TI-HI Calculator
Find your TI (boxes per layer) and HI (number of layers) for any box on any pallet standard.
How the TI-HI calculator works
TI and HI are the two numbers that define a pallet pattern. TI (the tie) is how many boxes sit in one layer; HI (the high) is how many layers stack. Multiply them and you have the case count. This page reports each separately so it drops straight into a pallet-pattern spec. The default footprint is the GMA 48 × 40 in pallet.
- TI = the better of
floor(48/L) × floor(40/W)andfloor(48/W) × floor(40/L) - HI =
floor((max stack height − 5.6 in deck) / boxH) - Cases per pallet = TI × HI
Worked example (page defaults)
A 12 × 10 × 8 in box on the GMA pallet, to a 60 in total height:
- Orientation A:
floor(48/12) × floor(40/10) = 4 × 4 = 16 - Orientation B:
floor(48/10) × floor(40/12) = 4 × 3 = 12 - TI = 16 boxes per layer
- Cargo height = 60 − 5.6 ≈ 54.4 in →
floor(54.4 / 8) = 6 - HI = 6 layers
- Cases per pallet = 16 × 6 = 96
Write this as TI 16 / HI 6 on the carton spec or pattern ticket.
TI×HI on common pallets
The tie depends entirely on the footprint, so the same box gives a different TI on each standard:
| Pallet | Footprint | TI for a 12 × 10 in box |
|---|---|---|
| GMA 48 × 40 in | 1219 × 1016 mm | 16 |
| Euro / EPAL 1 | 1200 × 800 mm | tested in mm |
| Industrial / EUR 2 | 1200 × 1000 mm | tested in mm |
| ISO / Asian | 1100 × 1100 mm | tested in mm |
Switch the pallet standard in the calculator to compute TI in millimeters for the metric footprints.
Limits
TI here is a single-orientation tie: every box on the layer faces the same way (column pattern). Interlocked or pinwheel ties can change the number, and they trade some stacking strength for stability, see column vs interlock stacking. For the full stacked load use the pallet calculator, and to count shipping cases specifically use the cases per pallet calculator.