Truck Load Calculator
See how many pallets fit in a truck and how many trucks your shipment needs. Enter your pallet count, pick GMA or Euro, and toggle double-stacking — the calculator works it out across the common US trailers.
Floor capacities for standard trailers; double-stacking assumes your freight and weight limit allow it. Confirm real load plans and trailer weight limits with your carrier.
Full truckload (53ft van)
26 pallets per 53ft van
Trucks needed by trailer
Estimates only — pallet fit depends on orientation, stackability and weight limits.
How many pallets fit in a truck?
It comes down to the trailer’s floor length and your pallet footprint. Standard single-layer capacities for GMA (48×40 in) pallets:
| Trailer | GMA pallets | Euro pallets | Double-stacked (GMA) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 53ft dry van | 26 | 30 | 52 |
| 48ft trailer | 24 | 26 | 48 |
| 28ft pup trailer | 14 | 15 | 28 |
| 26ft box truck | 12 | 13 | 24 |
These are floor-loaded estimates. Real capacity depends on pallet orientation, overhang, load height and the trailer’s weight limit — a dense load can “weigh out” before it fills the floor.
Truckload or LTL?
If your pallets fill most of a trailer, full truckload (FTL) is usually cheaper and faster than LTL, and it skips hub handling. If you only have a few pallets, LTL wins because you pay just for the space you use. Not sure where you land? Read LTL vs FTL, and if you’re loading a sea container instead, use the container loading calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How many pallets fit in a 53ft trailer?
A 53ft dry van holds about 26 standard GMA (48×40 in) pallets floor-loaded in a single layer, or roughly 52 if they are double-stacked. Euro pallets (1200×800 mm) fit a bit more — around 30 on the floor.
How many pallets fit in a 48ft trailer?
A 48ft trailer holds about 24 GMA pallets on the floor (48 double-stacked) or around 26 Euro pallets. A 28ft pup trailer holds about 14, and a 26ft box truck about 12.
When should I use full truckload instead of LTL?
Full truckload (FTL) usually wins once you fill most of a trailer — about 12+ pallets or 15,000 lb — or when your freight is fragile or time-sensitive, since it ships direct with no hub handling. Below that, LTL is cheaper because you only pay for the space you use.