How Many Cases of Water Are on a Pallet?
About 72 cases of 24 × 16.9 oz bottles per pallet.
A standard pallet of bottled water holds about 72 cases of 24 × 16.9 oz (500 mL) bottles — roughly 1,728 bottles and about 2,000 lb. That's commonly 8 cases per layer × 9 layers. Counts vary by brand and bottle size (some run 60 or 84 cases).
| Pack | Cases per pallet |
|---|---|
| 24 × 16.9 oz | ≈72 cases (1,728 bottles) |
| 35 × 16.9 oz | ≈54 cases |
| 1-gallon jugs | varies by brand |
How a pallet of water is built
The standard retail pallet of 16.9 oz (500 mL) bottles is 72 cases of 24 — 8 cases per layer, 9 layers high — which comes to 1,728 bottles. Larger 35-count cases drop the pallet to about 54 cases, and gallon jugs or odd pack sizes vary by brand. Warehouse-club and store-brand pallets sometimes run 60 or 84 cases, so confirm the pack whenever a count matters for an order.
Water is one of the few loads that maxes out space and weight at the same time: the cube is full at nine layers and the weight is near a pallet's limit at the same point, which is why bottled water almost always ships single-stacked on its own pallet.
Why a pallet of water weighs about a ton
The weight surprises people. Each 16.9 oz bottle holds half a litre — half a kilogram — of water, so 1,728 bottles is about 864 kg, roughly 1,900 lb of water alone. Add the PET bottles, cardboard trays, shrink wrap and the pallet and a full pallet comes in around 2,000–2,100 lb. An older rule of thumb of “1,700 lb” undercounts it — the water by itself already weighs more than that.
That density is exactly why water is cheap to ship per unit but heavy to handle: it rates a low LTL freight class, yet still needs a forklift or pallet jack and a liftgate for delivery, and pallets can't be safely double-stacked in a trailer without proper decking.
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Open the Pallet CalculatorFrequently asked questions
How Many Cases of Water Are on a Pallet?
About 72 cases of 24 × 16.9 oz bottles per pallet. A standard pallet of bottled water holds about 72 cases of 24 × 16.9 oz (500 mL) bottles — roughly 1,728 bottles and about 2,000 lb. That's commonly 8 cases per layer × 9 layers. Counts vary by brand and bottle size (some run 60 or 84 cases).
Does the count vary by supplier?
Yes. Pallet counts for cases of water differ by brand, size, and how the pallet is stacked and wrapped. Treat these as typical figures and confirm with your supplier or carrier.
How do I calculate my own pallet load?
Enter your item's dimensions and your pallet size into the pallet calculator to estimate units per layer, layers, and total per pallet for any product.
How much does a pallet of water weigh?
About 2,000–2,100 lb for a standard 72-case pallet of 24 × 16.9 oz bottles. The 1,728 bottles hold roughly 1,900 lb of water by themselves; packaging and the pallet add the rest.
How many bottles of water are on a pallet?
About 1,728 for the common 72-case × 24-bottle pallet of 16.9 oz bottles. Pallets built from 35-count cases hold fewer cases (~54) but a similar total bottle count.
What freight class is a pallet of bottled water?
Bottled water is dense (liquid) freight and typically rates a low LTL class (around 55–70), so it's inexpensive per pound. Run the pallet's dimensions and ~2,000 lb weight through the freight class calculator to confirm.