20ft dry container guide
How Many Pallets Fit in a 20ft Container?
A practical single-floor plan is usually about 9–11 pallets, depending on the footprint and loading method. On the representative 5,898 × 2,352 mm dry floor used here, zero-added-clearance geometry fits 11 Euro pallets, 10 industrial pallets or 10 US 48 × 40 pallets.
Equipment and source review: 9 August 2026. Results below are single-floor planning values, not booking or safety guarantees.
Single floor layerDry equipment0° / 90° rotationEditable pallet gapEditable wall clearanceAxis-aligned rectangles
Interactive layout
Compare the geometry with the planning baseline.
Choose a pallet and add realistic allowances. The geometric result changes immediately; the operational baseline remains a separate reference.
Representative equipment dimensions. Source: equipment specification.
11 geometric placements; 11 pallets · common Euro planning baseline.
Footprint comparison
The same equipment gives different answers for different pallets.
“Verified” refers to the geometry fixture under the stated zero-gap assumptions. A common baseline is a planning convention, not an algorithmic maximum.
| Pallet | Footprint | Planning baseline | Zero-gap geometry | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Euro | 1200 × 800 mm | 11 | 11 · verified | Mixed 0°/90° layout |
| Industrial | 1200 × 1000 mm | 10 | 10 · verified | Tight mixed layout; confirm handling clearance |
| US GMA | 1219.2 × 1016 mm | 10 | 10 · verified | 48 × 40 in footprint |
| AU | 1165 × 1165 mm | No universal baseline | 10 · area-proven | Only about 22 mm total width remains at two across |
| JP | 1100 × 1100 mm | No universal baseline | 10 · best found | Custom operational review required |
Equipment is not universal
Use the assigned unit’s internal and door dimensions.
Nearby equipment types can have materially different usable space. Height affects stacking, while the floor calculation uses internal length and width.
| Equipment | Published interior | Door / note |
|---|---|---|
| 20ft dry preset used by calculator | 5,898 × 2,352 × 2,393 mm | 2,340 × 2,280 mm |
| Nearby Hapag-Lloyd fleet example | 5,900 × 2,352 × 2,393 mm | 2,340 × 2,292 mm |
| CMA CGM 20ft reefer example | 5,456 × 2,294 × 2,273 mm | 2,290 × 2,264 mm |
Why 11 is not a guarantee
The geometric result uses the stated dry floor, no added wall clearance and no inter-pallet gap. Pallet overhang, corrugations, dunnage, securing and the loading method can reduce it.
Dry and reefer are different
Refrigeration machinery and insulation reduce usable dimensions. Do not reuse the dry-container preset for reefer equipment.
Use your actual pallet and equipment dimensions.
Open the full calculator with this equipment preset, then change the pallet, gap, clearance, stack height and units without losing the assumptions.
Sources
Equipment references used on this page.
Checked 9 August 2026. Manufacturer and carrier data describes equipment families; confirm the serial or assigned unit before loading.
- Hapag-Lloyd Container Specification — Representative 20ft dry dimensions, fleet-series variation and production tolerance.
- CMA CGM Containers — General-purpose and reefer dimensions; technical data is described as non-contractual and representative.
- Kuehne+Nagel VinLog FAQ — Industry planning context for the approximate 9–11 pallet range.
FAQ
Common planning questions.
How many Euro pallets fit in a 20ft dry container?
A geometry-only mixed-orientation layout can fit 11 Euro pallets measuring 1200 × 800 mm on the representative dry floor used here. Actual usable capacity can be lower after equipment variation, clearance, dunnage and loading rules are considered.
What internal dimensions does this estimate use?
The calculator preset uses 5,898 × 2,352 × 2,393 mm with a 2,340 × 2,280 mm door opening. Carrier fleets contain nearby but not identical equipment dimensions.
Is a 20ft reefer the same size inside?
No. Refrigeration equipment and insulation reduce usable interior dimensions, so a reefer-specific specification is required.
Is the pallet count guaranteed?
No. It is a planning estimate. Confirm the assigned equipment, actual pallet dimensions, clearances, cargo securing and payload with the carrier.
Compare another equipment class.
Keep the pallet footprint constant and compare how the interior, door and operating assumptions change.