Pallet sizes
The standard North American pallet is 48 by 40 inches. No universal standard governs pallet dimensions, so other sizes are common, and each has its own docks. This page lists the sizes this desk sees and where each fits.
The sizes at a glance
| Size | Metric | Where you see it | Page |
|---|---|---|---|
| 48 x 40 in | 1,219 x 1,016 mm | The GMA standard; most docks | 48x40 |
| 42 x 42 in | 1,067 x 1,067 mm | Beverage | 42x42 |
| 48 x 48 in | 1,219 x 1,219 mm | Chemical sector | 48x48 |
| 800 x 1200 mm | 31.5 x 47.2 in | The Euro pallet, on import freight | Euro |
| 48 x 45 in | 1,219 x 1,143 mm | Automotive; seventh in North American production | Ask us |
| 48 x 42 in | 1,219 x 1,067 mm | Chemical and beverage; fifth in North American production | Ask us |
Inch-to-millimetre conversions are computed from 25.4 mm to the inch. Rankings are North American production ranks from the Wikipedia pallet article.
Why size comes first
A pallet is only useful when it fits what rides on it and what moves it. Racks are cut for a footprint. Trailers are loaded around one. A dock that runs 48x40 cannot take a stack of 42x42 without work, so size is the first thing we ask about and the first thing that decides whether a load is a sale.
Standard pallets are described by length first and width second. The deck boards run along the length for a stringer pallet; the stringers run the same way. When a dock says 48x40 it means 48 inches long and 40 wide, with the stringers along the 48.
Weight and height of the standard pallet
These are the figures for a 48x40 wood pallet. Other sizes scale roughly with their footprint.
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Weight, unloaded | 33 to 49 lb (15 to 22 kg); reinforced 55 to 66 lb |
| Height | 5.5 to 6 in; one source gives 6½ in |
| Dynamic load | 2,000 to 2,800 lb |
| Static load | 2,500 to 4,600 lb |
| Usable surface | About 1.23 m² (13.3 ft²) |
Sources disagree slightly because grading and construction differ. Treat these as ranges, not as a promise on any one pallet.
Which size should you ask for
- If you do not know, ask for 48x40. It is the default for a reason: it is the easiest to resell.
- If you ship beverages, look at 42x42 and 48x42.
- If you move chemicals, 48x48 and 48x42 are common.
- If your freight arrives from Europe, 800x1200 mm may be what you are holding.
- If you are not sure, measure one and send the numbers.
Why 48x40 dominates
The most common wood pallet size in North America is 48 by 40 inches, and ISO accepts the CBA’s 48 by 40 specification as the North American standard. A standard one has a usable top surface of about 13.3 square feet and, according to one maker, can hold nine 16 by 12 inch boxes on each layer. That is why docks, racks and trailers are built around it.
The other sizes in this region
- 42x42: beverage and some chemical docks.
- 48x48: drums and larger packages.
- Euro 800x1200: imported goods.
In this section
- 48x40The 48x40 GMA pallet: dimensions, weight, load and who ships on it, with how it is graded and how to ask for a count of them.
- 42x4242x42 pallets: the square footprint beverage docks use, with its dimensions and how a 42x42 load differs from 48x40. Send a count.
- 48x4848x48 pallets: the square footprint chemical docks use, with dimensions, how it compares to 48x40, and a request for a count.
- Euro 800x1200 mmThe Euro pallet, 800 by 1,200 mm: dimensions in inches, where it shows up on import freight around DC, and how we handle a Euro pile.
Questions
- What is the standard pallet size in the US?
- 48 by 40 inches, also called the GMA size. About 30% of all new wood pallets produced in the United States are this size.
- How much does a pallet weigh?
- A standard 48x40 wood pallet weighs about 33 to 49 pounds unloaded. Reinforced ones can weigh 55 to 66 pounds.