The two standard pallet sizes in Europe are the 1200 x 800 mm EPAL Europallet and the 1200 x 1000 mm industrial pallet. A standard 13.6 m curtainsider or tautliner carries 33 Europallets or 26 industrial pallets in a single layer, while a 20 ft container holds about 11 Europallets and a 40 ft container about 24 to 25, depending on pallet size and loading method.
What are the standard pallet dimensions in Europe?
Four pallet formats cover most European freight.
- EPAL Europallet (EPAL 1): footprint 1200 x 800 mm, height 144 mm. Empty weight about 25 kg. Rated for 1,500 kg in motion (dynamic load) and up to 4,000 kg at rest (static load). Footprint area 0.96 m².
- Industrial pallet (EPAL 2, also called block pallet): footprint 1200 x 1000 mm. Empty weight about 35 kg. Built for heavier goods. When stacked, EPAL limits the bottom pallet to 4,250 kg. Footprint area 1.2 m².
- Half pallet (EPAL 6, display pallet): footprint 800 x 600 mm, half a Europallet. Light and easy to handle, common in retail. Typical empty weight from about 8 kg for plastic versions. Load capacity varies by build, usually a few hundred kg.
- Quarter pallet: footprint 600 x 400 mm, a quarter of a Europallet. Used for promotions and point of sale displays. The lightest format, with the lowest load rating.
The Europallet and industrial pallet are tightly standardised under EPAL and UIC 435-2, and heat treated to ISPM 15 for international shipping. Half and quarter pallets are less rigidly standardised, so their weight and load ratings vary by manufacturer and material.
How many Europallets fit on a standard trailer?
A standard European curtainsider or tautliner has an internal loading length of 13.6 m and a usable width of about 2.4 m.
- 33 Europallets in a single floor layer
- 26 industrial pallets in a single floor layer
These are single-layer figures with no overhang. If the goods are stackable, a second layer roughly doubles the count, as long as you stay within the weight limit. If the goods cannot be stacked, the single-layer number is the maximum. Mixed loads often reach 30 to 32 pallets in practice.
Full trailer specifications are in our guide on trailer dimensions.
How many pallets fit inside a shipping container?
For a standard dry container loaded in a single floor layer:
- 20 ft container: about 11 Europallets, or 9 to 10 industrial pallets
- 40 ft container: about 24 to 25 Europallets, or 20 to 21 industrial pallets
Published counts differ slightly between sources because the result depends on the exact internal width, door clearance and how tightly the pallets are arranged. Treat these as guidelines rather than fixed numbers. Internal container measurements are in our guide on container dimensions.
What is a loading metre (LDM)?
A loading metre is one linear metre of trailer floor across the full 2.4 m width. It measures floor space, not weight or height.
To calculate it, multiply pallet length by width in metres, then divide by 2.4. A Europallet is 1.20 x 0.80 m, so (1.20 x 0.80) / 2.4 = 0.40 LDM. A standard trailer offers 13.6 LDM.
European road carriers often quote by LDM rather than pallet count because it works for any cargo shape, including non-standard and non-stackable goods. A non-stackable pallet blocks the space above it, so it is usually charged at a higher LDM rate.
Why pallet weight matters as much as pallet count
A standard trailer has a legal payload of about 24,000 kg. Heavy goods reach this weight limit before the floor is full. Thirty-three Europallets at 800 kg each is 26,400 kg, which is already over the payload. Light, bulky goods do the opposite and fill the floor and height before reaching the weight limit.
The real capacity is set by whichever limit you hit first: floor space, loading height or weight. Pallet weight and stackability decide the outcome.
How to calculate the real loading capacity
Before booking transport, check the following.
- Measure the actual pallet footprint, including any packaging overhang
- Confirm whether the goods can be stacked
- Add the loaded weight per pallet and compare the total against the vehicle payload
- Decide whether floor space, height or weight is your limiting factor
PLS arranges both container transport and European road transport, and can advise on the most efficient loading method for a given cargo.