How many pallets fit in a 53 ft trailer?

Pallet size

48 × 40 in (GMA pallet)42 × 42 in48 × 48 in1200 × 800 mm (EUR 1)Custom size

Trailer

53 ft (636 × 100 × 108 in)48 ft (576 × 100 × 108 in, assumed)Custom interior

Stacked layers

1 (single layer)2 (double-stacked)

Loaded pallet height

in

Needed for two layers. Measure your loaded pallet; there is no default.

Weight check (optional)

Maximum payload

lb

From your carrier.

Weight of one loaded pallet

lb

Calculate

Choose a pallet and trailer, then calculate.

How the count is worked out

Straight is floor(width ÷ pallet width) × floor(length ÷ pallet length). Turned swaps the two pallet sides. The best fit also allows a block of pallets one way and the remaining length filled the other way, the same method as the pallet calculator, with pallets treated as boxes. Total pallets is the best fit times the number of layers, provided the layers fit under the interior height.

With the 53 ft preset (636 × 100 in interior) and 48 × 40 in pallets, a single floor layer gives 26 pallets straight (13 rows of 2, 48 in side along the trailer) and 30 pallets turned (15 rows of 2, 40 in side along the trailer). The tool reports the best geometric fit, 30.

The 48 ft preset uses a nominal 576 in length (48 × 12) and the same width and height as the 53 ft trailer; that is an assumption, because no pallet counts for it were published by the source.

Limits

This is geometry only, not a load plan. Weight limits, axle distribution, door and dock clearance, pallet overhang rules and how the carrier loads are not modelled. Other published counts can differ, for example when a pinwheel pattern is used; this tool does not model that beyond the best fit it calculates. Confirm with your carrier and the receiver.

See also pallets per container, the GMA pallet and Euro pallet dimensions; for a 48 × 40 or Euro pallet’s weight, see pallet weight.

Sources

• 53 ft interior 636 × 100 × 108 in: ATS, how many pallets fit in a trailer.
• Width range 98.5 to 100 in, height range 108 to 110 in and length 636 in: Hale Trailer, dimensions of a 53 ft trailer.
• The 26 and 52 rule of thumb is also given by Gruber Pallets.