GP; individual boxes vary by a few centimetres, and the door opening (about 2,340 × 2,280 mm) is slightly smaller than the inside.
The simple grid estimate is 7 along the length × 3 across × 1 high = 21. The engine found 26 — 5 more than either uniform grid — by mixing orientations so that the leftover strip along the wall is used. The top view above shows the pattern.
Variants
| Loading rule | Fits | Layers | Volume used | Total weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single layer, floor-loaded (standard practice) (headline figure) | 26 | 1 | 34% | 5,200 kg (18% of payload) |
| Double-stacked (only if each loaded pallet is at most 1,196 mm tall and rated to carry another) | 52 | 2 | 68% | 10,400 kg (37% of payload) |
How many 20ft containers for a given order?
| Half pallets | 10 | 20 | 33 | 50 | 100 | 250 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20ft containers needed | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 10 |
| Last one filled to | 38% | 77% | 27% | 92% | 85% | 62% |
Mixed cargo, different carton sizes or delivery stops? Plan the exact shipment in 3D — free, in the browser, nothing uploaded.
Frequently asked
How many half pallets fit in a 20ft container?
26 half pallets of 800 × 600 × 900 mm fit in a 20ft container (inner dimensions 5,898 × 2,352 × 2,393 mm), single layer, floor-loaded (standard practice). That uses 34% of the 33.2 m³ available and weighs about 5,200 kg.
What are the inner dimensions of a 20ft container?
Typical inner dimensions are 5,898 mm long, 2,352 mm wide and 2,393 mm high (232.2 × 92.6 × 94.2 in), giving 33.2 m³ of space and a rated payload of about 28,200 kg. Individual units vary by a few centimetres, so check the actual box for tight loads.
How much does a full load of half pallets weigh?
26 × 200 kg ≈ 5,200 kg, which is 18% of the 28,200 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.