How to Calculate Pallet Size

Boxes are sometimes stored on pallets in order to move them more easily.

When shipping many boxes at one time, they are sometimes packaged together onto pallets. Moving these pallets can be done quickly with forklifts, saving time compared to hand lifting and moving. Knowing the cubic area of your pallet is helpful when considering shipment space. In order to determine the amount of space your pallet occupies, you only need to take a few basic measurements and perform some simple calculations.

Things You'll Need

• Tape measure
• Calculator

Instructions

Square Footage of Pallet

1. Measure the length of your pallet. Write this number down for reference.

2. Measure the width of your pallet. Write this number down as well.

3. Multiply the measurements taken in steps 1 and 2 together. The result equals the square footage of your pallet.

Cubic Footage of Pallet

1. Measure the length of your pallet. Write this number down for reference.

2. Measure the width of your pallet. Write this number down.

3. Measure the height of your pallet. Write this number down.

4. Multiply the measurements taken in steps 1, 2 and 3 together. The result equals the cubic space that your pallet occupies.

Tips & Warnings

• To determine how many boxes of a particular size will fit on your pallet, you will first need to determine the square footage of one of the boxes. To do this, measure the width and length of the box. Multiply these measurements together and write down your result. Divide the square footage of your pallet by the square footage of your box. The result will equal the amount of boxes that you will be able to pack into one layer of your pallet.

References

• Raymond Handling Solution: Pallet & Sea Container Capacity Multi-Calculator
• Loaded Truck: How to measure freight shipments