Rex says
Money math without the spreadsheet headache. Plug in your numbers and I'll show you exactly where the dollars land.
Try a scenario
Click to load — tweak from there.Inputs
Result
Breakeven pallet count
13
Your LTL cost at current size
$1,595
Savings if switched to FTL now
-$255
FTL cost per pallet (current size)
$168.18
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How to use this
- 1Enter ltl cost per pallet (this lane) ($).
- 2Enter ftl flat rate (this lane) ($).
- 3Enter trailer capacity (pallets).
- 4Enter your typical shipment size (pallets).
- 5Read your breakeven pallet count on the right — it updates as you type.
- 6Hit Share to keep the scenario or send it to someone.
About this calculator
LTL (less-than-truckload) pricing is per-hundredweight and scales up roughly linearly with shipment size, while FTL (full truckload) pricing is a flat rate for the whole trailer regardless of how full it is. At low pallet counts LTL is cheaper because you're not paying for space you don't use; past a certain pallet count, LTL's per-pallet cost climbs high enough that a flat FTL rate becomes the better deal even if the trailer isn't full. This calculator takes your LTL rate structure (or an estimated per-pallet LTL cost) and your FTL flat rate for the lane, then finds the breakeven pallet count. Shippers who consistently ship above the breakeven point on LTL are leaving money on the table every single shipment, and this is one of the most common freight savings opportunities a shipper can capture just by monitoring pallet counts against a known threshold.
Worked example
Using the values the calculator loads with:
Inputs
- LTL cost per pallet (this lane): 145 $
- FTL flat rate (this lane): 1850 $
- Trailer capacity: 26 pallets
- Your typical shipment size: 11 pallets
Results
- Breakeven pallet count: 13
- Your LTL cost at current size: $1,595
- Savings if switched to FTL now: -$255
- FTL cost per pallet (current size): $168.18
What each field means
Inputs
- LTL cost per pallet (this lane) ($)
- The ltl cost per pallet (this lane) used in the calculation, measured in $. Starts at 145 $ so you have a working example on load.
- FTL flat rate (this lane) ($)
- The ftl flat rate (this lane) used in the calculation, measured in $. Starts at 1850 $ so you have a working example on load.
- Trailer capacity (pallets)
- The trailer capacity used in the calculation, measured in pallets. Starts at 26 pallets so you have a working example on load.
- Your typical shipment size (pallets)
- The your typical shipment size used in the calculation, measured in pallets. Starts at 11 pallets so you have a working example on load.
Results
- Breakeven pallet count
- Returned as a whole number and shown as the headline result. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Your LTL cost at current size
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Savings if switched to FTL now
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- FTL cost per pallet (current size)
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
FAQ
What's a typical breakeven point in pallets?
It varies heavily by lane and carrier pricing, but 8-14 pallets is a common range on regional lanes where LTL per-pallet cost runs $120-$180 and a dry van FTL rate runs $1,400-$2,200. Longer lanes tend to push the breakeven point higher because LTL accessorials and per-pallet cost compound over distance more than a flat FTL rate does.
Does trailer capacity matter if I'm not filling it?
Not for the pure cost comparison — FTL is a flat rate whether you ship 10 pallets or 26 in the same trailer, so once your pallet count crosses the breakeven, FTL is cheaper even at partial trailer capacity. The only reason to wait for a fuller trailer is if you're trying to maximize the value extracted per truckload dollar, not minimize cost per shipment.
Should I combine multiple LTL shipments into one FTL move?
This is one of the most common freight consolidation wins — if you have several LTL shipments going to nearby destinations or through the same regional hub within a day or two of each other, consolidating them into a single truckload or multi-stop truckload often beats paying for each one separately, even accounting for the extra coordination effort.
How often do LTL and FTL rates change?
LTL general rate increases typically happen 1-2 times a year plus fuel surcharge adjustments monthly, while FTL spot rates can swing weekly with market capacity. Re-run this breakeven calculation quarterly with current rates rather than relying on a number from a year ago, since the crossover point moves as both markets shift.
Accuracy and limitations
- Results are estimates before tax, fees, and inflation unless an input explicitly covers them.
- Rates are treated as fixed for the whole period — variable-rate products will drift from this projection.
- This is educational maths, not financial advice. Check anything contractual with the lender or your accountant.
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Cite this calculator
Writing about this topic? Grab a citation — every link helps keep these tools free.
RevenueLab. (2026). LTL vs. FTL Breakeven Calculator. Retrieved from https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/ltl-ftl-breakeven
<p>Source: <a href="https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/ltl-ftl-breakeven" target="_blank" rel="noopener">LTL vs. FTL Breakeven Calculator — RevenueLab</a> (2026).</p>
Source: [LTL vs. FTL Breakeven Calculator — RevenueLab](https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/ltl-ftl-breakeven) (2026).