How many 48 × 40 in pallets fit in a 45ft high cube?
48 × 40 in pallets of 1,219 × 1,016 × 1,200 mm (also called GMA pallets, standard US pallets) in a 45-foot high-cube container (45HC) — inner dimensions 13,556 × 2,352 × 2,698 mm. Calculated by the Cubestow engine on 2026-09-08.
Single layer, floor-loaded (standard practice). 41% of the space used, 1 layer high, about 12,000 kg (43% of payload). Open this load in the 3D planner →
Top view — floor layer (24 on the floor)
Side view — first row along the wall (1 layer)
The answer in detail
The 48 × 40 in GMA pallet is the North American standard. Its 40 in width is what lets two fit side by side in a 53ft trailer either way round ("straight" or "turned").
An extra 1.5 m of length over a 40HC, popular for European intermodal moves where a 45ft box matches a 13.6 m trailer.
The simple grid estimate is 11 along the length × 2 across × 1 high = 22. The engine found 24 — 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) | 24 | 1 | 41% | 12,000 kg (43% of payload) |
| Double-stacked (only if each loaded pallet is at most 1,349 mm tall and rated to carry another) | 48 | 2 | 83% | 24,000 kg (87% of payload) |
How many 45ft high cubes for a given order?
| 48 × 40 in pallets | 10 | 20 | 33 | 50 | 100 | 250 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 45ft high cubes needed | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 11 |
| Last one filled to | 42% | 83% | 38% | 8% | 17% | 42% |
Mixed cargo, different carton sizes or delivery stops? Plan the exact shipment in 3D — free, in the browser, nothing uploaded.
Frequently asked
How many 48 × 40 in pallets fit in a 45ft high cube?
24 48 × 40 in pallets of 1,219 × 1,016 × 1,200 mm fit in a 45ft high cube (inner dimensions 13,556 × 2,352 × 2,698 mm), single layer, floor-loaded (standard practice). That uses 41% of the 86.0 m³ available and weighs about 12,000 kg.
What are the inner dimensions of a 45ft high cube?
Typical inner dimensions are 13,556 mm long, 2,352 mm wide and 2,698 mm high (533.7 × 92.6 × 106.2 in), giving 86.0 m³ of space and a rated payload of about 27,600 kg. Individual units vary by a few centimetres, so check the actual box for tight loads.
How much does a full load of 48 × 40 in pallets weigh?
24 × 500 kg ≈ 12,000 kg, which is 43% of the 27,600 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.