Loading Meter Calculator (LDM)
Work out how many loading meters your pallets occupy and how much of a standard European trailer they fill.
How to use the Loading Meter Calculator (LDM)
- Choose the pallet type.
- Enter the length and pick its unit.
- Enter the width and pick its unit.
- Enter the number of pallets.
- Choose the pallets per stack.
- Enter the trailer width and pick its unit.
- Press Calculate. The result updates automatically as you type.
About the Loading Meter Calculator (LDM)
The loading meter is the standard space unit for European road freight. It measures how many meters of trailer floor a shipment occupies across the full width of the trailer. Groupage carriers convert LDM to a chargeable weight (often around 1,650–1,850 kg per LDM) and charge the greater of that and the actual weight.
A 13.6 m curtainsider holds 33 EUR pallets or 26 industrial pallets in a single layer. Stacking halves the floor space only if the goods and packaging can safely carry the load above; many carriers still charge non-stackable freight as if nothing could go on top. The calculation assumes pallets are placed efficiently, so awkward mixes may need slightly more space.
Formula
Loading meters = (Pallet length × Pallet width ÷ Trailer width) × Floor positions
Floor positions = ⌈Pallets ÷ Pallets per stack⌉
With the standard 2.4 m trailer width, one EUR pallet is 1.2 × 0.8 ÷ 2.4 = 0.4 LDM and an industrial pallet is 0.5 LDM. Ten non-stackable EUR pallets therefore take 4.0 LDM, about 29% of a 13.6 m semitrailer.
Example calculation
Using the default values:
- Pallet type = EUR / EPAL (1.2 × 0.8 m)
- Number of pallets = 10
- Pallets per stack = Not stackable
- Trailer width = 2.4 m
the calculator returns:
- Loading meters: 4 LDM
- Floor positions: 10 positions
- Share of a 13.6 m trailer: 29.4%
- Full trailers needed: 1 trailer(s)
Frequently asked questions
How many loading meters is a EUR pallet?
0.4 LDM, because 1.2 m × 0.8 m ÷ 2.4 m = 0.4.
How many pallets fit in a 13.6 m trailer?
33 EUR pallets (1.2 × 0.8 m) or 26 industrial pallets (1.2 × 1.0 m) on the floor.
How is LDM converted to weight?
Each carrier sets its own factor, commonly 1,650 to 1,850 kg per loading meter. The chargeable weight is the higher of the actual weight and LDM × factor.
Last updated: · Category: Shipping & Logistics calculators