Freight reference
Standard Pallet Dimensions: Width, Length and Height
A standard North American pallet is commonly 48 inches long by 40 inches wide; the cited pooled block model is 5.6 inches high. An EPAL 1 Euro pallet is 1200 × 800 × 144 millimeters. Dimensions are listed length × width × height, and the finished wrapped load may be larger than the bare pallet.
This standard pallet dimensions reference compares frequently used regional footprints, published pallet heights, representative construction, and model-specific capacity statements. Dimensions are shown in millimeters and inches for warehouse, freight, and load-planning work. A footprint name does not establish pallet strength, so published capacity is kept separate from regional size and tied to the cited pallet model.
How to read pallet dimensions
Pallet dimensions are normally written as length × width × height. For the common North American 48 × 40 inch footprint, 48 inches is the length and 40 inches is the width. The cited CHEP pooled block model is 5.6 inches high, but a different pallet with the same footprint can have a different construction or height.
For shipping, measure the complete handling unit rather than copying the bare-pallet dimensions. Include cartons, wrap, corner boards, bands, overhang, and projections at their greatest outside points. A 48 × 40 inch pallet with product overhang is not a 48 × 40 inch shipment.
Standard pallet size comparison
Regional standards are useful for footprint planning, but they are not interchangeable equipment specifications. A 48 by 40 inch GMA-style stringer pallet and a 48 by 40 inch pooled block pallet share a footprint while differing in construction, entry, deck coverage, rack behavior, tare, and rated load. The table therefore identifies the cited example rather than assigning one capacity to every pallet of a given size.
| Pallet | Length × width × height, in | Length × width × height, mm | Width | Typical construction note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North American 48 × 40 | 48 × 40 × 5.6 | 1219 × 1016 × 141 | 40 in / 1016 mm | CHEP pooled block model. A documented GMA-style stringer example uses 7 top and 5 bottom deckboards. |
| EPAL 1 Euro | 47.24 × 31.50 × 5.67 | 1200 × 800 × 144 | 31.50 in / 800 mm | 11 boards, 9 blocks, and 78 nails in the EPAL specification. |
| EPAL 2, often called EUR 2 | 47.24 × 39.37 × 6.38 | 1200 × 1000 × 162 | 39.37 in / 1000 mm | Four-way EPAL pallet. Confirm markings and condition for exchange use. |
| Japanese T11, 1100 square | 43.31 × 43.31 × 5.67 | 1100 × 1100 × 144 | 43.31 in / 1100 mm | The Japan Pallet Association identifies T11 as the Japanese through-transit flat-pallet standard. Material and construction vary. |
| Australian standard | 45.87 × 45.87 × 5.91 | 1165 × 1165 × 150 | 45.87 in / 1165 mm | Loscam radiata-pine example manufactured to AS 4068/1993. |
| EPAL 6 half pallet | 31.50 × 23.62 × 5.67 | 800 × 600 × 144 | 23.62 in / 600 mm | EPAL half-pallet model with a published 750 kg safe working load. |
| North American half pallet | 40 × 24 × 5.6 | 1016 × 610 × 142 | 24 in / 610 mm | CHEP pooled half-pallet footprint for closed-loop distribution. |
Published load-capacity examples
Capacity terminology is not consistent across product sheets. Static capacity usually describes a pallet supported on a flat floor. Dynamic or working capacity describes handling or transport under a distributed load. Racking capacity depends on the rack span and support direction. The safest comparison preserves the exact condition stated by the source instead of converting one rating into another.
| Pallet model | Working or dynamic | Static or stacked | Racking |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHEP 48 x 40 pooled block | 2,800 lb under normal operating conditions with a uniformly distributed load | Stack up to 5 unit loads, not exceeding 10,000 lb total | CHEP states free-span racking in either direction; use its 2,800 lb normal uniform-load statement and actual facility rules |
| EPAL 1 | 1,500 kg safe working load | 5,500 kg maximum on the bottom pallet when laden pallets are stacked on a solid, even surface | No general racking figure published in the cited overview |
| EPAL 2 | 1,250 kg safe working load | Use the current EPAL product specification | Use the current EPAL product specification |
| Loscam Australian wooden pallet | Use the specific handling and condition rating | 10,000 kg maximum static load in the cited specification sheet | 2,000 kg maximum payload in standard and drive-in racking in the cited specification sheet |
| Japanese T11, 1100 x 1100 | Not specified by the cited dimensional standard | Not specified by the cited dimensional standard | Not specified by the cited dimensional standard |
Deck boards, pallet height, and measurement
The EPAL 1 specification states 11 boards in total. A peer-reviewed study documents a representative GMA-style stringer pallet with seven top deckboards and five bottom deckboards. That count is useful as a typical construction example, but GMA-style pallets are repaired, remanufactured, and produced in multiple designs. Do not infer strength from board count alone.
For freight calculations, nominal pallet height is only the base. Measure the finished load from the floor to its highest packaged point and use the greatest length and width after wrap, corner boards, bands, and overhang are applied. For pallet pattern planning, choose the preset that matches the actual footprint and edit the height, tare, and load limit when the supplier specification differs.
Use and limitations
This reference does not certify a pallet for a load, rack, conveyor, export program, or automated system. Capacity depends on material, design, moisture, condition, repair quality, load distribution, support span, handling, and the governing supplier specification. The Japan Pallet Association source confirms the T11 dimensions but does not publish a universal capacity, so capacity values are left out rather than inferred.
Frequently asked questions
What are the dimensions of a standard pallet?
The most common North American pallet footprint is 48 inches long by 40 inches wide, or approximately 1219 by 1016 millimeters. The cited pooled block-pallet example is 5.6 inches high, but construction, height, and capacity vary by model.
How wide is a standard pallet?
A common North American 48 by 40 inch pallet is 40 inches wide. Dimensions are normally written length by width, so 48 is the length and 40 is the width for this footprint.
How big is a Euro pallet?
An EPAL 1 Euro pallet is 1200 millimeters long by 800 millimeters wide by 144 millimeters high, approximately 47.24 by 31.50 by 5.67 inches.
What is the standard Euro pallet size?
The EPAL 1 Euro pallet is 1200 by 800 by 144 millimeters. EPAL publishes 11 boards, 9 blocks, 78 nails, an approximate 25 kilogram tare, and a 1500 kilogram safe working load.
Are static, dynamic, and racking capacities the same?
No. Floor-supported static stacking, movement under load, and free-span rack support create different stresses. Use the rating for the actual pallet model and support condition.
Can pallet dimensions be used as cargo dimensions?
Only when the load does not overhang or project above the stated envelope. Freight measurements must use the greatest outside points of the finished wrapped load.
Sources
The newest source record below was captured 2026-08-13. This date identifies the stored record, not currentness; follow the link before purchasing, rating, or loading.