Our loading meter calculator

Easily calculate the loading meters you need

In the transport and logistics sector, loading meters and pallets are used extensively. Pallets come in various variants and dimensions. So read below everything you need to know about pallets and loading meters!

• pallet type

  Length

  Width

  Height

  Number of pallets

  Calculated loadmeters
• m

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Pallet

A pallet is a transport unit used to store and transport goods. The pallet is a platform made of wood, plastic or cardboard and is available in various materials, shapes and sizes.

Euro pallet

The most common pallet in Europe is the Euro pallet, also known as the EUR pallet. This standard pallet has a dimension of 80x120 cm and is made of wood according to the specifications of the European Pallet Association (EPAL). The pallet has a height of 14.4 cm and is officially designed to carry a maximum of 1,500 kilos. To recognise a Euro pallet, the words "EUR", "EPAL" or "UIC" can be found on the left and right blocks. The pallet consists of five top boards, three bottom boards and three cross boards. Nine blocks, made of solid wood or pressed wood chips, connect the top and bottom of the pallet. The top edge of the bottom boards is chamfered to facilitate picking up with a forklift or pallet truck. The corners of the pallet are rounded to prevent damage and injuries. There are also unofficial Euro pallets available that often do not have a "EUR" ring or a different board thickness and are not part of the exchange system.

Block pallet

Besides the Euro pallet, block pallets are also common in the transport and logistics industry. These pallets often have a dimension of 100x120 cm, but they can also occur in the dimension 110x110 cm. It is important to note that block pallets have no official recognition in Europe. In the United Kingdom mainly block pallets of 100x120 cm are used. A block pallet consists of various parts, including a top deck, intermediate deck and bottom deck, as well as the blocks that connect these deck parts to each other. The load capacity of a block pallet depends on the thickness of the boards and blocks used.

Other types of pallets

Besides Euro and block pallets, many more types of pallets are available. Companies often make a distinction between 'new' or 'used' pallets or between pallets for single or multiple use. They are available with a different load capacity. Even in custom-made dimensions, specifically for the transport or storage of your products. There are also display pallets, beam pallets and CP pallets, which are suitable, for example, as a shop pallet, heavy industrial pallets or chemical pallets.

The material of the pallets

Pallets are usually manufactured from three common materials: wood, cardboard and plastic. Wooden pallets are sturdy, usually weigh between 20 and 25 kilos, and can be used outdoors. For the use of wooden pallets in import or export, a special treatment is often required to kill harmful organisms. Plastic pallets are easy to clean, which is why they are used extensively in the food and pharmaceutical industry, where safety is essential. Used plastic pallets can be cleaned by washing or steaming, so that they can be used again. A disadvantage is that plastic pallets are often more expensive than other options. Cardboard pallets are gaining popularity, mainly because of their sustainability. They are manufactured from recycled paper and can be recycled after use. In addition, cardboard pallets are very light (on average around 5 kilos), which means they can easily be moved by hand. Because of their low weight they are often used in air freight, where rates depend on the weight of the shipment.

Loading meter

In road transport the term "loading meters" is used frequently. A loading meter is used as a unit of calculation for goods that cannot be stacked or on which stacking is not possible. It actually serves as compensation for the volume lost in the truck. A loading meter corresponds to one linear metre of cargo space in a truck. This means that each loading meter equals one metre of the available cargo space in the truck.

• A Euro pallet is 0.80 x 1.20 metres (0.4 loading meter)
• A block pallet is 1.00 x 1.20 metres (0.5 loading meter)

Because of the width of a truck of approximately 2.40 metres, one loading meter corresponds to an area of approximately 2.4 square metres (2.40 metres width x 1 metre length). The number of loading meters needed for the transport of goods can easily be calculated by calculating the floor area that the goods occupy. By multiplying the length in metres of the floor area by the width in metres and then dividing by 2.40 metres, you get the number of loading meters needed.

It is important to note that each loading meter has a maximum weight of 1,750 kg. If, for example, the shipment has a weight of 2,000 kg, then the number of loading meters is calculated as 2,000 kg / 1,750 kg = 1.14 loading meter. Even if the cargo were stacked on 2 Euro pallets, for example, the number of loading meters would not be 0.8, but 1.0 loading meter.

Please note: Floor area that, due to a deviating pallet format, cannot be filled by a full standard pallet (80 cm / 120 cm) is added to the chargeable loading meters.

Loading meter calculator

Use our handy loading meter calculator at the top of this page to accurately calculate the total number of loading meters for any transport. Select the type of pallet, indicate the number of pallets of that type and, if necessary, add other pallet formats. You can also remove pallets by clicking on the trash can icon. With this tool you instantly get insight into the number of loading meters needed for your shipment.

Use our handy loading meter calculator for calculating your freight transport. Save time and costs by planning smartly with The Freight Hero!