PalletTool

How many 20 × 20 × 20 in cartons fit on a US 48×40 pallet?

8 cartons of 20 × 20 × 20 in (508 × 508 × 508 mm) fit on a US 48×40 pallet, 48 × 40 in (1219 × 1016 mm): 4 cartons per layer, 2 layers within a 47.2 in (1200 mm) stack height including the pallet.

Per layer

4

Layers

2

Total cartons

8

Stack height

45.7 in (1162 mm)

Deck used

83.3%

Best pattern: Pinwheel

Cartons sit lengthwise, long side along the pallet's length. Four cartons rotate around the center like a windmill, using space that straight rows would strand.

Why this pattern here: The carton's length plus width is 40 in (1016 mm), which fits inside both the 48 in (1219 mm) and 40 in (1016 mm) deck edges, so four cartons can rotate around the center and reclaim space that straight rows would leave stranded.

Layer diagram: 4 cartons of 20 × 20 × 20 in per layer on a US 48×40 pallet, Pinwheel pattern image/svg+xml Matplotlib v3.11.1, https://matplotlib.org/
Layers 1, 3 · 4 ctn · computed layer diagram, US 48×40 pallet, 48 × 40 in (1219 × 1016 mm)

Pattern comparison

PatternCartons per layer
Grid4
Split-Row Interlock4
PinwheelBest4

Several layouts tie at 4 of these 20 × 20 in cartons per layer (grid 4, split-row 4, pinwheel 4). The tool selects the Pinwheel pattern because when counts are equal an interlocking layout beats a plain grid on load stability. 2 layers reach 45.7 in (1162 mm) including the 5.7 in (146 mm) pallet deck, at 83.3% of the deck footprint.

No better-interlocking layout exists for this carton on this deck within the computed patterns. Stack it column-aligned, corners over corners, and rely on stretch wrap or strapping for lateral stability.

These figures assume the height limit binds at 47.2 in (1200 mm). Weight is not shown here because it depends on the actual carton weight, the interactive calculator also enforces a max payload per pallet.

Plan this carton in the calculator →

Opens the free tool with 20 × 20 × 20 in on the US 48×40 pallet prefilled.

Nearby carton sizes on the US 48×40 pallet

Computed by the PalletTool engine, the same deterministic solver behind the free calculator. Published by Eastwest Medico ApS, Copenhagen, a company that loads real pallets for humanitarian shipments. Not AI-written text, every number on this page comes from the computation above.

Last computed: July 25, 2026