load-buddyHow to measure a van for pallet loading
Measure the space the loaded pallets can actually occupy, rather than the dimensions of the van's body. A few centimetres lost to a lining, wheel arch or door frame can change an otherwise plausible arrangement.
1. Start with usable floor length
Measure from the inside of the closed rear doors to the bulkhead, along the floor. If a fixed cabinet, ramp or partition occupies part of that area, exclude it. Use the shortest usable length if the two sides differ. A manufacturer's cargo length can be a useful starting point, but it does not describe every conversion or accessory fitted to your vehicle.
2. Decide which floor width to enter
Measure both the widest interior width and the distance between the wheel arches. Load Buddy treats the floor as a rectangle; it does not draw the arches as obstacles. For a conservative first check, enter the narrowest width available throughout the area you intend to use. This can underestimate a layout that uses wider space in front of or behind the arches, but avoids treating an obstructed floor as fully clear.
If you enter the wider body width, use the optional narrowest-passage field as a warning and inspect the real arch positions separately. That warning does not remove obstructed areas from the drawing.
3. Measure the complete loaded height
The pallet height field should include the pallet, the goods and anything projecting above them. For example, goods 95 cm high sitting on a 14.4 cm pallet give a total height of 109.4 cm. Enter that total, or a deliberately rounded-up measurement, using custom dimensions. Measure the van's usable height where the cargo will sit; ceiling fittings or a curved roof can reduce it.
4. Check the door opening separately
With the doors open, measure the clear opening rather than the external door size. Door height may be lower than interior height. A load can therefore fit on the floor and still fail to pass through the doorway. The width check uses the shorter side of each pallet; it does not simulate a turn through the opening or the route to the final position.
Use real clearance. A plan with two 80 cm pallets across a 160 cm floor has no spare width. Nominal dimensions leave no allowance for wrapping, protruding goods, measurement error or positioning. Measure the actual loaded units and reserve the space your loading process needs.
A quick measurement checklist
- Clear floor length and width, with permanent obstructions accounted for.
- Usable interior height and total height of each loaded pallet.
- Clear door width and height, plus the narrowest passage.
- Dimensions in one consistent unit: cm, mm, inches or feet.
Enter these measurements in the calculator, add the pallets and review the drawing. Keep the weight and securing assessment separate: the floor arrangement does not check either.