How Many Cinder Blocks Are on a Pallet?
Ninety is the number most suppliers quote for a standard 8x8x16 cinder block, but the real answer runs from 72 to 108 depending on the manufacturer and the store. Here is how to read the pallet, weigh the delivery, and figure out how many pallets your project needs.
A standard pallet of 8x8x16 cinder blocks usually holds 90 blocks, though counts range from 72 (common at big-box stores) to 108 from block yards. A full pallet weighs roughly 3,400 to 3,500 pounds, so delivery needs truck access and a forklift, skid steer, or pallet drop.
The short answer: 90 is typical, 72 to 108 is the range
For the standard 8x8x16 hollow block, the pallet count you will hear most often is 90 blocks. Home Depot lists its standard block at 72 per pallet, and block yards commonly stack 90 to 108. The difference comes down to how tall the stack is and whether the supplier ships in a cube (a wrapped unit) or a looser flat pallet. Always confirm the count with your supplier before you order, because your price quote and your delivery planning both depend on it.
Pallet counts by block size
Smaller blocks stack higher per pallet, larger blocks stack lower. Use these as planning ranges, then confirm with the yard:
8x8x16 (standard): 72 to 108, 90 is the most common quote.
6x8x16: 120 to 150.
4x8x16: 180 to 240.
8x4x16 half-high: 120 to 180, since they are half the height.
12x8x16 (wide footing or foundation block): 60 to 75.
The reason counts vary is simple: a pallet holds a fixed volume and weight. Cut the block height in half and roughly twice as many fit in the same stack.
How much a pallet of cinder blocks weighs
A standard 8x8x16 hollow block weighs about 36 to 40 pounds; call it 38 for the math. Ninety blocks at 38 pounds each is 3,420 pounds, and the pallet itself adds roughly 50 pounds, so plan on about 3,470 pounds, or a little over 1.7 tons, per full pallet.
That weight rules out a pickup bed for a full pallet. It also means delivery needs a flatbed or boom truck with a way to unload: a forklift, a skid steer with forks, or a truck with a pallet drop gate. Check your ground too. A full pallet on soft soil after rain will sink, so ask for the pallet to be set on firm, level ground or on gravel.
How many pallets does your wall need?
Divide your block count (with the waste allowance) by the pallet count your supplier uses. Take a 20 foot long, 8 foot tall wall: that is 160 square feet of wall face. One block covers 0.89 square feet, so 160 divided by 0.89 gives 180 blocks before waste. With the standard 10% waste allowance, you need 198 blocks. Order that in round numbers: 198 divided by 90 is 2.2, so three pallets, and you will have roughly 72 spare blocks. Spares are not waste; they are insurance against breakage and the cuts you will make at corners and openings.
If your supplier sells 72-block pallets, the same wall needs 198 divided by 72, or 2.75, so still three pallets, with only 18 blocks to spare. That is tighter, so it is worth confirming the count before you order rather than after the truck leaves.
Delivery and storage tips
Block is heavy enough that small delivery details matter. Ask the yard whether they can split a pallet if you need fewer than a full one; many can, for a small fee. Request delivery within reach of your wall line so you are not carrying 38 pound blocks one at a time across the yard. Keep the pallet wrapped and covered until you lay the blocks, because soaked blocks are harder to lay and the extra moisture messes with the mortar. And never stack a second pallet on top of the first; the bottom course will crush.
Skip the arithmetic
Ordering for a wall or foundation? Our free calculator turns your wall dimensions into an exact block count with a waste allowance, so you know exactly how many pallets to request.
Cinder block pallet questions
How many cinder blocks come on a pallet at Lowe's?
Lowe's and most big-box stores sell standard 8x8x16 blocks in 72-count pallets, though some stores split pallets and sell individual blocks. Block yards are more flexible and commonly quote 90 or 100 per pallet. Ask your store for its count before ordering, since it drives your delivery plan.
How much does a pallet of concrete blocks cost?
A full pallet of 90 standard 8x8x16 blocks typically costs $225 to $450 depending on region, or roughly $2.50 to $5 per block. Delivery usually adds $75 to $150 within the local area. Block yards tend to be cheaper per block than big-box stores, especially on multi-pallet orders.
How much is 1000 concrete blocks?
One thousand standard blocks is about 11 pallets of 90, and costs roughly $2,500 to $5,000 before delivery at typical retail pricing. Block yards often discount bulk orders of a thousand or more, so get a yard quote rather than buying retail one pallet at a time.
How heavy is a pallet of cinder blocks?
About 3,470 pounds for 90 standard 8x8x16 hollow blocks, including the pallet. That is over 1.7 tons, so a full pallet needs a flatbed delivery and a forklift or skid steer to unload. A pickup truck can usually handle a partial load of 30 to 50 blocks.
How many pallets fit on a flatbed truck?
By space, a 48-foot flatbed can carry 24 pallets, but weight is the real limit. At about 3,470 pounds per pallet, a truck with a 48,000 pound payload maxes out around 13 to 14 pallets of block. Most residential block orders are 2 to 6 pallets and ship on a smaller straight truck.