How many 48 × 48 in pallets fit in a 13.6 m trailer?
48 × 48 in pallets of 1,219 × 1,219 × 1,200 mm (also called drum pallets, square US pallets) in a 13.6 m curtainsider / box trailer (EU) — inner dimensions 13,600 × 2,450 × 2,700 mm. Calculated by the Cubestow engine on 2026-09-08.
Single layer, floor-loaded (standard practice). 44% of the space used, 1 layer high, about 13,200 kg (55% 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 square 48 × 48 in pallet is common for drums (four 55-gallon drums per pallet) and for chemicals. Two across need 2,438 mm, which is more than an ISO container offers — so in sea containers they load in a single row.
The standard European semi-trailer. Curtainsiders are loaded from the side, so pallets can be turned freely; the 2,450 mm inner width is what makes three EUR pallets (3 × 800) fit across.
The simple grid estimate is 11 along the length × 2 across × 1 high = 22. Here no mixed pattern beats the best uniform grid, so the engine's plan is exactly that grid (22).
Variants
| Loading rule | Fits | Layers | Volume used | Total weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single layer, floor-loaded (standard practice) (headline figure) | 22 | 1 | 44% | 13,200 kg (55% of payload) |
| Double-stacked (only if each loaded pallet is at most 1,350 mm tall and rated to carry another) | 40 | 2 | 79% | 24,000 kg (100% of payload) |
How many 13.6 m trailers for a given order?
| 48 × 48 in pallets | 10 | 20 | 33 | 50 | 100 | 250 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13.6 m trailers 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 48 × 48 in pallets fit in a 13.6 m trailer?
22 48 × 48 in pallets of 1,219 × 1,219 × 1,200 mm fit in a 13.6 m trailer (inner dimensions 13,600 × 2,450 × 2,700 mm), single layer, floor-loaded (standard practice). That uses 44% of the 90.0 m³ available and weighs about 13,200 kg.
What are the inner dimensions of a 13.6 m trailer?
Typical inner dimensions are 13,600 mm long, 2,450 mm wide and 2,700 mm high (535.4 × 96.5 × 106.3 in), giving 90.0 m³ of space and a rated payload of about 24,000 kg. Individual units vary by a few centimetres, so check the actual box for tight loads.
How much does a full load of 48 × 48 in pallets weigh?
22 × 600 kg ≈ 13,200 kg, which is 55% of the 24,000 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.