Linear Feet Calculator
Find out how much trailer length your shipment really uses. Enter pallet counts, dimensions, stackability, and trailer width, and get linear feet used, how many fit across, space remaining, and whether the shipment trips a carrier linear foot rule that pushes it out of standard LTL pricing.
Linear feet calculator
Enter each pallet or handling unit as it will be tendered. The calculator works out how many fit side by side across the trailer, how deep the rows run, and the linear feet of trailer the shipment consumes. Everything runs in your browser.
At 6.67 linear feet this stays under the common 10 linear foot threshold, so standard LTL class and weight pricing normally applies.
4 pieces at 2,400 lbs is normal LTL size. Once you cross about 12 linear feet or 20,000 lbs, price volume LTL and partial truckload side by side.
Thresholds differ by carrier tariff. Common triggers are 10, 12, or 20 linear feet, and many tariffs also look at total weight and whether freight is stackable. Confirm the rule in the tariff before you tender.
Need to see the load, not just a number?
Linear feet tell you how much space the freight eats. FreightCanvas shows you exactly where it goes, checks the weight, routes the trip, and turns it into a quote.
- 2D and 3D trailer load planning with auto fit
- Axle and section weight checks before you load
- Saved equipment profiles with real inside dimensions
- Truck aware, multi stop routing with dimension limits
- Fuel cost, fuel stops, and rate per mile margin math
- Quotes, BOLs, and invoices from the same plan
No credit card needed. This calculator stays free and open to everyone.
Four things move your linear foot count
Footprint, not volume
Trailer inside width
Stackability
Rotation
A quick worked example
Six 48 by 40 inch pallets, not stackable, in a 53 foot van with 100 inches of usable width. Two fit across at 40 inches wide, so six pallets make three rows at 48 inches deep, which is 144 inches or 12 linear feet, about 23 percent of the trailer. Mark them stackable and the same six pallets need only three floor positions, two rows, 8 linear feet. That single change can be the difference between a capacity priced shipment and standard LTL rating.
Standard pallets to linear feet
Standard 48 by 40 inch pallets loaded straight, two across a van with roughly 100 inches of usable inside width. Double stacking roughly halves every figure below.
| Pallets | Rows across | Linear feet | Typical pricing path |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 to 2 | 1 | 4 | Standard LTL by class and weight |
| 3 to 4 | 2 | 8 | Standard LTL, watch the tariff threshold |
| 5 to 6 | 3 | 12 | Linear foot rule likely, compare volume LTL |
| 7 to 10 | 4 to 5 | 16 to 20 | Volume LTL or partial truckload |
| 11 to 16 | 6 to 8 | 24 to 32 | Partial truckload |
| 17 to 26 | 9 to 13 | 36 to 52 | Full truckload |
Figures are planning estimates. Actual capacity depends on real inside dimensions, pallet overhang, load bars, dunnage, and the carrier tariff in force.
From linear feet to a planned load
This page is a single number for a quick tender decision. Inside FreightCanvas the same freight becomes a real trailer layout with weight checks, a truck aware route, fuel cost, and a quote your customer can sign.
True 2D and 3D load planning
Axle and weight awareness
Truck aware multi stop routing
Fuel and margin on the same trip
Reusable equipment profiles
Quotes and documents
Linear feet FAQ
What are linear feet in trucking?
Linear feet measure how much trailer floor length a shipment occupies, measured front to back, regardless of how wide or tall the trailer is. A standard 48 by 40 inch pallet loaded straight takes 4 linear feet of trailer, and two of those sitting side by side across the width still take only 4 linear feet together, not 8.
How do you calculate linear feet for a shipment?
Work out how many handling units fit side by side across the trailer width, divide the total number of units by that figure and round up to get the number of rows, then multiply the rows by the depth of each unit in inches and divide by 12. A 53 foot van is usually 100 to 102 inches of usable inside width, so two 48 inch deep pallets fit across at 40 inches wide each. Ten of them is five rows at 48 inches, which is 20 linear feet.
What is the linear foot rule?
Most LTL carriers publish a tariff rule that lets them reprice or refuse a shipment once it occupies more than a set amount of trailer length, commonly 10, 12, or 20 linear feet. Past that point the shipment is priced for the capacity it consumes instead of by freight class and weight, because it blocks space the carrier could sell to several other customers.
How many pallets fit in a 53 foot trailer?
A 53 foot van holds 26 standard 48 by 40 inch pallets loaded straight in two rows across, or 52 if the freight double stacks. Turning pallets to 40 inches deep can fit more in the same length when the load allows it. This calculator does that comparison automatically and picks the orientation that uses the fewest linear feet.
Does stacking reduce linear feet?
Yes, and it is often the cheapest change you can make. Double stacking halves the number of floor positions the shipment needs, which roughly halves the linear feet. Mark the units stackable only if the freight and packaging truly support weight on top, since a carrier that cannot stack it will rate it at the full footprint.
Is linear feet the same as freight class?
No. Freight class comes from density, stowability, handling, and liability, and drives standard LTL pricing. Linear feet describe the trailer length consumed and drive capacity based pricing on larger shipments. A light bulky load can carry a high class and a large linear foot count at the same time, which is exactly when volume LTL or a partial truckload quote usually wins.
When should I quote volume LTL or a partial truckload instead?
Once a shipment reaches roughly 12 linear feet, six or more pallets, or about 20,000 lbs, price volume LTL, partial truckload, and full truckload side by side. Capacity priced options frequently beat class based LTL at that size, and they avoid the reweigh and reclass surprises that come with large LTL tenders.
Is my data saved?
No. The entire calculation runs locally in your browser. Nothing you enter is stored or sent anywhere.