Pallet Sizes Chart: Standard Pallet Dimensions in Inches and mm
The standard US pallet is 48 x 40 inches (1219 x 1016 mm); Europe ships on 1200 x 800 mm and 1200 x 1000 mm; drums and chemicals ride 48 x 48. The chart lists every common footprint in inches and millimetres, how many of each fit in a trailer, and the stocked pallet covers, top sheets and film sized to each.
Standard pallet sizes
The 48 x 40 inch GMA pallet is the North American standard because two of them sit side by side across a 53 foot trailer and a standard rack bay, and because the grocery supply chain standardised on it decades ago. Everything downstream, from stretch film widths to pallet covers to gaylord boxes, is sized around that footprint. Outside North America the ISO 6780 series lists six footprints, of which the 1200 x 800 mm EUR pallet and the 1200 x 1000 mm industrial pallet are the ones most likely to arrive at a US dock.
| Pallet | Inches (L x W) | Millimetres (L x W) | Footprint (sq ft) | Common use | ISO 6780 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GMA / grocery pallet | 48 x 40 | 1219 x 1016 | 13.3 | North America; groceries, consumer goods, most warehouses | Yes |
| Square 48 x 48 | 48 x 48 | 1219 x 1219 | 16.0 | Drums, chemicals, some military loads | No |
| 42 x 42 | 42 x 42 | 1067 x 1067 | 12.2 | Paint, telecom, beverage | Yes |
| 48 x 45 | 48 x 45 | 1219 x 1143 | 15.0 | Automotive parts | No |
| 48 x 42 | 48 x 42 | 1219 x 1067 | 14.0 | Chemicals, beverage | No |
| 40 x 40 | 40 x 40 | 1016 x 1016 | 11.1 | Dairy, some beverage | No |
| 36 x 36 | 36 x 36 | 914 x 914 | 9.0 | Beverage, light retail | No |
| Half pallet 48 x 20 | 48 x 20 | 1219 x 508 | 6.7 | Retail display, club stores | No |
| Quarter pallet 24 x 20 | 24 x 20 | 610 x 508 | 3.3 | Retail display | No |
| EUR / EPAL 1 | 47.24 x 31.5 | 1200 x 800 | 10.3 | Europe; standard exchange pallet | Yes |
| EUR 2 / UK standard | 47.24 x 39.37 | 1200 x 1000 | 12.9 | Europe and UK; industrial loads | Yes |
| Australian standard | 45.87 x 45.87 | 1165 x 1165 | 14.6 | Australia | Yes |
| Asian / JIS | 43.3 x 43.3 | 1100 x 1100 | 13.0 | Japan, Korea, parts of Asia | Yes |
How many pallets fit in a trailer or container
| Pallet | 53 ft dry van (single layer) | 40 ft container (single layer) | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 48 x 40 GMA | 26 straight (13 rows of 2), up to 30 pinwheeled | 20 to 21 straight | Two fit across the 98.5 in van width when loaded 40 in side across |
| 48 x 48 | 26 (13 rows of 2) | 18 to 19 | Two across at 96 in; no pinwheel gain |
| 42 x 42 | 30 (15 rows of 2) | 22 | Two across at 84 in |
| EUR 1200 x 800 | Up to 33 (mixed orientation) | 24 to 25 | Three across at 800 mm in a 2.44 m container; van widths vary |
| 48 x 20 half | 52 | 40 to 42 | Load in pairs on the 48 x 40 footprint |
Pinwheeling, turning alternate pairs of 48 x 40 pallets so the 48 in side runs across the trailer, gains up to four positions in a 53 foot van but needs the load to survive being handled from the 40 in side. Mixed pallet sizes lose positions fast; a single 48 x 48 in a row of GMA pallets costs a full slot. Stacking height is limited by the door (about 110 in on a dry van) and by the bottom box's compression strength, which the box weight capacity page estimates for stocked sizes; the pallet count table gives boxes per layer and per pallet for 60 stocked box sizes on the 48 x 40 deck.
Pallet covers by pallet size
A pallet cover is a gusseted poly bag that drops over the loaded pallet before or after stretch wrapping to keep dust, rain and warehouse grime off the top and sides. Size it by the pallet footprint plus 2 to 4 inches on each side for the wrapped load, and by the load height for the drop. The sizes below are named length x width x drop.
| Pallet cover | Cover size (L x W x H) | Film | Fits pallet | Max load height | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26x24x48 3 Mil Clear Pallet Covers 50-Pack | 26 x 24 x 48 in | 3 mil | Quarter pallet 24 x 20 | 48 in | $86.46 |
| 30x26x48 3 Mil Clear Pallet Covers 50-Pack | 30 x 26 x 48 in | 3 mil | Quarter pallet 24 x 20 | 48 in | $95.94 |
| 32x28x72 2 Mil Clear Pallet Covers 100/Case | 32 x 28 x 72 in | 2 mil | Quarter pallet 24 x 20 | 72 in | $205.61 |
| 36x24x43 2 Mil Clear Pallet Covers 50-Pack | 36 x 24 x 43 in | 2 mil | Quarter pallet 24 x 20 | 43 in | $92.75 |
| 36x27x65 1 Mil Clear Pallet Covers 100/Case | 36 x 27 x 65 in | 1 mil | Quarter pallet 24 x 20 | 65 in | $102.70 |
| 36x28x52 3 Mil Clear Pallet Covers 50/Case | 36 x 28 x 52 in | 3 mil | Quarter pallet 24 x 20 | 52 in | $107.99 |
| 42x32x54 2 Mil Clear Pallet Covers | 42 x 32 x 54 in | 2 mil | Quarter pallet 24 x 20 | 54 in | $165.85 |
| 42x32x72 2 Mil Clear Pallet Covers 50/Case | 42 x 32 x 72 in | 2 mil | Quarter pallet 24 x 20 | 72 in | $126.79 |
| 42x42x72 2 Mil Clear Pallet Covers 50-Pack | 42 x 42 x 72 in | 2 mil | 42 x 42 | 72 in | $130.86 |
| 42x42x72 4 Mil Clear Pallet Covers 25-Pack | 42 x 42 x 72 in | 4 mil | 42 x 42 | 72 in | $145.25 |
| 42x42x96 2 Mil Clear Pallet Covers 50/Case | 42 x 42 x 96 in | 2 mil | 42 x 42 | 96 in | $191.89 |
| 44x36x96 2 Mil Clear Pallet Covers 50/Case | 44 x 36 x 96 in | 2 mil | 36 x 36 | 96 in | $182.75 |
| 46x36x72 2 Mil Clear Pallet Covers 50-Pack | 46 x 36 x 72 in | 2 mil | 36 x 36 | 72 in | $144.00 |
| 46x36x72 3 Mil Clear Pallet Covers 50-Pack | 46 x 36 x 72 in | 3 mil | 36 x 36 | 72 in | $211.89 |
| 46x42x68 2 Mil Black Pallet Covers 50-Pack | 46 x 42 x 68 in | 2 mil | 48 x 42 | 68 in | $155.68 |
| 46x42x72 4 Mil Clear Heavy-Duty Pallet Covers 25-Pack | 46 x 42 x 72 in | 4 mil | 48 x 42 | 72 in | $150.77 |
| 46x44x80 2 Mil Clear Pallet Covers 50-Pack | 46 x 44 x 80 in | 2 mil | 48 x 45 | 80 in | $171.31 |
| 48x34x60 3 Mil Clear Pallet Covers 50-Pack | 48 x 34 x 60 in | 3 mil | 36 x 36 | 60 in | $162.75 |
| 48x36x72 3 Mil Black Pallet Covers 50-Pack | 48 x 36 x 72 in | 3 mil | 36 x 36 | 72 in | $236.76 |
| 48x36x72 1.5 Mil Clear Pallet Covers | 48 x 36 x 72 in | 1.5 mil | 36 x 36 | 72 in | $188.29 |
| 48x40x48 Aluminum Foil Bubble Pallet Cover 5/Case | 48 x 40 x 48 in | 48 x 42 | 48 in | $193.44 | |
| 48x40x48 3 Mil Black Pallet Covers 50/Case | 48 x 40 x 48 in | 3 mil | 48 x 42 | 48 in | $154.91 |
| 48x40x60 Cool Barrier Bubble Pallet Cover 5/Case | 48 x 40 x 60 in | 48 x 42 | 60 in | $247.06 | |
| 48x40x72 3 Mil Clear Pallet Covers 50-Pack | 48 x 40 x 72 in | 3 mil | 48 x 42 | 72 in | $226.15 |
The pallet covers size guide walks through the measuring rules and the mil choice; 2 mil covers handle indoor dust, 3 mil and 4 mil covers survive outdoor storage and forklift contact.
Top sheets and stretch film
A top sheet is a flat poly sheet laid on the top layer before wrapping so the stretch film can seal the load from above. Match the sheet to the pallet: 60 x 60 in covers a 48 x 40 with overhang, 72 x 72 in covers a 48 x 48 or a tall load with bulge.
Stretch film width is independent of pallet size (18 in hand film and 20 in machine film wrap any footprint), but the number of wraps per pallet scales with the perimeter: a 48 x 40 load has a 176 in perimeter, a 48 x 48 load 192 in, an EUR pallet 157 in. The stretch film gauge chart converts gauge to load weight and gives film per pallet for stocked rolls; the slip sheet comparison covers the case for shipping without a pallet at all.
Measuring and specifying a pallet
- Length first. Pallet sizes are written stringer length by deck board width; a 48 x 40 has 48 in stringers and 40 in deck boards.
- Entry. Two-way pallets accept forks on the 40 in ends only; four-way pallets accept forks on all sides and are the norm for GMA block pallets.
- Height. Standard wood pallets are 5 to 6.5 in tall; add that to the load height when checking door and rack clearance.
- Overhang. Boxes should not overhang the deck; overhang cuts box compression strength by roughly a third and tears film.
- Weight. A wood GMA pallet weighs 35 to 48 lb; plastic 30 to 50 lb; export pallets must be heat treated and stamped (ISPM 15).
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Frequently asked questions
What is the standard pallet size in the US?
48 x 40 inches (1219 x 1016 mm), the GMA pallet, typically 5 to 6.5 inches tall. It is the footprint that trailers, racks, pallet covers and gaylord boxes are sized around.
What is a standard pallet size in cm and mm?
The GMA pallet is 121.9 x 101.6 cm (1219 x 1016 mm). The EUR pallet is 120 x 80 cm (1200 x 800 mm) and the EUR 2 industrial pallet 120 x 100 cm.
How many 48 x 40 pallets fit in a 53 foot trailer?
26 loaded straight in 13 rows of two, or up to 30 when alternate pairs are pinwheeled, single layer. A 40 foot container takes 20 to 21.
What size pallet cover do I need for a 48 x 40 pallet?
A cover about 48 to 51 in long by 42 to 46 in wide, with a drop equal to the load height: for example 48 x 42 x 48 in for a 4 foot load or 51 x 49 x 73 in for a 6 foot load with bulge.
How much weight can a standard pallet hold?
A wood GMA pallet is commonly rated 2,500 to 4,600 lb dynamic (moving on a forklift) and higher static; the exact figure depends on the pallet grade and construction, so check the supplier's rating.
Related references
- How many boxes fit on a pallet
- Pallet covers size guide
- Stretch film gauge chart
- Slip sheets vs pallets
- Corrugated box weight capacity by ECT