A standard US pallet is 48 inches long by 40 inches wide (1219 × 1016 mm) and about 5 to 6.5 inches tall - the GMA pallet. It's the default footprint for grocery, retail and general freight, and what most people mean by "a pallet."
But "standard" varies by region and industry. ISO recognizes six pallet sizes worldwide, Europe runs on the 1200 × 800 mm EUR pallet, and more than a third of new US pallets are built to non-standard sizes for dairy, beverage, chemical and automotive supply chains. This guide covers every common size in inches, feet and millimeters, how tall pallets are empty and loaded, what size lumber they're built from, and how to measure one.
Key takeaways
- Standard US pallet: 48″ × 40″ (1219 × 1016 mm; 4 ft × 3.33 ft) - the GMA pallet.
- Height: about 5–6.5″ empty; typically 48–60″ loaded. Amazon and Walmart cap loaded pallets at 72″, Costco at 58″.
- Euro pallet (EPAL 1): 1200 × 800 × 144 mm (47.2″ × 31.5″ × 5.7″).
- Most common size: 48 × 40 - 29% of new US pallets (2021) and 69% of recycled pallets.
- Size is written length × width: the first number is the stringer length, the second is the deck board length.
48″ × 40″ | 5–6.5″ | 13.3 ft² | 29% / 69% |
|---|---|---|---|
Standard US footprint | Empty pallet height | Floor space per pallet | Share of new / recycled US pallets |
What is the standard pallet size in inches?
The standard pallet size in the US is 48 × 40 inches - 48″ long (stringer length) by 40″ wide (deck board length). In other units, that's 4 × 3.33 feet, 121.9 × 101.6 cm, or 1219 × 1016 mm. Internationally, the EUR pallet is 47.24 × 31.5 inches (1200 × 800 mm).
Unit | Standard US pallet (48 × 40) | EUR pallet (EPAL 1) |
|---|---|---|
Inches | 48 × 40 | 47.24 × 31.50 |
Feet | 4 × 3.33 | 3.94 × 2.62 |
Centimeters | 121.9 × 101.6 | 120 × 80 |
Millimeters | 1219 × 1016 | 1200 × 800 |
Height (empty) | ~5–6.5″ | 144 mm (5.67″) |
In the US, "standard" almost always means the 48 × 40 GMA pallet - also called a grocery pallet. The name comes from the Grocery Manufacturers Association, which published the original specification in the 1970s to align grocery distribution. Today "GMA pallet" is a generic name for any 48 × 40 stringer pallet with partial four-way entry, and every major retailer, broker and 3PL is built around its footprint. For the GMA pallet's grades and pricing, see our guide to the 48 × 40 GMA pallet.
How tall is a pallet?
An empty standard 48 × 40 wood pallet is about 5 to 6.5 inches tall: the NWPCA specification for a GMA pallet gives an overall height of 6.5″, lighter commercial builds (for example 5/8″ deck boards on 3.5″ stringers) come in around 4.75″, and recycled pallets are typically about 5–6″. Pooled block pallets from CHEP and PECO are about 5.6″, and a EUR pallet is 144 mm (5.7″). Loaded, most pallets are 48–60″ tall.
Pallet | Empty height | Source |
|---|---|---|
New 48 × 40 GMA stringer, NWPCA spec | 6.5″ | NWPCA GMA specification (overall 48 × 40 × 6.5″) |
Lighter commercial 48 × 40 builds | ~4.75–5.5″ | e.g. 5/8″ boards on 3.5″ stringers ≈ 4.75″ |
Recycled 48 × 40 stringer | typically ~5–6″ | varies by build and repairs |
CHEP 48 × 40 block | ~5.6″ | CHEP spec |
PECO 48 × 40 block | 5.56″ | PECO spec |
EUR / EPAL 1 (1200 × 800) | 144 mm (5.67″) | EPAL |
EPAL 2 (1200 × 1000) | 162 mm (6.38″) | EPAL |
Height varies because pallets are built with different stringer sizes, board thicknesses and repairs. When stack height matters - racking, trailer loading, storage piles - measure a sample from the actual lot.
How tall is the average pallet?
The average empty 48 × 40 wood pallet is about 5 to 6 inches tall; a new GMA-spec pallet is about 6.5 inches.
How tall is a loaded pallet?
There's no single standard - but the receiver usually sets the limit:
Limit | Max loaded height (including pallet) |
|---|---|
Typical working height | 48–60″ |
Amazon (FBA) | 72″ |
Walmart | 72″ |
Costco | 58″ |
53′ dry van door opening | ~104–105″ - the ceiling for double-stacked loads |
Check your customer's routing guide before you build loads: an over-height pallet can be refused or rebuilt at your expense. For how many pallets fit in a trailer, straight or double-stacked, see how many pallets fit in a 53-foot trailer.
How big is a pallet?
A standard pallet is 48″ long, 40″ wide and about 5–6.5″ tall, taking up 13.3 square feet of floor space. Loaded to a typical 48″ of product, it holds about 53 cubic feet of cargo; at 60″, about 67 cubic feet.
Measure | 48 × 40 pallet |
|---|---|
Footprint | 48″ × 40″ (4 ft × 3.33 ft) |
Floor area | 1,920 in² = 13.3 ft² (1.24 m²) |
Cargo volume at 48″ load height | 48 × 40 × 48 = 92,160 in³ ≈ 53.3 ft³ |
Cargo volume at 60″ load height | ≈ 66.7 ft³ |
For how many cartons fit in that space, see how many boxes fit on a pallet.
How wide is a pallet?
A standard pallet is 40 inches wide - the length of its deck boards. The 48″ dimension is the length, set by the stringers. A EUR pallet is 800 mm (31.5″) wide.
Length and width get mixed up because people describe a pallet by how it sits in front of them. The convention is fixed, though: the first number is the stringer length, the second is the deck board length. On a stringer pallet, forks go in through the 40″ ends, between the stringers; notched stringers also allow partial entry from the 48″ sides. That's why orientation matters when you load a trailer: a 48 × 40 turned with the 48″ side across the trailer takes 40″ of trailer length instead of 48″.
Common pallet sizes - the full chart
These are the US pallet sizes you'll run into most often. The 48 × 40 dominates, but 39% of new US pallets are built to non-standard sizes, often matched to a specific product or industry.
Size (in) | Size (mm) | Common industry | Typical construction | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
48 × 40 | 1219 × 1016 | Grocery, retail, general freight | Stringer (GMA); block for CHEP/PECO | The US standard - 29% of new, 69% of recycled pallets |
42 × 42 | 1067 × 1067 | Telecom, paint | Stringer or block | Square - rotates without changing footprint |
48 × 48 | 1219 × 1219 | Drums, chemicals | Stringer or block | Fits four 55-gallon drums |
40 × 48 | 1016 × 1219 | Military, some retail | Stringer | A 48 × 40 turned 90° - longer deck boards |
48 × 42 | 1219 × 1067 | Chemicals, beverage | Stringer | Common under IBC totes |
40 × 40 | 1016 × 1016 | Dairy | Stringer or block | Sized for milk crates |
48 × 45 | 1219 × 1143 | Automotive | Stringer or block | Matched to parts bins |
44 × 44 | 1118 × 1118 | Drums, chemicals | Block | Heavy-duty square |
48 × 36 | 1219 × 914 | Beverage, building materials | Stringer | Narrower footprint |
36 × 36 | 914 × 914 | Beverage | Stringer | Compact square |
Share data: Virginia Tech (Hobbs, Horvath & Gething, BioResources 2025) - new pallets 2021, recycled 2016. No reliable breakdown exists for the other sizes.
For how many of each fit in a truck, see our 53-foot trailer guide; for ocean containers, see how many pallets fit in a shipping container.
What is the most common pallet size?
48 × 40 inches. It accounted for 29% of new wood pallets produced in the US in 2021 (35% in 2016) and 69% of recycled pallets. Because it is the most widely used footprint, it is also the size recyclers collect, repair and resell most.
Standard US pallet sizes by industry
Industries settle on sizes that match their case dimensions:
Grocery and general freight - 48 × 40: the default; anything that doesn't need a specialty size ships on it.
Beverage - 48 × 36 or 36 × 36: narrower footprints match beverage case patterns.
Dairy - 40 × 40: square, sized to milk crates.
Drums and chemicals - 48 × 48 or 44 × 44: a 48 × 48 holds four 55-gallon drums.
Automotive - 48 × 45: matched to parts bins on assembly lines.
Telecom and paint - 42 × 42: square and easy to rotate; fits cable reels and paint pail layers.
Military - 40 × 48: a GMA footprint with the dimensions reversed, specified for US military unit loads (MIL-STD-1660).
ISO and international pallet sizes
ISO 6780 recognizes six pallet footprints for international shipping. If your freight crosses an ocean, matching one of them makes it easier for the receiver to handle and store - and any solid-wood pallet must be ISPM-15 treated and stamped.
ISO 6780 size (mm) | Inches | Mainly used in |
|---|---|---|
1219 × 1016 | 48 × 40 | North America |
1200 × 1000 | 47.24 × 39.37 | Europe, Asia |
1200 × 800 | 47.24 × 31.50 | Europe (EUR/EPAL) |
1140 × 1140 | 44.88 × 44.88 | Australia |
1100 × 1100 | 43.31 × 43.31 | Asia |
1067 × 1067 | 42 × 42 | North America, Europe, Asia |
Australia's own standard pallet measures 1165 × 1165 mm (45.9 × 45.9 in) - slightly larger than the ISO 6780 size of 1140 × 1140 mm listed for Australia.
For export treatment and stamp rules, see our ISPM-15 heat treated pallet guide.
How big is a euro pallet?
A standard euro pallet (EPAL 1, also marked EUR) is 1200 × 800 × 144 mm - 47.24 × 31.5 × 5.67 inches. It's a block pallet with 11 deck boards, 9 blocks and 78 nails, all specified by the European Pallet Association (EPAL).
EPAL type | Size (mm) | Size (in) | Height |
|---|---|---|---|
EPAL 1 (EUR) | 1200 × 800 | 47.24 × 31.50 | 144 mm (5.67″) |
EPAL 2 | 1200 × 1000 | 47.24 × 39.37 | 162 mm (6.38″) |
EPAL 3 | 1000 × 1200 | 39.37 × 47.24 | 144 mm (5.67″) |
EPAL 6 (half pallet) | 800 × 600 | 31.50 × 23.62 | 144 mm (5.67″) |
Display (quarter) pallet | 600 × 400 | 23.62 × 15.75 | - |
The EUR pallet is one of the most tightly specified pallets in the world - every board, block, nail and brand mark is defined. Across Europe it circulates in an exchange system: a receiver who gets goods on EUR pallets typically returns the same number of empties. If you ship into Europe on non-EUR footprints, expect pushback from buyers. Every EPAL pallet also carries the ISPM-15 heat-treatment mark.
What size wood are pallets made from?
A standard 48 × 40 GMA stringer pallet is built from 5/8″-thick deck boards and 1.5″ × 3.5″ stringers. The top deck has 7 boards - 5.5″ wide at the edges (lead boards) and 3.5″ wide inside - and the bottom deck has 5. Each stringer has two 9″ × 1.5″ notches for forklift entry.
Component | Typical dimension (48 × 40 GMA-style pallet) |
|---|---|
Top deck | 7 boards, 40″ long |
Bottom deck | 5 boards, 40″ long |
Deck board thickness | 5/8″ |
Lead (edge) deck boards | 5.5″ wide |
Interior deck boards | 3.5″ wide |
Stringers | 3 × 48″ long, 1.5″ × 3.5″ section |
Stringer notches | 9″ long × 1.5″ deep, two per stringer |
Actual pallets vary. Heavier-duty builds use thicker boards or taller stringers, and recycled pallets often mix board widths from repairs. Block pallets use solid or composite blocks instead of stringers, joined by stringer boards on top of the blocks.
The original 1970s GMA specification was heavier: hardwood lumber, 13/16″ deck boards and 2 × 4 stringers, with two 6″ and five 4″ boards on top. Today's "GMA pallet" is a lighter, mostly softwood descendant of that spec.
How thick is a pallet?
A pallet's deck boards are typically 5/8″ to 3/4″ thick, and the whole pallet is about 5–6.5″ tall empty. A 48 × 40 GMA-spec pallet uses 5/8″ deck boards on 1.5″ × 3.5″ stringers.
Half pallet, quarter pallet and display sizes
There's no single US standard for half pallets - each retailer or pooler sets its own:
Pallet | Size | Used by |
|---|---|---|
Half pallet (Lowe's) | 48 × 24″ | Home improvement retail |
CHEP half pallet | 40 × 24″ | Retail displays, promotions |
PECO half pallet | 48 × 20″ | Retail displays |
Walmart display pallet | 24 × 20″ | In-store displays |
EPAL 6 (euro half pallet) | 800 × 600 mm (31.5 × 23.6″) | European retail |
Display (quarter) pallet | 600 × 400 mm (23.6 × 15.7″) | European retail displays |
Half and quarter pallets usually go straight from the distribution center onto the store floor as a ready-made display. If you're building shipper displays for a retailer, check its specification before you order pallets.
How pallet dimensions are written
Pallet sizes are written length × width: stringer length first, deck board length second. A "48 × 40" pallet has 48-inch stringers and 40-inch deck boards. A "40 × 48" pallet is not the same pallet turned around - it has 40-inch stringers and 48-inch deck boards, so forks enter from a different side.
For block pallets, length is the dimension along the stringer boards (the boards that sit directly on the blocks).
Tolerances. Under the NWPCA Uniform Standard, a GMA-spec pallet's overall dimensions must be within ±1/4″ of nominal, and individual components within ±1/8″ of their length. A difference between the two diagonals of no more than 1/2″ is the usual check that a pallet is square.
How to measure a pallet
Length: measure along a stringer (or stringer board, on a block pallet), end to end.
Width: measure along a top deck board, end to end.
Height: measure from the floor to the top of the deck on a flat surface.
Squareness: measure both diagonals of the top deck; on a GMA-spec pallet they should differ by no more than 1/2″.
Loaded pallets (for LTL freight): measure length, width and height at the outermost points - including any product that overhangs the pallet, stretch wrap bulges and the pallet itself. Carriers bill on the dimensions they measure, and a missed overhang can change your freight class and invoice.
Common mistakes:
Swapping length and width - the first number is always the stringer length.
Measuring the deck but forgetting overhanging cartons.
Leaving out the pallet's own 5–6.5″ when stating loaded height.
Assuming every pallet in a used lot is the same height - repaired pallets vary.
Stringer vs. block pallets
Most US 48 × 40 pallets are stringer pallets: three parallel stringers between the top and bottom decks, with forklift entry from the ends and partial entry from the sides through notches. Block pallets sit on nine blocks and allow full four-way entry; they're stronger and rack better but cost more. In 2021, 77% of new US wood pallets were stringer and 19% block. The EUR pallet and pooled CHEP and PECO pallets are block designs.
For a full comparison of designs and materials, see types of pallets; for the difference between a skid and a pallet, see skid vs. pallet.
Weight, trailers, grades and treatment
Weight: an empty 48 × 40 wood pallet weighs about 33–48 lbs, depending on wood species and build - see how much does a pallet weigh for empty weights and load capacity by type.
Trailers: a 53′ dry van fits 26 pallets loaded straight or 30 turned, and 480–680 stacked empties - see our 53-foot trailer guide.
Grades: used pallets are sold as grade A, B or C by condition - see pallet grades explained and the pallet price index for current prices.
Export: solid-wood pallets leaving the US must be heat treated and stamped under ISPM-15 - see our ISPM-15 guide.
How to choose the right pallet size
Three questions decide it:
What's your product's footprint? Match the pallet to your case dimensions. For example, a 12 × 16″ case fits 9 per layer on a 48 × 36 pallet with no overhang. The wrong size wastes cube or creates overhang that crushes cases.
Where does it ship? Domestic: 48 × 40 is the safe default. Europe: 1200 × 800 (EUR) or 1200 × 1000. Elsewhere: one of the ISO 6780 sizes that the destination uses.
What does your customer accept? Big-box retailers, food distributors and automotive OEMs specify their own sizes and heights. Ask the receiving dock before you ship - a rejected pallet costs more than the right one.
Repackify connects you with vetted suppliers of new and used pallets in standard and custom sizes, from a single truckload of 48 × 40 grade B to custom-built specialty sizes: buy pallets.
Frequently asked questions
What is the standard pallet size in inches?
48 × 40 inches in the US and Canada - the GMA pallet. Internationally, the EUR pallet is 47.24 × 31.5 inches (1200 × 800 mm).
What is the standard pallet size in centimeters?
The US standard pallet is 121.9 × 101.6 cm (1219 × 1016 mm). The EUR pallet is 120 × 80 cm.
How big is a pallet in feet?
A standard 48 × 40 pallet is 4 feet long by 3.33 feet (3 ft 4 in) wide and takes up 13.3 square feet of floor space.
How tall is a standard pallet?
An empty 48 × 40 wood pallet is about 5 to 6.5 inches tall - 6.5″ under the NWPCA GMA specification, around 4.75–5.5″ for lighter commercial builds, typically 5–6″ for recycled pallets. Loaded, most pallets are 48–60″ tall; Amazon and Walmart cap them at 72″.
How wide is a standard pallet?
40 inches. The 40″ side is the width, set by the length of the deck boards; the 48″ side is the length, set by the stringers.
What is the most common pallet size in the US?
48 × 40 inches. It made up 29% of new US wood pallets in 2021 and 69% of recycled pallets.
How big is a euro pallet?
A standard euro pallet (EPAL 1) is 1200 × 800 × 144 mm, or 47.24 × 31.5 × 5.67 inches.
What size is a half pallet?
There's no single standard. Common US half pallets are 48 × 24″ (Lowe's), 40 × 24″ (CHEP) and 48 × 20″ (PECO); the euro half pallet is 800 × 600 mm.
How thick are pallet boards?
Deck boards on a standard 48 × 40 GMA-spec pallet are 5/8″ thick; many pallets use 5/8″ to 3/4″ boards. Stringers are typically 1.5″ × 3.5″.
How do you measure a pallet?
Measure the stringer length first, then the deck board length - that's the length × width. For loaded pallets, measure at the outermost points, including overhang, and include the pallet in the height.
Are pallets always made of wood?
No - plastic, metal, corrugated and presswood pallets all exist. But wood pallets make up the vast majority of US pallets, mostly softwood such as southern yellow pine, plus hardwoods like oak.
What's the difference between a pallet and a skid?
A skid has a top deck on runners but no bottom deck; a pallet has both. In everyday shipping the terms are used interchangeably. See skid vs. pallet.
Can I buy a single pallet?
Most pallet companies sell by the truckload - 480–680 empty 48 × 40 pallets, depending on pallet height. For smaller quantities, look for a local recycler, or request a quote on Repackify for any size, grade or quantity.
Bottom line
The standard US pallet is 48 × 40 inches and about 5–6.5 inches tall - the GMA pallet - and it's the right default for most domestic freight. But more than a third of new pallets are built to other sizes for a reason: if you ship overseas, work in a specialty industry or need to fit a specific case pattern, the right size depends on your product, your destination and your customer's spec.