48″ × 48″ × 40″
gaylord box
Chemical totes, heavy powders, foundry sand, aggregate blends.
Quote 48″ × 48″ × 40″ 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″ × 48″ × 40″
- Cubic volume
- 53.3 cu ft
- Weight capacity
- 2,800 – 4,500 lb
- Wall construction
- 4-wall to 5-wall
- Per 53′ trailer (KD)
- 320 boxes
- Pallet
- 48" × 48" square
- Family
- Oversize & odd
- Availability
- Made to order
Why this size exists
Square footprints need a square pallet — do not put one on a 48×40 and expect the corners to survive a forklift. When it is spec'd right, it is the strongest rectangular box we carry.
What it is used for
Chemical totes, heavy powders, foundry sand, aggregate blends.
Wall count matters as much as footprint here. This size is stocked in 4-wall to 5-wall, and the capacity range of 2,800 – 4,500 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 53.3 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 | 533 lb | Volume-limited — consider a taller wall |
| 20 lb / cu ft | 1,066 lb | Volume-limited — consider a taller wall |
| 35 lb / cu ft | 1,866 lb | Well matched to this size |
| 50 lb / cu ft | 2,665 lb | Well matched to this size |
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 28 lb per cubic foot this box hits 1,500 lb exactly full.
Freight at a glance
About 320 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" × 48" × 40" 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 4-wall to 5-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 48" × 48" square pallet. Do not put a square box on a 48×40 — the overhang costs roughly 20% of stacking strength per inch, and it costs it at the corners.