The standard pallet size depends on where you are. In North America it is 48 × 40 inches (4 ft × 3 ft 4 in, 1219 × 1016 mm), often called the GMA pallet. In Europe the Euro pallet is 1200 × 800 mm, and 1200 × 1000 mm is also widely used there and in international trade.
There is no single worldwide pallet size. Several standard sizes are used in different regions and industries, and the one you choose affects racking, vehicle loading, container loading and how many cartons go on each pallet. This guide lists the sizes you will meet most often and what to check before you pick one.
Common pallet sizes
| Pallet | Size (mm) | Size (inches) | Where it is common |
|---|---|---|---|
| Euro pallet (EUR / EPAL) | 1200 × 800 | 47.2 × 31.5 | Europe |
| Industrial / standard pallet | 1200 × 1000 | 47.2 × 39.4 | Europe, Middle East, international trade |
| North American (GMA) pallet | 1219 × 1016 | 48 × 40 | USA, Canada |
| Square pallet | 1100 × 1100 | 43.3 × 43.3 | Asia |
| Australian pallet | 1165 × 1165 | 45.9 × 45.9 | Australia |
| Square pallet | 1067 × 1067 | 42 × 42 | North America, Europe, Asia |
These six are the sizes listed in the international pallet standard ISO 6780. Sizes are nominal. Pallet height, board thickness and the number of entry points differ by manufacturer, so always measure the pallet you actually use.
Other pallet sizes used in North America
48 × 40 inches is by far the most common pallet in the USA and Canada, but several other sizes are standard in particular industries. Sizes are written stringer length first, then deck board length.
| Size (inches) | Size (mm) | Commonly used for |
|---|---|---|
| 48 × 40 | 1219 × 1016 | Grocery and most other goods |
| 42 × 42 | 1067 × 1067 | Telecommunications, paint |
| 48 × 48 | 1219 × 1219 | Drums |
| 40 × 48 | 1016 × 1219 | Military, cement |
| 48 × 42 | 1219 × 1067 | Chemicals, beverages |
| 40 × 40 | 1016 × 1016 | Dairy |
| 48 × 45 | 1219 × 1143 | Automotive |
| 44 × 44 | 1118 × 1118 | Drums, chemicals |
| 36 × 36 | 914 × 914 | Beverages |
| 48 × 36 | 1219 × 914 | Beverages, shingles, packaged paper |
| 48 × 20 | 1219 × 508 | Retail |
Check the size with your customer or supplier before you plan racking or a load: a pallet only a few inches wider can lose a whole row in a trailer. The Trailer Loading Calculator and Container Loading Calculator accept any pallet size.
Pallet size chart in cm and feet
| Size (mm) | Size (cm) | Size (feet) | Floor area |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1219 × 1016 (48 × 40 in) | 121.9 × 101.6 | 4.00 × 3.33 | 1.24 m² (13.3 sq ft) |
| 1200 × 1000 | 120 × 100 | 3.94 × 3.28 | 1.20 m² (12.9 sq ft) |
| 1200 × 800 | 120 × 80 | 3.94 × 2.62 | 0.96 m² (10.3 sq ft) |
| 1100 × 1100 | 110 × 110 | 3.61 × 3.61 | 1.21 m² (13.0 sq ft) |
| 1165 × 1165 | 116.5 × 116.5 | 3.82 × 3.82 | 1.36 m² (14.6 sq ft) |
| 1067 × 1067 | 106.7 × 106.7 | 3.50 × 3.50 | 1.14 m² (12.3 sq ft) |
Euro pallet sizes (EPAL)
| Pallet | Size (mm) | Height | Own weight | Safe working load |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EPAL 1 (Euro pallet) | 800 × 1200 | 144 mm | about 25 kg | 1,500 kg |
| EPAL 2 | 1200 × 1000 | 162 mm | about 35 kg | 1,250 kg |
| EPAL 3 | 1000 × 1200 | 144 mm | about 30 kg | 1,500 kg |
| EPAL 6 (half pallet) | 800 × 600 | 144 mm | about 9.5 kg | 750 kg |
Figures published by EPAL, the European Pallet Association. A 48 × 40 inch pallet has no single fixed height or weight: both depend on the design and the timber, so measure and weigh the pallets you use.
How pallet sizes are written
In North America the first number is the length of the stringers (the boards the forks slide along) and the second is the length of the deck boards. So a 48 × 40 pallet has 48 inch stringers. Elsewhere sizes are given in millimetres as length × width. When you order pallets or plan racking, confirm which side the forklift enters from.
Wood, plastic and Euro pallets
- Wood. The most common and the cheapest to repair. Boards can break, and exported pallets may need heat treatment markings for international shipping.
- Plastic. Consistent size and weight, easy to clean, no splinters or nails. They cost more and the load rating depends on the design.
- Euro pallet. A specific 1200 × 800 mm design with a marked standard. Only pallets that meet the standard carry the markings, so check for them when you receive or exchange Euro pallets.
Weight and height limits
The pallet size is only one limit. Check three more before you plan a load:
- Storage limit. The most a pallet may weigh in your racking. This depends on the beam capacity and the pallet itself. In one food warehouse, for example, the storage limit is 1,200 kg per pallet.
- Dispatch limit. The most a pallet may weigh when loaded on a vehicle, including the pallet. In the same warehouse the dispatch maximum is 1,535 kg including the pallet.
- Height. Set by carton strength as approved by quality control, by the racking level and by the vehicle or container height.
These figures are examples from one site and not a rule. Use the limits from your own racking specification, pallet supplier and transport provider.
Why one standard size helps
Many warehouses keep racking and loading to a single standard pallet size, such as 1000 × 1200 mm. Pallets then fit every rack position and load the same way on every truck. Mixing sizes causes gaps in racking, unstable stacks, wasted space in a vehicle or container and delays when a pallet does not fit the position planned for it. Where customers ask for a particular size, keep to that size for the whole order so the load is uniform.
How many cartons on a pallet
Work in three steps. First, how many cartons fit in one layer, trying both orientations of the carton on the pallet footprint. Second, how many layers you can stack within the carton strength and height limit. Third, check the total weight against the storage and dispatch limits. The best fit is the arrangement that stays stable, stays within the height and weight limits, and uses the pallet footprint well.
Damaged pallets
A pallet with broken boards or blocks should be replaced before loading. Damaged pallets can collapse in racking, damage the goods and cause accidents. Keep a simple rule at receiving and before dispatch: inspect the pallet, and swap it if it is broken.
Common questions about pallet sizes
What is the standard pallet size in the US?
48 × 40 inches (1219 × 1016 mm). It is the most widely used pallet in North America.
What other pallet sizes are used in the US?
After 48 × 40 in, common sizes include 42 × 42 in, 48 × 48 in, 40 × 48 in and 48 × 42 in, each standard in particular industries. See other pallet sizes used in North America.
What is the standard pallet size in Europe?
The Euro pallet, 1200 × 800 mm. The 1200 × 1000 mm pallet is also common.
What is the standard pallet size in feet (US and Euro)?
A 48 × 40 inch pallet is 4 ft × 3 ft 4 in and covers 13.3 square feet. A Euro pallet (1200 × 800 mm) is about 3 ft 11 in × 2 ft 7.5 in and covers 10.3 square feet.
What is the standard pallet size in cm?
121.9 × 101.6 cm for the North American pallet, 120 × 80 cm for the Euro pallet and 120 × 100 cm for the 1200 × 1000 mm pallet.
Is a 1200 × 1000 mm pallet the same as a 48 × 40 inch pallet?
No. The 48 × 40 inch pallet is about 19 mm longer and 16 mm wider. The difference is small, but it can change how many pallets fit in a container.
How many pallets fit on a trailer or in a container?
A 53 ft trailer takes 26 pallets of 48 × 40 in loaded straight, or 30 turned sideways: see how many pallets fit on a trailer. A 40 ft container takes 20 to 22 pallets of 1200 × 1000 mm: see how many pallets fit in a 20ft or 40ft container.
Use the calculators
- Warehouse storage and capacity planner to see how many pallets a warehouse can store, with the method explained in how to work out how many pallets fit in a warehouse.
- Container Loading Calculator to check pallets in a container. The guide to how many pallets fit in a 20ft or 40ft container gives the counts by pallet size.
- Trailer Loading Calculator for road loads, and the guide to how many pallets fit on a trailer.
- CBM Calculator for loose cartons and mixed shipments.
- Pallet Calculator to work out how many cartons fit on a pallet of the size you choose.
Results are planning estimates. Confirm pallet, racking and vehicle limits with your suppliers and engineers before you rely on them.