Pallet calculator
How many pallets fit in a 53' or 48' trailer, how many linear feet your shipment takes, total weight and density — instantly, in your browser.
How many pallets fit in a 53-foot trailer?
A standard 53’ dry van has about 630 inches of usable floor length and 98.5 inches of width. Standard 48 × 40 in GMA pallets fit 26 when loaded straight with the 40-inch side across the trailer (2 across × 13 deep) and 30 when loaded with the 48-inch side across (2 across × 15 deep) or pinwheeled. A 48’ trailer takes 24 straight / 28 turned; a 28’ pup takes 12 straight / 16 turned. Refrigerated trailers have thicker walls and usually hold two pallets fewer.
Common pallet sizes in the US
| Pallet | Size (in) | Where it is used | Per 53’ van (straight / turned) |
|---|---|---|---|
| GMA standard | 48 × 40 | Grocery, retail, most LTL freight | 26 / 30 |
| Square | 48 × 48 | Drums, chemicals, paint | 26 / 26 |
| Beverage | 42 × 42 | Beverages, paint | 30 / 30 |
| Automotive | 48 × 42 | Automotive, chemicals | 26 / 30 |
| Euro pallet (EUR 1) | 47.2 × 31.5 (120 × 80 cm) | Imports from Europe | 39 / 40 |
What are linear feet and why LTL carriers care
Linear feet is how much of the trailer’s length your freight occupies. LTL carriers price by weight and class up to a point, but most tariffs have a linear-foot rule: shipments longer than roughly 12–14 linear feet (or 6–8 pallets that cannot be stacked) are rated as if they filled the whole trailer section, which can double the price. If the calculator shows more than 12 linear feet, ask for a volume LTL, partial truckload or full truckload quote instead — it is almost always cheaper.
Stackable or not?
Marking pallets as stackable lets the carrier put another pallet on top and cuts your linear feet in half — but only if the freight can take the weight: sturdy cartons, flat tops, no overhang, plastic wrap or straps. Mark “non-stackable” on the Bill of Lading for fragile, uneven or top-heavy loads; otherwise damage is on you.
Weight limits to keep in mind
- Legal gross vehicle weight in the US is 80,000 lbs; a typical dry van can carry about 42,000–45,000 lbs of freight.
- A pallet of freight rarely exceeds 2,500 lbs on LTL — heavier single pallets need a forklift at both ends and often a flatbed.
- Weight per axle matters too: heavy freight should be spread along the trailer, not stacked at the nose.
Need the truck as well? Request a quote — tell us the pallet count and the calculator’s linear feet, and we will price it as LTL, partial or full truckload.