How many UK standard pallets fit in a 20ft container?
UK standard pallets of 1,200 × 1,000 × 1,000 mm (also called industrial pallets, 1200 × 1000 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). 36% of the space used, 1 layer high, about 4,500 kg (16% of payload). Open this load in the 3D planner →
Top view — floor layer (10 on the floor)
Side view — first row along the wall (1 layer)
The answer in detail
The 1,200 × 1,000 mm pallet — "UK standard", "industrial" or "ISO 1" — is the common pallet in the UK, in chemicals and in much of Asia-bound trade. Two do not quite fit across a container turned the same way (2 × 1,200 = 2,400 mm), so the plan mixes orientations.
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 4 along the length × 2 across × 1 high = 8. The engine found 10 — 2 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) | 10 | 1 | 36% | 4,500 kg (16% of payload) |
| Double-stacked (only if each loaded pallet is at most 1,196 mm tall and rated to carry another) | 20 | 2 | 72% | 9,000 kg (32% of payload) |
How many 20ft containers for a given order?
| UK standard pallets | 10 | 20 | 33 | 50 | 100 | 250 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20ft containers needed | 1 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 10 | 25 |
| Last one filled to | 100% | 100% | 30% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
Mixed cargo, different carton sizes or delivery stops? Plan the exact shipment in 3D — free, in the browser, nothing uploaded.
Frequently asked
How many UK standard pallets fit in a 20ft container?
10 UK standard pallets of 1,200 × 1,000 × 1,000 mm fit in a 20ft container (inner dimensions 5,898 × 2,352 × 2,393 mm), single layer, floor-loaded (standard practice). That uses 36% of the 33.2 m³ available and weighs about 4,500 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 UK standard pallets weigh?
10 × 450 kg ≈ 4,500 kg, which is 16% 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.