Loading metres (LDM) calculator
Calculate loading metres, floor positions, volume, weight and trailer utilisation, including safely rounded incomplete stacks.
This result is a planning aid. Always verify legal limits, vehicle documents, route restrictions and carrier tariffs separately.
Video tutorial
Watch how to use “Loading metres (LDM) calculator” in practice.
How to calculate loading metres (LDM)
Loading metres measure the share of trailer floor area occupied by freight. For a 2.40 m usable trailer width, divide the freight floor area by 2.40. If identical units are safely stackable, first calculate how many floor positions are actually required.
Worked example with Euro pallets
Example: 10 Euro pallets, 1.20 × 0.80 m, non-stackable, using a 2.40 m trailer width.
| Step | Calculation | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Floor positions | ceiling(10 ÷ 1) | 10 |
| Floor area | 1.20 × 0.80 × 10 | 9.60 m² |
| Loading metres | 9.60 ÷ 2.40 | 4.00 LDM |
| Share of 13.6 m trailer floor | 4.00 ÷ 13.6 × 100 | 29.4% |
Common pallet footprints as LDM
Values assume one non-stackable floor position and a 2.40 m usable trailer width.
| Pallet footprint | Floor area | LDM per floor position |
|---|---|---|
| Euro pallet 120 × 80 cm | 0.96 m² | 0.40 LDM |
| Industrial pallet 120 × 100 cm | 1.20 m² | 0.50 LDM |
| Half pallet 80 × 60 cm | 0.48 m² | 0.20 LDM |
| 100 × 120 cm pallet | 1.20 m² | 0.50 LDM |
How stacking changes floor positions and LDM
Example with 10 Euro pallets. Only use stacking when the freight, packaging, pallet and securement plan actually allow it.
| Stacking levels | Floor positions | LDM |
|---|---|---|
| 1 high | 10 | 4.00 LDM |
| 2 high | 5 | 2.00 LDM |
| 3 high | 4 | 1.60 LDM |
| 4 high | 3 | 1.20 LDM |
LDM as a share of a 13.6 m trailer floor
This is a floor-area utilisation reference, not a guarantee that every load will physically fit in the same pattern.
| LDM | Approx. floor utilisation |
|---|---|
| 1.0 LDM | 7.4% |
| 4.0 LDM | 29.4% |
| 10.0 LDM | 73.5% |
| 13.6 LDM | 100.0% |
Common questions
What is 1 LDM?
With a 2.40 m usable trailer width, 1 LDM represents 2.40 m² of trailer floor area: 1.00 m of trailer length × 2.40 m of width.
How many LDM is one Euro pallet?
A 120 × 80 cm Euro pallet occupies 0.96 m². Dividing by 2.40 m gives 0.40 LDM for one non-stackable floor position.
Does stacking always reduce LDM?
Only when the freight can actually be stacked safely. The calculator reduces floor positions according to the selected stacking level, but real height, stability, packaging and securement still control.
Is LDM the same as cubic metres?
No. LDM measures equivalent trailer floor area. Cubic metres measure volume. A load can have low volume but still occupy substantial floor space.
Can calculated LDM guarantee that the freight fits physically?
No. LDM is a floor-area model. Exact geometry, loading gaps, orientation, trailer equipment and securement can require more practical space.
Method: LDM follows the calculator's floor-area model and uses a configurable usable trailer width. The examples above use 2.40 m width and 13.6 m floor length for illustration.
Last verified: 2026-08-31
How are loading metres (LDM) calculated?
- LDM is a floor-area equivalent: cargo length × width × number of floor positions ÷ the planning width of the trailer. A planning width of 2.40 m is commonly used in European road freight, but you can change it.
- If the cargo can be stacked, the number of floor positions is rounded up. For example, 10 units stacked 3 high still require 4 floor positions, not 3.33.
- Volume (m³) and total weight do not decrease when cargo is stacked — stacking only reduces the required floor area when such stacking is genuinely safe and permitted.
- LDM is a planning measure. In real loading, gaps, cargo geometry, securing requirements and an inability to rotate a unit can increase the actual space required.