How Many Tires Fit on a Pallet vs a Container? (2026 Bulk Buyer’s Guide)
If you’re planning a bulk tire order, two numbers drive everything — freight, storage, and budget: how many tires fit on a pallet, and how many fit in a shipping container. There’s no single answer, because it depends on tire size and how the tires are loaded. But you can plan with confidence using the ranges below.
How many tires fit on a pallet?
A standard pallet is about 48″ × 40″. The number of tires it holds depends on tire diameter, section width, and whether tires are stacked flat or stood on edge. As a rough planning guide (we confirm exact counts on every quote):
- Passenger car tires: roughly 30–50 per pallet.
- Light-truck / SUV tires: roughly 20–30 per pallet.
- Commercial truck tires (e.g. 11R22.5): roughly 10–16 per pallet.
Bigger, wider tires take more room, so the per-pallet count drops as tire size climbs. Agricultural and OTR tires are often shipped individually or on custom skids rather than standard pallets.
How many tires fit in a shipping container?
For larger orders, tires ship by the container. Capacity again depends on tire size, sidewall dimensions, stacking, and whether it’s a single-size or mixed load. Typical estimates for passenger tires:
| Load | Passenger tires (approx.) |
|---|---|
| 20FT container | 800–1,200 |
| 40FT container | 1,800–2,500 |
| Commercial truck tires | Far fewer — varies with dimensions |
Commercial truck tires are much larger, so a container holds a fraction of the passenger-tire count. Mixed-size containers are common and let distributors balance demand across sizes. For a deeper breakdown, see our container of tires guide.
Roughly how many pallets in a container?
As a planning rule of thumb, a 40ft container holds on the order of 20–24 standard pallets by floor space — but tires are often loaded loose (“floor-loaded”) rather than palletized to maximize the count, which is why the per-container tire numbers above are higher than pallet-count math alone would suggest.
Why this matters for your order
- Freight: pallet shipments move by LTL/parcel freight; containers move by sea or full truckload — very different cost structures.
- Storage: know your floor space before you commit. A full 40ft container of passenger tires needs real warehouse room.
- Choosing your tier: if these container counts are more than you can sell through, ordering by the pallet keeps you nimble. If you can move them, factory-direct containers win on price.
Frequently asked questions
How many tires fit on a standard pallet?
Approximately 30–50 passenger tires, 20–30 light-truck tires, or 10–16 commercial truck tires — it varies with tire size, and we confirm exact counts on your quote.
How many tires fit in a 40ft container?
Roughly 1,800–2,500 passenger tires; far fewer for commercial truck tires. A 20ft holds about 800–1,200 passenger tires.
Can I order less than a full pallet?
Wholesale pricing is built around bulk quantities, but tell us what you need — our minimums are low and start from a single pallet.
Do you palletize or floor-load containers?
Both are possible depending on the sizes and your handling setup. We’ll advise the most efficient loading for your order.
Plan your bulk order with us
Tell us the sizes and quantities you’re considering and we’ll confirm exact pallet/container counts plus freight.
Request a wholesale quote → · New buyer? Open a wholesale tire account.