Pallet Calculator
Work out how many boxes or cartons fit on a pallet, with the TI×HI pattern, stack height, and a rotatable 3D view.
How the pallet calculator works
This tool answers one question with geometry: given a box and a pallet footprint, how many boxes fit per layer, how many layers stack, and what the total is. The default pallet is the GMA 48 × 40 in (North American) standard.
The math runs in two steps:
- Boxes per layer (TI). The calculator tests both floor orientations of the box and keeps the better one:
- floor(48 / boxL) × floor(40 / boxW) - floor(48 / boxW) × floor(40 / boxL)
- Layers (HI).
floor(usable cargo height / boxH), where usable height is your maximum stack height minus the pallet deck (about 5.6 in on a GMA pallet).
Total boxes = TI × HI.
Worked example (page defaults)
A 12 × 10 × 8 in box on a GMA 48 × 40 pallet, stacked to a 60 in total height:
- Orientation A:
floor(48/12) × floor(40/10) = 4 × 4 = 16per layer - Orientation B:
floor(48/10) × floor(40/12) = 4 × 3 = 12per layer - Best per layer (TI) = 16
- Cargo height = 60 − 5.6 ≈ 54.4 in →
floor(54.4 / 8) = 6layers (HI) - Total = 16 × 6 = 96 boxes, at a load height of about 53.6 in total (48 in of cargo plus the ~5.6 in deck).
The 3D view draws that exact stack so you can sanity-check overhang and the top layer.
GMA pallet reference
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Footprint | 48 × 40 in (1219 × 1016 mm) |
| Deck height | ~5.6 in (143 mm) |
| Own weight | ~37 lb (17 kg) |
| Dynamic load rating | ~2,800 lb (1,270 kg) |
| Static load rating | ~7,500 lb |
Limits to know
The count assumes a single box orientation across the whole pallet, it does not mix orientations or compute interlocked (brick) patterns, which can sometimes squeeze in more. It is a clean upper bound for column stacking. For the layer pattern alone see the TI-HI calculator; to check the stacked weight against the pallet rating use the pallet weight calculator; and to plan a complete shipment layer by layer use the pallet load calculator.