In a pallet measurement the first number is the stringer length and the second is the deckboard length. Square or nearly square pallets help a load resist tipping.
Two-way pallets are designed to be lifted by the deckboards. In a warehouse the deckboard side faces the corridor. For optimal cubage in a warehouse, the deckboard dimension should be the shorter. This also helps the deckboards be more rigid.
Four-way pallets, or pallets for heavy loads, or general-purpose systems that might have heavy loads are best lifted by their more rigid stringers. A warehouse has the stringer side facing the corridor. For optimal cubage in a warehouse, the stringer dimension should be the shorter.
Pallet users want pallets to easily pass through buildings, stack and fit in racks, forklifts, pallet jacks and automated warehouses. To avoid shipping air, pallets should also pack tightly inside intermodal containers and vans.
No universally accepted standards for pallet dimensions exist. Companies and organizations utilize hundreds of different pallet sizes around the globe. While no single dimensional standard governs pallet production, a few different sizes are widely used.
ISO pallets
| Dimensions, mm (W × L) |
Dimensions, in (W × L) |
Wasted floor |
Region most used in |
| 1219 × 1016 |
48.00 × 40.00 |
11.7% (20 pallets in 40ft ISO) |
North America |
| 1000 × 1200 |
39.37 × 47.24 |
6.7% |
Europe, Asia; similar to 48x40". |
| 1165 × 1165 |
45.87 × 45.87 |
8.1% |
Australia |
| 1067 × 1067 |
42.00 × 42.00 |
11.5% |
North America, Europe, Asia |
| 1100 × 1100 |
43.30 × 43.30 |
14% |
Asia |
| 800 × 1200 |
31.50 × 47.24 |
15.2% |
Europe; fits many doorways
|
North American pallets
Of the top pallets used in North America, the most commonly used by far is the Grocery Manufacturers' Association (GMA) pallet, which accounts for 30% of all new wood pallets produced in the United States. The ISO also recognizes the GMA pallet footprint as one of its six standard sizes.
| Dimensions, mm (W × L) |
Dimensions, in (W × L) |
Production Rank |
Industries Using |
| 1219 × 1016 |
48 × 40 |
1 |
Grocery, many others |
| 1067 ×1067 |
42 × 42 |
2 |
Telecommunications, Paint |
| 1219 × 1219 |
48 × 48 |
3 |
Drums |
| 1016 × 1219 |
40 × 48 |
4 |
Military, Cement |
| 1219 × 1067 |
48 × 42 |
5 |
Chemical, Beverage |
| 1016 × 1016 |
40 × 40 |
6 |
Dairy |
| 1219 × 1143 |
48 × 45 |
7 |
Automotive |
| 1118 × 1118 |
44 × 44 |
8 |
Drums, Chemical |
| 914 × 914 |
36 × 36 |
9 |
Beverage |
| 1219 × 914 |
48 × 36 |
10 |
Beverage, Shingles, Packaged Paper |
| 889 × 1156 |
35 × 45.5 |
Unknown |
Military 1/2 ISO container, fits 36" standard doors |
| 1219 × 508 |
48 × 20 |
Unknown |
Retail |
European pallets
In Europe, the EURO pallet, also called a CEN pallet, is widely used in many industries. It measures 800 by 1200 by 144 mm. Manufacturers of EURO pallets must be sanctioned by the European Pallet Association (EPAL), which governs the smallest details, even which types of nails and lumber may be used. The strict standardization is based on the existence of europool pallet swap organizations - their mutual swap agreements across country boundaries only include EURO pallets of a specific EPAL/EUR type (mostly restricted to type 1). Most freight forwarders will accept pool pallets, handling the cost clearing between sender and receiver even for international transport to countries that take part in the europool system. The ongoing harmonization of freight handling within the European Economic Area has led to a decline of the europool system. The EURO pallet does not fit efficiently within the ISO shipping container and slightly wider containers are often used for this reason.
The four common sizes of EURO pallets (alongside with ISO alternative sizes) are:
| EURO pallet type |
Dimensions, mm/in (W × L) |
ISO pallet alternative |
| EUR, EUR 1 |
800 × 1,200 mm/31.50 × 47.24 in |
ISO1, same size as EUR |
| EUR 2 |
1,200 × 1,000 mm/47.24 × 39.37 in |
ISO2 |
| EUR 3 |
1,000 × 1,200 mm/39.37 × 47.24 in |
|
| EUR 6 |
800 × 600 mm/31.50 × 23.62 in |
ISO0, half the size of EUR |
|
600 × 400 mm/23.62 × 15.75 in |
quarter the size of EUR |
|
400 × 300 mm/15.75 × 11.81 in |
one-eighth the size of EUR |