What size of boxes for LCL shipment to use the pallet efficiently

[pala69]

Hi All

I am planning to ship some of my stuff which looks like will be a LCL shipment . Now I understand that LCL shipments are generally shipped using Pallets and calculating the volumes by the shipper. Now I have a question about the box sizes that I should use so that the pallet volume can be used efficiently. I read the thread ? Shipping basics for R2Iers? and there it says the normal size( dimension) of a pallet is 36? x 48? . And to use this pallet dimension efficiently there are many types ( configuration) of boxes which can be used to get the maximum out of the pallet, but there are 2 most useful type of boxes that most probably makes sense to me compare to the any other type of configuration and they are

24(L)x18(w) = Total 4 boxes in 1 layer
Or
18(L) X 18(W) - 4 boxes + 18(L) X 12(W) -2 Boxes = Total 6 boxes in 1 layer.

I left the height of the boxes above as I am not sure how high the pallet can be filled .

All the above are all my assumption/calculation so I would like to know from other people who are planning to ship LCL or already shipped to find out what type of boxes they used or planning to use to get the maximum out of the pallet.

I read many threads and posts but didnot find any precise answars.

Thanks
Pala69

[UniRelo]

Deari Pala69,

You would want to go with a standard size such as 18x18x18 or 18x18x24 and ship at least 35 CFT if shipping palletized. 40x48x6 pallets are also pretty widely used in sea freight and can be stacked up to 5 feet in height, sometimes more.

Hope this helps.

Regards,
UniRelo Team

Hi All

I am planning to ship some of my stuff which looks like will be a LCL shipment . Now I understand that LCL shipments are generally shipped using Pallets and calculating the volumes by the shipper. Now I have a question about the box sizes that I should use so that the pallet volume can be used efficiently. I read the thread “ Shipping basics for R2Iers” and there it says the normal size( dimension) of a pallet is 36” x 48” . And to use this pallet dimension efficiently there are many types ( configuration) of boxes which can be used to get the maximum out of the pallet, but there are 2 most useful type of boxes that most probably makes sense to me compare to the any other type of configuration and they are

24(L)x18(w) = Total 4 boxes in 1 layer
Or
18(L) X 18(W) - 4 boxes + 18(L) X 12(W) -2 Boxes = Total 6 boxes in 1 layer.

I left the height of the boxes above as I am not sure how high the pallet can be filled .

All the above are all my assumption/calculation so I would like to know from other people who are planning to ship LCL or already shipped to find out what type of boxes they used or planning to use to get the maximum out of the pallet.

I read many threads and posts but didnot find any precise answars.

Thanks
Pala69

[UniRelo]

USANRI,

To get the most bang for your buck when shipping as LCL, you want to stack up boxes efficiently inside a 48x40x90 (LxWxH) cube. This works out to 100 CFT. Large boxes usually measure 18x18x24 or 18x18x28. Medium boxes measure 18x18x18. Small boxes can be 18x12x12. Thumb rule you want to follow is heavier the items, smaller the box. Focusing too much on volume can result in boxes getting crushed (damages) under their own weight especially if you make large boxes heavy.

Get empty boxes, try to form a 48x40x90 cube at home (pick a room corner) and then take external measurements (remember that L and W are constant at 48x40 and add 2 inches to the height). if you do this, your final volume should be close to the shipping company's final measurements. Remember that the pallet stands 2 inches from the ground.

Tip: Use mirror boxes for utilizing unused space on the sides of the pallet. You can buy mirror boxes at UHaul. They are pretty handy for picture frames, mirrors, and small fragile items. Be sure to wrap the items with a generous amount of paper and/or bubble before placing in the mirror box.

One more thing, warehouse staff may not necessarily stack up the boxes the same way you do because they will want to keep heavier boxes at the bottom of the pallet. The above is a guideline not a one size fits all solution. Always expect the shipping company's volume to be a bit higher than your estimate. Lastly, try to stay within 50 LBS per box.

Following these guidelines and setting a realistic expectation will help avoid cube shock.

Best Regards,
Adarsh Dattani
Universal Relocations, LLC

Hello UniRelo Team,

Thanks for the info. However, how many Large/medium sized boxes will fit in a 40 X 48 X 6 pallet? If you have any recommendations on what combination of box sizes could be used to leverage the space efficiently, it will be greatly appreciated.

thanks,
USANRI

[vivek_1975]

I have a question. How does palletizing works for LCD TV. Lets say i have big TV (62 * 35 * 10) & 5 large boxes. The calculated volume is less than 50 cu feet. Does everything fits in a single pallet?

[UniRelo]

I have a question. How does palletizing works for LCD TV. Lets say i have big TV (62 * 35 * 10) & 5 large boxes. The calculated volume is less than 50 cu feet. Does everything fits in a single pallet?

Your TV will not fit in the pallet because of the length.

Best Regards,
Adarsh Dattani
Universal Relocations, LLC

[21stCenturyRelo]

Vivek_1975

generally pallet measurements are 48" x 40" and can be stacked to a height of 5-7 feet. Since your tv box is 62" it will exceed the pallet size and will increase your volume tremendously. It would be better to ship 8 boxes on a pallet and ship the tv box as is (not on a pallet). Since you have the original box, just add pack everything well and you should be ok

Yogesh Thakker
21st Century Relocations

I have a question. How does palletizing works for LCD TV. Lets say i have big TV (62 * 35 * 10) & 5 large boxes. The calculated volume is less than 50 cu feet. Does everything fits in a single pallet?

[ashgrace]

where will I get double wall boxes?

[21stCenturyRelo]

Check with the local U-Haul store or with www.uline.com

where will I get double wall boxes?

[UniRelo]

Ask for 18x18x28 double walled boxes at your local U-Haul store. Most U-Haul stores carry them.

Best Regards,
Adarsh Dattani
Universal Relocations, LLC

where will I get double wall boxes?