How this calculator works
A stack is a slot holding one item type up to that item maximum. Dividing the total by the stack size gives the number of complete stacks, and the remainder is the partial stack. The stack size is a property of the item, not of the slot: a chest slot holds 64 dirt but only 16 eggs, so the same slot count carries fewer items. A shulker box has 27 slots, which is 27 times the stack size for a single item type, and that is the capacity used here.
Formula
full stacks = floor(total items / stack size). leftover items = total items - full stacks x stack size. total items = full stacks x stack size + leftover. Full shulker boxes = floor(total items / (27 x stack size)). Shulker boxes needed = ceiling(total items / (27 x stack size)).
Worked example
With 1,000 items and a stack size of 64, the full stack count is floor(1000 / 64) = 15, holding 960 items, and the partial stack holds the remaining 40. One shulker box holds 27 x 64 = 1,728 items, so 1,000 items fit in one box with 728 spaces to spare. With a stack size of 16, the same 1,000 eggs become 62 full stacks plus 8, and one shulker box holds only 432 items, so 1,000 eggs need 3 boxes.
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Frequently asked questions
Why do some items stack to 16?
Minecraft sets a lower maximum for items the designers considered expensive or awkward to carry in bulk, such as eggs, snowballs, ender pearls and signs. Tools, armour, potions and other durable items do not stack at all. The item tooltip or the Minecraft Wiki entry for the item states the limit for the version you play.
Can a shulker box hold different item types?
Yes, and then this capacity estimate does not apply. A shulker box has 27 slots, and each slot can hold a different item up to that item stack size, so a mixed box may carry far fewer of any one item. The calculation here assumes every slot holds the same item.
How many items fit in a double chest?
A double chest has 54 slots, so it holds 54 x 64 = 3,456 items of a 64-stack item, 864 of a 16-stack item, or 54 unstackable items. The same slot arithmetic applies: the slot count depends on the container and the item count depends on the stack size.
Do these stack sizes change between game versions?
They have been stable for years in both Java and Bedrock editions as of the 2026 versions, but developers occasionally adjust individual items and new items can arrive with their own limits. Check the item page for the version you play if a result looks wrong.
What happens if my partial stack is larger than the stack size?
The calculator normalises it. It adds the full stacks and the partial amount, then divides again, so 15 stacks and 100 leftover with a size of 64 becomes 16 full stacks and 36 leftover. Nothing is lost; the total items figure stays the same.