48″ × 40″ × 42″
gaylord box
Fluff, foam, film, EPS, light plastics, apparel.
Quote 48″ × 40″ × 42″ boxes
Tell us what you have or what you need. A real person in Houston reads every one of these — usually within a couple of hours during dock time.
- Inside dimensions
- 48″ × 40″ × 42″
- Cubic volume
- 46.7 cu ft
- Weight capacity
- 1,800 – 3,000 lb
- Wall construction
- 3-wall to 4-wall
- Per 53′ trailer (KD)
- 420 boxes
- Pallet
- 48" × 40" GMA
- Family
- Tall & extra-tall
- Availability
- Regular stock
Why this size exists
When your material weighs nothing and takes everything, buy height instead of buying more boxes. A 42-inch wall is roughly 17% more volume than the standard 36 with no extra floor space burnt.
What it is used for
Fluff, foam, film, EPS, light plastics, apparel.
Wall count matters as much as footprint here. This size is stocked in 3-wall to 4-wall, and the capacity range of 1,800 – 3,000 lb spans that spread — the low end is the lightest construction, the high end the heaviest. Pick from the actual weight of a full box, not from the catalogue maximum.
Material density check
At 46.7 cubic feet, this box fills completely at these bulk densities before it reaches its weight limit:
| If your material weighs | A full box weighs | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| 10 lb / cu ft | 467 lb | Volume-limited — consider a taller wall |
| 20 lb / cu ft | 934 lb | Volume-limited — consider a taller wall |
| 35 lb / cu ft | 1,635 lb | Well matched to this size |
| 50 lb / cu ft | 2,335 lb | Weight-limited — go shorter or add a wall |
Rough guide: shredded film and foam sit around 4–10 lb/cu ft, mixed textiles 8–14, plastic regrind 20–35, e-scrap 35–60, and minerals or aggregate well above that. At 32 lb per cubic foot this box hits 1,500 lb exactly full.
Regular stock
Usually on the floor. Send the form for a current count before you plan around it.
Check availabilityFreight at a glance
About 420 knocked down per 53-foot trailer. Assembled on pallets you get 26 pallet positions instead — roughly a quarter of the boxes for the same freight bill.
Run the load planner →Other sizes in the chart
| Size | Volume | Capacity | Per 53′ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 48″ × 40″ × 36″ | 40 cu ft | 1,200 – 2,800 lb | 480 |
| 48″ × 40″ × 30″ | 33.3 cu ft | 1,000 – 2,000 lb | 540 |
| 48″ × 40″ × 24″ | 26.7 cu ft | 900 – 1,800 lb | 600 |
Is 48" × 40" × 42" an inside or outside dimension?
Inside. Outside dimensions run roughly ½" to 1½" larger per side depending on wall count, which matters for racking and trailer fit but not for what you can put in the box.
Can I get this size in a different wall count?
We stock this footprint in 3-wall to 4-wall. Other wall counts are available as new builds, or occasionally we can cut down a taller box to this height from heavier stock.
What pallet does it need?
A standard 48" × 40" GMA pallet. Match the footprint exactly — overhang removes support from the corners, which carry most of a stacked load.