How to Calculate Load Metres
(And Save Space, Time & Money)
If you’ve ever stared at a trailer and wondered, “Will this even fit?” — welcome to the world of load metres, and more specifically, to the Load Metre Calculator.
It’s one of those freight terms that sounds technical, but once you get it, it’s actually pretty straightforward — and very useful. Especially if you want to avoid underloading (wasted space) or overloading (extra costs, delays, drama).
Let’s break it down.
What Is a Load Metre?
A load metre is the amount of trailer space your goods take up, measured along the length of the trailer.
In other words:
1 load metre = 1 metre of trailer length fully used side to side.
If your goods are stackable, the same space can handle more — meaning fewer load metres used. If not, your shipment may take up more length than expected.
Why Use an LDM Calculator?
Because it affects everything:
- Pricing: Freight is often billed by space taken, not just weight.
- Planning: Helps you and your logistics partner optimise trailer usage.
- Speed: Faster, more accurate freight quotes. No back-and-forth.
How to Calculate It manually
The basic formula looks like this:
Load Metres = (Pallet Length x Number of Pallets) / 2.4
Why 2.4? Because the average trailer width is 2.4 metres, and that’s how we determine if pallets can sit side by side.
But here’s the thing — it gets messy:
- Some pallets are euro-size, some aren’t.
- Some shipments are stackable, others aren’t.
- Do you have 13 mixed pallets or 8 uniform ones?
- Is there overhang? Special handling?
Math + freight = headache.
That’s Why We Built it
We saw too many customers getting stuck at this stage, so we built a free Load Metre Calculator to do the work for you.
- No signup.
- No download.
- Just input your pallets and dimensions — and get your load metres instantly.
Over 4,700 people have used it in the past six months. We even rank top 4 on Google for “Load Metre Calculator.” Not bad for a simple tool solving a very real problem.
Want to Ship Smarter?
If you’re ready to move freight with less guesswork, check out these helpful tools and resources:
🛠 Try It For Yourself
Save time. Avoid errors. Move faster.
🚛 Final Thought
The more you understand your space, the better your freight flows.
Calculating load metres is just one piece of the puzzle — but it’s one of those things that, once sorted, makes everything else easier.
And if you’re not sure where to start?
Start here: https://transportify.co.uk/load-metre-calculator
