Unit Load Device - Aircraft Compatibility - ULD Capacity

ULD Capacity

Aircraft loads can consist of containers, pallets, or a mix of ULD types, depending on requirements. The table below indicates the maximum capacity of an aircraft for all-container and all-pallet configurations. In some aircraft the two types must be mixed as some compartments take only specific ULDs.

Container capacity of an aircraft is measured in positions. Each half-width container (LD1/LD2/LD3) in the aircraft it was designed for occupies one position. Typically, each row in a cargo compartment consists of two positions. Therefore, a full-width container (LD6/LD8/LD11) will take two positions. An LD6 or an LD11 can occupy the space of two LD3s. An LD8 takes the space of two LD2s.

Aircraft pallet capacity is measured by how many PMC-type LD7s (96" × 125") can be stored. These pallets occupy approximately three LD3 positions (it occupies two positions of one row and half of the two positions of the following row) or four LD2 positions. PMCs can only be loaded in cargo compartments with large doors designed to accept them (small door compartments are container only).

A = Airbus; B = Boeing; L = Lockheed; MD = McDonnell-Douglas; Il = Ilyushin; F = freighter; ER = extended range; LR = long range
Aircraft Max Container Cap. Max Pallet Cap. Remarks
B727-100F none 8 pallets* *88" × 125" pallets only; the 727 is a narrow-body
B727-200F none 12 pallets* *88" × 125" pallets only; the 727 is a narrow-body
B727-200C (combi) none 11 pallets* *88" × 125" pallets only; the 727 is a narrow-body
B757-200F 13 SAAs* or 28 AYYs 14 PAGs *Position 14 is AYYs only
B747-100/200/300 30 LD1s 5 pallets + 14 LD1s, or 9 pallets
B747-400 32 LD1s 5 pallets + 16 LD1s, or 9 pallets + 2 LD1s
B747-400ER 26 LD1s 4 pallets + 14 LD1s
B747-400F/ERF 32 LD1s (lower deck) + 30 pallets (main deck) freighter aircraft, capacity includes all decks
B767-200 22 LD2s 3 pallets + 10 LD2s
B767-300 30 LD2s 4 pallets + 14 LD2s
B767-300ER 30 LD2s 4 pallets + 14 LD2s
B767-300F 24 pallets* (main deck) + 30 LD2s (lower deck) *accepts 88" × 125" pallets only; freighter aircraft
B767-400ER 38 LD2s 5 pallets + 18 LD2s
B777-200/200ER/200LR 32 LD3s 10 pallets
B777F 30 LD3s + 27 pallets 37 pallets freighter aircraft, capacity includes all decks
B777-300/300ER 44 LD3s 14 pallets
B787-8/-3 28 LD3s 9 pallets
B787-9 36 LD3s 11 pallets
A300B2/B4 20 LD3s ?
A300-600 22 LD3s 4 pallets + 10 LD3s
A300-600F 41 LD3s 25 pallets freighter aircraft, capacity includes all decks A300-600F deck layout
A310 14 LD3s 3 pallets
A319 4 LD3-45W + 1 LD3/40 Note LD3 height only 45"; add. cont. acc. IATA contour H
A320 7 LD3-45W Note LD3 height only 45"; add. cont. acc. IATA contour H
A320PF 10 pallets* (main deck) + 7 LD3-45W (lower deck) 10 AAZ (main deck) + 7 LD3-45W (lower deck) *accepts 88" × 125" pallets only; freighter aircraft equipped with fwd cargo 86×121" door
A321 10 LD3-45W Note LD3 heigh only 45"; add. cont. acc. IATA contour H
A321PF 13 pallets* (main deck) + 10 LD3-45W (lower deck) 13 AAZ (main deck) + 10 LD3-45W (lower deck) *accepts 88" × 125" pallets only; freighter aircraft equipped with fwd cargo 86×121" door
A330-200 23 pallets or 26 LD3s 8 pallets + 2 LD3s
A330-200F 9 AMA containers + 4 pallets (main deck) + 26 LD3 (lower deck) 22 pallets (main deck) + 8 pallets + 2 LD3 (lower deck) freighter aircraft, capacity includes all decks A330-200F deck layout
A330-300 32 LD3s 11 pallets
A340-200 26 LD3s 9 pallets
A340-300 32 LD3s 11 pallets
A340-500 30 LD3s 10 pallets
A340-600 42 LD3s 14 pallets
A380-800 38 LD3s 13 pallets
A380F 59–71 LD3s 66 pallets freighter aircraft, capacity includes all decks A380F deck layout
MD-11 32 LD3s 26 pallets
L-1011 16 LD3s none all series except 500 (250/200/150/100/50/1 series)
L-1011-500 19 LD3s 4 pallets* *if equipped with fwd cargo 104" door
Il-86 16 LD3s ?
Il-96 18 LD3s ?
Maximum capacity shown does not reflect weight restrictions.
Actual number of ULDs loaded may be lower if aircraft is at its weight limit.

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