LDM: length taken in the trailer
In part-load transport, freight is often charged by loading metre. LDM = length × width ÷ 2.4 (metres). 10 non-stackable Euro pallets take 10 × 0.4 = 4 LDM; if they can be stacked two high the floor halves to 2 LDM.
Free tool
Truck and container load calculator: how many pallets and cartons fit?
Pick a carton or pallet size and a vehicle: StowCargo's packing engine places the load piece by piece in your browser and shows how many fit, or how many vehicles your quantity needs, along with the volume used and the loading metres (LDM). It's free and needs no account.
How many pallets fit in each vehicle?
The engine's count in a single layer with no gap between pallets. Euro pallet 1,200 × 800 mm (0.4 LDM), industrial pallet 1,200 × 1,000 mm (0.5 LDM). Click a vehicle for its internal size and drawing.
| Vehicle | Internal length | Euro pallets | Industrial pallets | Euro pallet LDM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Curtainsider 13.60 | 13,600 mm | 34 | 26 | 13.6 |
| Mega trailer | 13,600 mm | 34 | 26 | 13.6 |
| Reefer trailer | 13,300 mm | 33 | 26 | 13.2 |
| Flatbed trailer | 13,600 mm | 34 | 26 | 13.6 |
| Rigid truck 9.60 (4 axles) | 9,600 mm | 24 | 18 | 9.6 |
| Rigid truck 7.50 (3 axles) | 7,500 mm | 18 | 14 | 7.2 |
| Light truck | 4,300 mm | 8 | 6 | 3.2 |
| Panel van (long) | 3,500 mm | 5 | 3 | 2.0 |
| 20' Dry Container | 5,898 mm | 11 | 10 | 4.4 |
| 40' Dry Container | 12,032 mm | 25 | 22 | 10.0 |
| 40' High Cube | 12,032 mm | 25 | 22 | 10.0 |
| 45' High Cube | 13,556 mm | 27 | 24 | 10.8 |
| 20' Open Top | 5,894 mm | 11 | 10 | 4.4 |
| 40' Open Top | 12,029 mm | 25 | 22 | 10.0 |
| 20' Reefer | 5,444 mm | 10 | 9 | 4.0 |
| 40' Reefer HC | 11,583 mm | 23 | 20 | 9.2 |
Loading metres (LDM) and volume (CBM)
CBM: volume and utilisation
CBM (m³) is the total volume of the load, used for container pricing and capacity. But volume alone doesn't tell how many pieces fit: gaps between boxes mean the whole vehicle volume can't be used. The calculator gives the volume utilisation from an actual layout.
Frequently asked questions
How many pallets fit in a truck?
A 13.60 m curtainsider (internal 13,600 × 2,480 mm) takes 34 Euro pallets (1,200 × 800 mm) or 26 industrial pallets (1,200 × 1,000 mm) in a single layer; the calculation leaves no gap between pallets. In practice 33 Euro pallets are often planned to allow forklift and securing clearance. If pallets can be stacked the number grows with height; the calculator works that out too.
How is the loading metre (LDM) calculated?
The loading metre is the length a load occupies in a standard 2.40 m wide trailer: LDM = length (m) × width (m) ÷ 2.4. A Euro pallet is 1.2 × 0.8 ÷ 2.4 = 0.4 LDM, an industrial pallet 1.2 × 1.0 ÷ 2.4 = 0.5 LDM. For a full-width load the loading length is the LDM itself; a 13.60 m trailer is 13.6 LDM. When pallets can't be stacked, LDM is worked out from the floor area.
Can CBM (m³) tell me how many cartons fit?
Only as a rough upper bound. Dividing vehicle volume by carton volume ignores gaps; the real number depends on the carton size, whether it can be turned and the vehicle's internal size. For example, 884 cartons of 600 × 400 × 400 mm fit in a 13.60 m curtainsider, about 93% of its volume. The calculator finds the real number by placing every carton.
Is the calculator free, and are there limits?
Yes, it's free and needs no account. It handles one product and one vehicle type, up to 5,000 pieces; the calculation runs in your browser and the sizes you enter are not sent anywhere. Several products, orders and delivery order, axle loads, a 3D plan, reports and warehouse instructions are in the StowCargo workspace.
Why does weight matter?
With heavy goods the limit is the vehicle's payload rather than its volume. If you enter the unit weight, the calculator places no more than the payload allows and shows how much of it is used. Axle load and centre-of-gravity checks are in the workspace.
Plan your real shipment.
Bring in the packing list from Excel, a PDF or your ERP; place several products with axle loads in mind and prepare the report and warehouse instructions.