What is Ti-Hi in Logistics and How Do You Calculate It?
In supply chain and warehouse operations, Ti-Hi (short for Tier and High) is the standard formula used to quantify how many master cartons can be stacked onto a single freight pallet. Understanding Ti-Hi is essential for maximizing trailer volume, calculating warehouse storage density, and staying within carrier height and weight regulations.
1. Defining Ti and Hi
The number of master cartons that physically fit onto a single horizontal layer across the wooden pallet deck without extending over the perimeter edges.
The number of horizontal tiers stacked vertically on top of one another before hitting carrier height, warehouse racking, or weight limits.
2. How to Calculate Ti (Tier)
Calculating Ti requires evaluating how your carton dimensions fit onto the pallet surface area (for example, standard US GMA 48 × 40 inches). There are three common geometric arrangements:
*Always use integer flooring (rounding down) for column and row calculations. A fraction of a box cannot fit on a pallet deck.
3. How to Calculate Hi (High)
The number of vertical tiers (Hi) is constrained by the maximum allowable stack height divided by individual carton height:
For example, if shipping into Amazon FBA with a 72-inch maximum ceiling on a standard 6-inch wooden pallet, usable height is 72 − 6 = 66 inches. If your carton is 10 inches tall:
Hi = floor(66 / 10) = 6 tiers high.
The total assembled height will be (6 × 10) + 6 = 66 inches, which safely meets the 72-inch limit.
4. Worked Example: Real-World Ti-Hi Calculation
- Pallet: GMA 48.0" L × 40.0" W (base height: 6.0", tare weight: 45.0 lbs)
- Master Carton: 16.0" L × 12.0" W × 10.0" H
- Carton Weight: 22.0 lbs
- Max Height Limit: 72.0 inches | Max Weight Limit: 1,500.0 lbs
5. Why Ti-Hi Matters for Cost and Warehouse Operations
- Standardized Purchasing: Retailers and distributors often order in full pallet multiples (e.g. "Send 4 pallets of SKU-A at a 10×6 Ti-Hi = 240 cartons").
- Trailer Utilization: In a 53ft dry van trailer that holds 26 non-stacked pallets, maximizing your Hi from 5 to 6 layers increases total units per trailer by 20% without adding a single dollar in freight hauling costs.
- Inventory Auditing: Warehouse staff can verify inventory counts in seconds simply by multiplying Ti by Hi rather than counting hundreds of cartons individually.
Primary Sources & Verified Guidelines
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