Pallet Optimization

Fit more on every pallet.
Ship fewer. Spend less.

Inefficient pallet loading quietly inflates your shipping bill with every run. ShipmentPlanner calculates the optimal box arrangement at the layer level — so every pallet ships as full as physically possible.

−15%
average shipping cost reduction
94%
average pallet utilization
Layer
level precision, not estimates
The problem

Inefficient pallet loading

Inefficient pallet loading increases the number of pallets and shipping costs — and most teams don't even notice how much they're losing.

  • Empty space on pallets means you're paying to ship air
  • Manual box arrangement is guesswork — results vary by who does it
  • Over-stacking damages goods; under-loading wastes capacity
  • No visibility into how much capacity you're actually using
  • Each planner has their own method — no consistency across shipments
The solution

Layer-level optimization

ShipmentPlanner optimizes pallet layouts at the layer level for maximum capacity — turning guesswork into a repeatable, consistent process.

  • Layer-by-layer arrangement: The optimizer calculates the exact arrangement of boxes per layer and the number of layers per pallet — not just a rough box count.
  • Weight & height enforcement: Set max pallet height and max weight per pallet type. The planner respects these constraints automatically so you never over-stack.
  • SKU grouping recommendations: When a shipment has multiple SKUs, the system suggests which SKUs to group on the same pallet for the best utilization.
  • Capacity utilization readout: See the fill percentage for every pallet before you commit. Spot under-loaded pallets and consolidate in one click.

Everything the optimizer does

Five capabilities that work together to maximize every pallet you ship.

Layer-by-layer arrangement

The optimizer calculates the exact arrangement of boxes per layer and the number of layers per pallet — not just a rough box count.

Weight & height enforcement

Set max pallet height and max weight per pallet type. The planner respects these constraints automatically so you never over-stack.

SKU grouping recommendations

When a shipment has multiple SKUs, the system suggests which SKUs to group on the same pallet for the best utilization.

Capacity utilization readout

See the fill percentage for every pallet before you commit. Spot under-loaded pallets and consolidate in one click.

EU, UK, and custom pallet types

Built-in support for standard EU (800×1200 mm) and UK (1000×1200 mm) pallets, plus fully configurable custom dimensions.

How it works

From quantities to optimized pallets

Five steps from raw SKU counts to a ready-to-ship pallet layout.

1

Enter SKU quantities

Type in how many units of each SKU are going into this shipment. ShipmentPlanner pulls dimensions and case-pack counts from your SKU database automatically.

2

Units convert to case packs

Unit quantities are divided by the case pack count for each SKU. The result is the number of full boxes — the actual physical units going on pallets.

3

Layer arrangement is calculated

The optimizer determines how many boxes fit per layer given the pallet footprint, then stacks layers up to your configured height and weight limits.

4

Review pallet layout

See each pallet's box count, layer breakdown, total weight, and fill percentage. Adjust quantities or accept the plan.

5

Send to warehouse or export

Forward the finalized layout to your warehouse team with full packing instructions, or export directly to the Amazon Shipment Template.

Frequently asked questions

Technical details about how the optimizer works.

How is layer-level optimization different from just counting boxes?

A simple box count tells you how many boxes fit in theory. Layer-level optimization calculates the real physical arrangement: how many boxes fit on a single layer given their footprint, then how many layers stack within your height and weight limits. The result is a realistic, shippable layout — not a theoretical maximum.

Which pallet types does ShipmentPlanner support?

Out of the box: EU pallet (800×1200 mm), UK pallet (1000×1200 mm), and US pallet (48×40 in). You can also define custom pallet dimensions and save them as named types for reuse across shipments.

Can I set different weight and height limits per destination?

Yes. Each warehouse or destination in your account can have its own default pallet type, max height, and max weight. When you plan a shipment to that destination, those constraints apply automatically.

Does it work for mixed-SKU pallets?

Yes. When a pallet contains more than one SKU, the optimizer treats each box by its actual dimensions and arranges them to maximize layer density. You can also force same-SKU-only pallets if your warehouse requires it — just toggle the setting per shipment.

What efficiency improvement can I expect?

It depends on your current process. Teams moving from manual estimation typically see 8–15% better pallet utilization, which translates directly into fewer pallets per shipment. For high-volume shippers, even 1–2 fewer pallets per run pays for the subscription many times over.

What if my boxes are irregular shapes or multiple sizes per SKU?

Each SKU in your database has one primary box dimension — the outer carton size. If a SKU ships in different carton sizes depending on quantity, you can create separate SKU entries (e.g. SKU-A-6pack, SKU-A-12pack) with the correct dimensions for each.

Stop shipping empty space

Start your 3-month free trial and see how much pallet capacity you're leaving on the table today.