How many UK standard pallets fit in a 40ft high cube?
UK standard pallets of 1,200 × 1,000 × 1,000 mm (also called industrial pallets, 1200 × 1000 pallets) in a 40-foot high-cube container (40HC) — inner dimensions 12,032 × 2,352 × 2,698 mm. Calculated by the Cubestow engine on 2026-09-08.
Single layer, floor-loaded (standard practice). 35% of the space used, 1 layer high, about 9,900 kg (37% of payload). Open this load in the 3D planner →
Top view — floor layer (22 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.
Same footprint as a 40GP with about 30 cm more height — the workhorse of e-commerce and consumer-goods shipping because the extra layer of cartons is almost free.
The simple grid estimate is 10 along the length × 2 across × 1 high = 20. The engine found 22 — 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) | 22 | 1 | 35% | 9,900 kg (37% of payload) |
| Double-stacked (only if each loaded pallet is at most 1,349 mm tall and rated to carry another) | 44 | 2 | 69% | 19,800 kg (75% of payload) |
How many 40ft high cubes for a given order?
| UK standard pallets | 10 | 20 | 33 | 50 | 100 | 250 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40ft high cubes needed | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 12 |
| Last one filled to | 45% | 91% | 50% | 27% | 55% | 36% |
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 40ft high cube?
22 UK standard pallets of 1,200 × 1,000 × 1,000 mm fit in a 40ft high cube (inner dimensions 12,032 × 2,352 × 2,698 mm), single layer, floor-loaded (standard practice). That uses 35% of the 76.4 m³ available and weighs about 9,900 kg.
What are the inner dimensions of a 40ft high cube?
Typical inner dimensions are 12,032 mm long, 2,352 mm wide and 2,698 mm high (473.7 × 92.6 × 106.2 in), giving 76.4 m³ of space and a rated payload of about 26,500 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?
22 × 450 kg ≈ 9,900 kg, which is 37% of the 26,500 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.