Standard Pallet Sizes & Dimensions

What is the standard pallet size in the USA?

In the United States, pallets conform to the most popular standard developed by the Grocery Manufacturers’ Association (GMA), which makes up about 30% of all new wood pallets produced in North America, which are sized to accommodate consumer packaged goods.

In the United States industry, the GMA standard pallet size is 48″ x 40″. They typically weigh 37 lbs and can hold up to 4,600 lbs. The second most common pallet sizes are 42″ x 42″ and 48″ x 48″, respectively.

The information below is simply a guideline for the most common pallets employed today.

What is the standard pallet size in my region?

Do you know that the sizes of the pallets vary across regions in the world? If you live in America, there a lot of chance that the pallet you’ll found will not have the same size as someone living in Europe or Australia, for example. Even if pallet sizes vary considerably between the different countries globally, much progress has been made regarding standardization and reusability. This was necessary as increased global trade necessitated standard pallet dimensions, which are now reflected in the ISO Pallet list. Of the many different standard pallet sizes available, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has approved six pallet dimensions which are now widely used around the globe, you can check the ISO Pallets Dimensions table below, but we also added the different standard pallet sizes & dimensions available in the main geographical regions of the world.

North America Standard Pallet Dimensions?

Dimensions, inches (W x L)Dimensions, mm(W x L)Industries Using
48 × 401219 × 1016Grocery as well as many other uses
42 × 421067 × 1067Telecommunications and Paint
48 × 481219 × 1219Drums
40″× 481016 × 1219Military and Cement
48 × 421219 × 1067Chemicals and Beverage
40 × 401016 × 1016Dairy
48 × 451219 × 1143Automotive
44 × 441118 × 1118Drums and Chemicals
36 × 36914 × 914Beverage
48 × 361219 × 914Beverage, Shingles, and Packaged Paper
35 × 45.5889 × 1156Military 1/2 ISO Container
48 × 201219 × 508Retail

Australian Standard Pallet Dimensions?

Dimensions, inches (W × L)Dimensions, mm (W x L)Region Most Used
45.90 × 45.901165 x 1165Australia, New Zealand

European Standard Pallet Dimensions?

Dimensions, inches (W x L)Dimensions, mm(W x L)EURO Pallet type
31.50 × 47.24800 × 1,200EUR, EUR 1
47.24 × 39.371,200 × 1,000EUR 2
39.37 × 47.241,000 × 1,200EUR 3
31.50 × 23.62800 × 600EUR 6

ISO Pallets Dimensions?

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) sanctions six pallet measurements, detailed in ISO Standard 6780: Flat pallets for intercontinental materials handling-principal dimensions and tolerances.

Dimensions, inches (W × L)Dimensions, mm (W x L)Region Most Used
48.00 × 40.001219 x 1016North America
39.37 × 47.241000 x 1200Europe, Asia
44.88 × 44.881140 x 1140Australia
42.00 × 42.001067 x 1067North America, Europe, Asia
43.30 × 43.301100 x 1100Asia
31.50 × 47.24800 x 600Europe (fits many doorways)

Another Table with international pallet sizes in millimeters and inches:

Product nameL x W x H in mmL x W x H in inchesMajor Countries Available
Timber Block Pallet North American Standard (48 x 40 inches)1219 x 1016 x 14148 x 40 x 5.55USA, Italy, New Zealand
Wooden Pallet1200 x 1000 x 16247.24 x 39.37 x 6.38Most European countries, Latin America, the United Kingdom, India, New Zealand
Wooden & Metal Pallet800 x 600 x 16331.50 x 23.62 x 6.42Most European countries, United Kingdom, South Africa
Wooden Pallet800 x 600 x 16631.50 x 23.62 x 6.53France
Wooden Pallet – 3 Runner1200 x 1200 x 15447.24 x 47.24 x 6.06India, China
Wooden Pallet – New Zealand standard1200 x 1000 x 14047.24 x 39.37 x 5.51New Zealand
Perimeter Wooden Pallet1200 x 1000 x 15447.24 x 39.37 x 6.06India, China
Timber Half Pallet1220 x 508 x 12847.24 x 20 x 5.04Canada
Bearer Pallet1200 x 1200 x 15047.24 x 47.24 x 5.90Namibia, South Africa
Bearer Pallet1500 x 1200 x 17659 x 47.24 x 6.13Namibia, South Africa
Wooden Pallet1200 x 800 x 14447.24 x 31.50 x 5.67Most European countries, United Kingdom, South Africa, India
Wooden Pallet – Australian Standard1165 x 1165 x 15045.87 x 45.87 x 5.90Australia, New Zealand
Pallet Mercosur1200 x 1000 x 14547.24 x 39.37 x 5.71USA, Argentina
Wooden Pallet1000 x 600 x 16239.37 x 23.62 x 6.38France
Plastic Dolly600 x 400 x 17323.62 x 15.75 x 6.81Austria, Switzerland
Plastic Pallet – New Zealand standard1219 x 1016 x 14448 x 40 x 5.67New Zealand
Plastic Display Pallet600 x 400 x 14523.62 x 15.75 x 5.71Most European countries
Plastic Display Pallet1200 x 800 x 16047.24 x 31.50 x 6.30Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom
Blue Shield Plastic Pallet1200 x 1000 x 15047.24 x 39.37 x 5.90China, Thailand, South Africa
Plastic Pallet – 3 Runner1200 x 1000 x 15047.24 x 39.37 x 5.90China
Plastic Pallet1165 x 1165 x 15045.87 x 45.87 x 5.90Australia
Automotive Pallet – US Standard1166 x 1242 x 15245.87 x 48.90 x 5.98USA, Canada, Mexico
Automotive Half Pallet100 x 600 x 1443.93 x 23.62 x 5.67Most European countries, Brazil, Argentina
Automotive Pallet1200 x 1000 x 14447.24 x 39.37 x 5.67Most European countries, Brazil, Argentina

CP Pallet Sizes

The CP Pallets scheme was started in the early 90s’ by the German Chemicals Industry Association (VCI). So, the CP pallets are intended for the chemical industry only. They belong to the pallet exchange system, and they can be repaired as well. CP standards describe the wood quality, measurements, marking, and repairing. You can find more information on CP pallets marking in our article on pallet safety.

Let see here the different dimensions of CP Pallets.

CP1: 1200x1000mm Winged pallet.
CP2: 1200x800mm Winged, Three Legger pallet.
CP3: 1140x1140mm square Winged, Three Legger pallet designed to carry four drums.
CP4: 1300x1100mm Winged, Three Legger pallet.
CP5: 1140x760mm Winged, Three Legger pallet, the smallest of the CP pallets.
CP6: 1200x1000mm Winged pallet with a perimeter base.
CP7: 1300x1100mm Winged pallet with a perimeter base.
CP8: 1140×1140 with a hole in the middle designed for bulk bag discharge.
CP9: 1140x1140mm Winged pallet with a perimeter base.

More details on the different pallet dimensions

The information on the different pallet sizes shown below is from Greenway, Products & Services, LLC.

48″ x 40″ 4-way pallet:

The 4-way pallets allow entry from both sides and both front and rear via notched stringers. This pallet is more versatile than 2-way pallets of the same configuration. Pallet jacks cannot normally access the side entry of these pallets.

48″ x 40″ 2-way pallet:

The 2-way pallets allow entry from the front and rear of the pallet only. This pallet is stronger across the stringers than 4-way pallets of the same configuration. This is a double-faced, flush style, non-reversible pallet.

48″ x 40″ block pallet:

Block style pallet offers the greatest accessibility by forklift trucks and pallet jacks, all four sides being equally accessible.

48″ x 40″ 4-way oak heavy duty pallet:

Our heavy duty pallet is used when the demands on the pallet are great.

48″ x 48″ 3-stringers pallet:

Great for moving 45-gallon barrels four at a time, very strong pallet. It’s another pallet jack friendly pallet.

48″ x 48″ 4-stringers pallet:

Great for moving four 45 gallon barrels at a time but only with a forklift. This pallet is stronger than a 48″ x 48″ 3-stringers pallet.

47″ x 31″ EPAL HT Block pallet:

EPAL block pallet is HT (heat-treated) for international shipments. Great accessibility by both forklift and pallet jack from all four sides. It can be loaded three-wide in a standard trailer for maximum trailer floor usage. Used only once.

42″ x 42″ 4-way Tight Gap Heat Treated pallet:

This pallet allows 4-way entry and is also legal for export. Because it is a TG pallet, it is great for shipping or storing small items.  It is also good for storing or shipping tote bags.

44″ x 44″ 4-way Tight Gap Heat Treated pallet:

This pallet is the same as the 42×42″ pallet just slightly larger.  Included in the mix is approx. 10% 2-way pallets.

48″ x 40″ 4-way Tight Gap pallet:

Filler strips are added to a standard 48″x40″ 4-way pallet to make it a tight gap pallet. It’s great for shipping or storing smaller items or bags where you don’t want the item or bag to hang between the deck boards.

48″ x 40″ 4-way Heat Treated pallet:

This pallet is the same as our 48″x40″ 4-way pallet but it has a heat treated stamp which makes it legal for export.

Need more information about the different kinds of pallets used nowadays? If you want to learn everything about it, check out our article “What is a Pallet? Everything You Need to Know About It!

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