Free tool
Loading meter calculator
Loading metres (LDM) measure how much trailer length your cargo takes. Enter your pallets and see the LDM, the share of a 13.6 m trailer and the Euro pallet equivalent.
Cargo
- LDM
Total loading metres
4.00LDM
- Share of a 13.6 m trailer
- 29%
- Euro pallet equivalents
- 10
An estimate for freight pricing. It does not check whether the cargo fits.
What is a loading meter?
A loading meter (LDM) is one metre of trailer length across the full width of about 2.4 m. Carriers use it to price part loads. A standard 13.6 m trailer has 13.6 LDM.
How do you calculate loading metres?
Multiply length by width in metres, divide by 2.4, and divide by the stack factor if the cargo can be stacked. Then multiply by the number of pieces.
LDM = length (m) × width (m) ÷ 2.4 ÷ stack factor × quantity
The 2.4 m is the usable width of a standard trailer. A Euro pallet of 1.2 × 0.8 m takes 0.96 m² of an imaginary 2.4 m wide strip, which is 0.4 m of length.
What are some worked examples?
These are the numbers the calculator gives.
- 33 Euro pallets, not stacked: 33 × 0.4 = 13.2 LDM. That is 97 % of a 13.6 m trailer.
- 20 industrial pallets (1200 × 1000 mm): 20 × 0.5 = 10 LDM.
- 12 Euro pallets that stack two high: 12 × 0.4 ÷ 2 = 2.4 LDM.
- 3 crates of 2.0 × 1.0 m, not stackable: 3 × (2.0 × 1.0 ÷ 2.4) = 2.5 LDM.
How many loading metres is a pallet?
A Euro pallet is 0.4 LDM and an industrial pallet is 0.5 LDM. Stacking two high halves the floor space.
| Pallet | Size (mm) | LDM each | Pieces per LDM |
|---|---|---|---|
| Euro pallet (EUR / EPAL) | 1200 × 800 | 0.4 | 2.5 |
| Industrial pallet | 1200 × 1000 | 0.5 | 2.0 |
| Half pallet (Düsseldorf pallet) | 800 × 600 | 0.2 | 5.0 |
| Euro pallet, stacked two high | 1200 × 800 | 0.2 | 5.0 |
A 13.6 m trailer takes 33 Euro pallets in practice, which is 13.2 LDM. Real loading also depends on how the pallets are turned, their weight and the axle loads.
Is the loading meter exact?
No. It is an approximation for pricing. It tells you how much floor space a carrier will bill, not whether your cargo fits.
Carriers often round up to the next half or full loading metre, and some also convert weight to loading metres. Ask your carrier for its rule. Whether a mixed load really fits depends on the exact sizes, the weight, how items are turned and where they sit. A load plan answers that.
Need to know if it actually fits?
Cargo Marshal plans the load itself. Paste your packing list, click Calculate, and see how many trucks or containers you need and where every item goes. Start a free 14-day Team trial with no card.
Loading meter questions
How many loading metres is a Euro pallet?
0.4 LDM. A Euro pallet is 1.2 × 0.8 m, so 1.2 × 0.8 ÷ 2.4 = 0.4. Two and a half Euro pallets make one loading metre.
How many loading metres does a trailer have?
A standard semi-trailer has 13.6 LDM. In practice that is 33 Euro pallets or 26 industrial pallets.
How do I calculate loading metres for stackable pallets?
Divide the result by the stack factor. Two pallets stacked on each other take the floor space of one, so the LDM halves. Only use a stack factor if the cargo, packaging and carrier allow stacking.
Is a loading meter the same as a pallet space?
No. A pallet space is a count of pallets. A loading meter is a length of the trailer. Many carriers quote in loading metres because it also covers cargo that is not a standard pallet.
Does a loading meter include weight?
No. The formula looks at floor space only. Some carriers add a weight rule on top, so heavy cargo can cost more than its loading metres suggest.
Does the Cargo Marshal app show loading meters?
No. Cargo Marshal works out how many trucks or containers you need and where every item goes. Use this calculator for a quick pricing figure and the app for the load plan.