Standard sizes
The first ten rows are the North American sizes in the order of how many were produced, from Clarke's 2004 industry survey. Dimensions are written stringer length first, so 48 x 40 and 40 x 48 are different pallets. The trailer column counts single-tier floor positions on a 53-foot dry van's 630 x 98.5 in. floor, loaded straight (first dimension running front to back) and turned.
| Name | Dimensions | Metric | Weight | Per 53' van floor | Used for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GMA | 48" x 40" | 1219 x 1016 mm | 30-48 lbs | 26 straight, 30 turned | Grocery and most general freight. The North American default. |
| Telecom / paint | 42" x 42" | 1067 x 1067 mm | 35-45 lbs | 30 | Telecommunications, paint |
| Drum | 48" x 48" | 1219 x 1219 mm | 55-70 lbs | 26 | Drums |
| Military | 40" x 48" | 1016 x 1219 mm | — | 30 straight, 26 turned | Military, cement |
| Chemical | 48" x 42" | 1219 x 1067 mm | — | 26 straight, 30 turned | Chemical, beverage |
| Dairy | 40" x 40" | 1016 x 1016 mm | — | 30 | Dairy |
| Automotive | 48" x 45" | 1219 x 1143 mm | 38-50 lbs | 26 straight, 28 turned | Automotive |
| Heavy drum | 44" x 44" | 1118 x 1118 mm | — | 28 | Drums, chemical |
| Beverage square | 36" x 36" | 914 x 914 mm | — | 34 | Beverage |
| Beverage | 48" x 36" | 1219 x 914 mm | — | 26 straight, 34 turned | Beverage, shingles, packaged paper |
| EUR (EPAL) | 47.24" x 31.50" | 1200 x 800 mm | about 55 lbs (25 kg) | 39 straight, 40 turned | The European standard, traded through the EPAL exchange pool. |
| Half pallet | 24" x 40" | 610 x 1016 mm | 18-25 lbs | 52 straight, 60 turned | Retail display and small-volume shipping. |
How pallet dimensions are written
The first number is the stringer length and the second is the deckboard length. A 48 x 40 pallet has 48-inch stringers under 40-inch deckboards, so a forklift enters from a 40-inch end, between the stringers. A 40 x 48 is a different pallet with 40-inch stringers, which is why the military and grocery sizes sit on separate rows above.
The same footprint loads two ways. Straight, a 48 x 40 runs 48 inches front to back with two 40-inch sides across the trailer, 26 to a floor. Turned, it runs 40 inches deep with the 48-inch sides across, 30 to a floor, at the cost of a tighter fit against the trailer walls.
ISO pallet sizes
ISO 6780 recognizes six pallet footprints for international freight. A pallet that crosses a border also needs ISPM-15 heat treatment and its HT stamp, whatever its size.
| Size (mm) | Size (in) | Used mostly in |
|---|---|---|
| 1219 x 1016 | 48 x 40 | North America |
| 1200 x 1000 | 47.24 x 39.37 | Europe, Asia |
| 1165 x 1165 | 45.87 x 45.87 | Australia |
| 1067 x 1067 | 42 x 42 | North America, Europe, Asia |
| 1100 x 1100 | 43.31 x 43.31 | Asia |
| 1200 x 800 | 47.24 x 31.50 | Europe (the EUR pallet) |
EUR pallet dimensions
| Spec | EPAL Euro pallet |
|---|---|
| Footprint | 1200 x 800 mm (47.24" x 31.50") |
| Height | 144 mm (5.67") |
| Weight | about 25 kg (55 lbs) |
| Safe working load | 1,500 kg (3,307 lbs) |
| Bottom pallet in a laden stack | 5,500 kg (12,125 lbs) at most |
Source: EPAL, EPAL Euro pallet specification.
Construction types
Stringer Pallet
Uses 2-3 parallel boards (stringers) for support. Most common and cost-effective. Allows 2-way or partial 4-way forklift entry.
Block Pallet
Uses 4-12 blocks between deck boards. True 4-way entry for forklifts and pallet jacks. Stronger but more expensive.
Double-Face Pallet
Deck boards on both top and bottom. Reversible, more durable, better for racking.
Load ratings
| Support | Safe load |
|---|---|
| On the floor, one unit load high | 9,602 lbs |
| On the floor, stacked four unit loads high | 3,693 lbs per unit load |
| Racked across the 48" length (44" span) | 3,174 lbs |
| Racked across the 40" width (36" span) | 2,855 lbs, or 2,331 lbs to sag no more than 0.5" |
These ratings belong to one engineered design, not to every 48x40: a new partial four-way stringer pallet in mixed hardwood, with three 1.75 x 3.75 in. stringers and 3/4 in. deckboards (seven on top, five below), carrying an evenly spread load in dry storage. Capacity changes with the design, the load and the support, and a recycled pallet's grade records its repairs, not a rating. When a load comes near these figures, ask the seller for a Pallet Design System or ISO 8611 rating for the pallet you are buying.
Sources: NWPCA Pallet Design System specification sheet, pallet ID 2800, prepared by the Virginia Tech Pallet and Container Research Laboratory; Virginia Tech Center for Packaging and Unit Load Design, How much load can my pallet carry?.
Shipping notes
Frequently asked questions
What is the standard pallet size?
The standard pallet in North America is 48 inches by 40 inches, the GMA pallet: 48-inch stringers and 40-inch deckboards. It is the most produced size and fits standard racking, pallet jacks and trailers. In Europe the standard is the EUR pallet, 1200 x 800 mm.
What is the standard pallet size in feet?
A 48 x 40 inch pallet is 4 feet by 3 feet 4 inches (4 x 3.33 ft), about 13.3 square feet of floor.
What is the standard pallet size in millimetres and centimetres?
A 48 x 40 inch GMA pallet is 1219 x 1016 mm (121.9 x 101.6 cm). The EUR pallet is 1200 x 800 mm (120 x 80 cm).
How tall is a standard pallet?
An empty 48 x 40 stringer pallet is about 5 inches tall for recycled stock and up to 6.5 inches new. An EPAL Euro pallet is 144 mm (5.67 in).
How much does a pallet weigh?
An empty 48 x 40 wood pallet weighs 30-48 lbs, depending on the wood and how heavily it is built. An EPAL Euro pallet weighs about 25 kg (55 lbs).
How much weight can a pallet hold?
There is no single figure: capacity depends on the design, the load and how the pallet is supported. The NWPCA Pallet Design System rates one 48x40 hardwood stringer design at 9,602 lbs on the floor, 3,174 lbs racked across its length and 2,855 lbs racked across its width, under an evenly spread load. A recycled pallet's grade records its repairs, not a rating, so ask for a Pallet Design System or ISO 8611 rating when a load comes near those figures.
What is the difference between stringer and block pallets?
Stringer pallets use parallel boards for support and allow 2-way forklift entry. Block pallets use blocks between deck boards, enabling true 4-way entry. Block pallets are stronger but cost more.