The STANDARD PALLET SIZE IN THE UNITED STATES is 48” x 40”
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Pallets size dimensions for:
What are the standard pallets dimensions?
Dimensions (W × L) [in]
48 × 40
42 x 42
48 x 48
40 x 48
48 x 42
40 x 40
48 x 45
44 x 44
36 x 36
48 x 36
35 x 45.5
48 x 20
42 x 42
48 x 48
40 x 48
48 x 42
40 x 40
48 x 45
44 x 44
36 x 36
48 x 36
35 x 45.5
48 x 20
Dimensions (W × L) [mm]
1219 × 1016
1067 ×1067
1219 × 1219
1016 × 1219
1219 × 1067
1016 × 1016
1219 × 1143
1118 × 1118
914 × 914
1219 × 914
889 × 1156
1219 × 508
1067 ×1067
1219 × 1219
1016 × 1219
1219 × 1067
1016 × 1016
1219 × 1143
1118 × 1118
914 × 914
1219 × 914
889 × 1156
1219 × 508
Industries That Use Them
Grocery as well as many other uses
Telecommunications and Paint
Drums
Cement and Military
Chemicals and Beverage
Dairy
Automotive
Drums and Chemicals
Beverage
Beverage, Shingles and Packaged Paper
Military 1/2 ISO container
Retail
Telecommunications and Paint
Drums
Cement and Military
Chemicals and Beverage
Dairy
Automotive
Drums and Chemicals
Beverage
Beverage, Shingles and Packaged Paper
Military 1/2 ISO container
Retail
What are other standard pallets dimensions?
Australian Pallets
Dimensions (W × L) [in]
45.9 x 45.9
Dimensions (W × L) [mm]
1165 x 1165
Used In
Australia, New Zealand
European Pallets
Dimensions (W × L) [in]
31.50 × 47.24
47.24 × 39.37
39.37 × 47.24
31.50 × 23.62
47.24 × 39.37
39.37 × 47.24
31.50 × 23.62
Dimensions (W × L) [mm]
800 × 1,200
1,200 × 1,000
1,000 × 1,200
800 × 600
1,200 × 1,000
1,000 × 1,200
800 × 600
EURO Pallet Type
EUR, EUR 1
EUR 2
EUR 3
EUR 6
EUR 2
EUR 3
EUR 6
ISO Pallets
Dimensions (W × L) [in]
40.00 x 48.00
39.37 x 47.24
45.9 x 45.9
42.00 x 42.00
43.30 x 43.30
31.50 x 47.24
39.37 x 47.24
45.9 x 45.9
42.00 x 42.00
43.30 x 43.30
31.50 x 47.24
Dimensions (W × L) [mm]
1016 x 1219
1000 x 1200
1165 x 1165
1067 x 1067
1100 x 1100
800 x 1200
1000 x 1200
1165 x 1165
1067 x 1067
1100 x 1100
800 x 1200
Used In
North America
Europe, Asia
Australia
North America, Europe, Asia
Asia
Europe
Europe, Asia
Australia
North America, Europe, Asia
Asia
Europe
What is a pallet?
A pallet is a flat structure that is used for shipping and transport.
Pallets allow commercial goods and shipping containers to be shipped in a stable fashion by giving them support so pallet jacks, forklifts, front loaders and other jacking devices can lift them. Pallets allow for efficiencies in storage and handling. They can also be used in many creative ways, more examples can be found in this article about the usage of wooden pallets.
Most pallets manufactured in the USA are made of wood, but you can also find ones that are made of:
- plastic
- metal
- paper
- recycled materials
What Are The Main Types of Pallets?
Stringer Pallets
- Use a frame of three or more parallel pieces of timber (called stringers). The top deckboards are then affixed to the stringers to create the pallet structure. Stringer pallets can have a notch cut in them allowing “four-way” entry.
- Also known as “two-way” pallets, since a pallet-jack may only life it from two directions instead of four.
- Forklifts can lift a stringer pallet from all four directions, though lifting by the stringers is more secure.
- Built with 2” x 4” wood, plastic or metal “stringers.”
- The stringer pallet dominates in the U.S. because the stringer is the “older kid on the block”
- Typically made of hardwood (from deciduous trees)
Block Pallets
- Block pallets are typically stronger than stringer pallets.
- Block pallets utilize both parallel and perpendicular stringers to better facilitate efficient handling.
- A block pallet is also known as a “four-way” pallet, since a pallet-jack may be used from any side to move it.
- Also referred to as Manoj pallets
- Are a better complement to store operations (the handling and displaying of products)
- Typically made from softwood (coniferous trees)
What Are Other Types Of Pallets?
Double Face Reversible
- Used with forklift trucks only
Double Face Non-Reversible
- Used for forklift and hand trucks
- Chamfered edges all for easy hand truck entry
- A general purpose pallet
Single Face
- Used for shipping or warehousing where stacking is not required
- An economical pallet
Double Wing
- Can be used with slings or fork trucks
- A heavy duty cargo pallet
Single Wing
- Used with forklift trucks or straddle type equipment
Plug Type Pallets
- Also referred to as Type 2 or B Grade
- The same as a 4-way notched stringer pallet; however, the stringers have been broken and repaired with comparison stringers or stringer parts
Four Way Notched Stringer
- Provides 4-way entry by forklift trucks and 2-way entry by hand trucks
- The most versatile of all pallets
Two-Way Pallets
- Pallets with forklift openings on only two ends
- Also referred to as “unnotched” pallets
Material based pallets
Wooden Pallets
- Most pallets are wooden.
- In the U.S. industry, the standard wooden size pallet is 48” x40”
- Typically consist of three of four stringers that support several deckboards, on top of which goods are placed
- Most made from “waste” lumber, which may not look good for furniture grade wood, but it just as strong
- Saddles foam and protective supports
- They don’t reduce natural foliage as no trees are cut to make them
- Timber pallets are reusable and recyclable
- Pooled wood pallets are durable, cost effective and environmentally sustainable
- Cost-effective, reconditioning quality options are an advantage of wood pallets:
- Grade #1A “Super” Heavy Duty Pallets: Hardwood construction, 5 bottom boards, for rackable pallets and one-way or return shipping
- Grade A: hardwood/softwood mix, 5 bottom boards, repaired with plates (no stringer inserts), for rackable pallets, and one-way or return shipping
- Grade B: hardwood/softwood mix, repaired with stringer inserts, for rackable pallets and one-way shipping
ISPM 15-Compliant Heat-Treated Wood Pallets
- A business necessity for an export pallet or overseas shipper
- All solid wood packaging must be heat-treated or fumigated before they can be imported into most countries, as of 2002.
- A safe and reliable way to treat a wood export pallet
- Very effective at eliminating all insect infestation and are environmentally safe
Recycled Wood Pallets
- This economically alternative is the workhorse of the industry
- Tough, durable wood
- Stackable reusable
- Heat treated H-2089 meets ISPM 15 Export Specifications
- Can even be used to make furniture (who knew!)
Paper Pallets
- Also referred to as “ecopallets”
- Come in corrugated fiberboard, partial wood decks or engineered with laminated paperboard (some made of paperboard composite honeycomb)
Advantages include:
- Lighter weight than wood or steel
- Thinner than wood, more products shipped on a load
- Disposable
- Recyclable
- Very flexible to adapt to special transport needs
- Meet Integrated Pollution Prevention Control (IPPC) requirements
- Meet international regulations on trade (ISPM)
- No fumigation
- Environmentally friendly
- Clean and dust free
- Low profile design possible, geared to reduce cube utilization while in shipment
- No nails or wood splinters, no mold, no fire retardants
- Promotes safer handling
- Suited for clean room environments in medical, pharmaceutical and non-wet food applications. Free of contaminants, they comply with phyto-sanitary ISPM regulations governing export shipments without the need for additional treatment and replaces heat-treated pallets.
- Clean design and offer the possibility of printing identification and/or RFID for enhanced marketing advantages
Disadvantages include:
- Susceptible to moisture
- Lack stiffness compared to most other pallet materials
Plastic Pallets
- Made from recycled and recyclable plastic
- Long useful life
- An effective reusable plastic pallet program can reduce costs, drive sustainability and optimize a company’s supply chain
- Resistant to acids, fats, solvents and odors
- Waterproof, resistant to bacterial contamination, and does not absorb humidity-ideal for food, paper, pharmaceuticals and cement
- Easily stacked, handled and cleaned
- Naturally ISPM 15 compliant: can be used for both domestic and export pallet overseas
- EURO pallet dimensions available
- Lightweight, yet durable to protect your shipment while on the way to its destination
Plastic Nestable Pallets
- Ideal for domestic and export pallet use
- Ideal for pallet stacking, and are manufactured for light, medium and heavy-duty applications
Plastic Rackable Pallets
- Allow for easy pallet handling and pallet stacking
- Will save space
- Allow a 4-way entry
- Can be manufactured using a fire retardant blend
- They are durable, nestable, lightweight, easy to clean, FDA/USDA approved, fully recyclable, slip-resistant surface
Stackable Plastic Pallets
- Available in one-piece, two-piece assembled and welded styles
- Designed for handling and shipping heavy product loads in warehousing, processing and manufacturing environments
- Static load capacities up to 30,000 lbs
- Ideal for stack loading, conveying systems, distribution centers and static storage
- Economic, environmental and efficient alternative to wood pallets or skids
- Easy cleanable and available in FDA approved materials
- 100% recyclable
- Available in footprints from 32” x 38” to 48” x 72”
- Consistent tare weights allow better inventory control
- Compatible with many palletizers, depalletizers, automatic strapping equipment and high-speed automation systems
Steel Pallets
- Often have removable beams (can be used for firewood)
- Fireproof and rust resistant
- Designed to last a long time and maintain structural integrity
- Ideal for sensitive storage use
- Meet ISPM #15 international shipping standards
- 62 lbs, yet edge support rack capacity at 3,500 lbs.
- Static capacity of 40,000 lbs. and dynamic capacity of 10,000 lbs.
- Almost full top side coverage
- Pallet jack capable for flexibility
- Cleanable
- 100% recyclable – green for the environment
- Offer tremendous ROI for companies in the food products, storage and distribution, chemicals and related markets
- Price point is less expensive than a comparable plastic alternative
- Offers advantages of capacity, usability and recyclability
- When you use purchase metal pallets, you save on:
- Repair and maintenance expense
- Product damage and breakage
- Plant cleanliness
- Related material handling cost saving (i.e.: less damage to conveyors and forklift wheels, etc.)
- Fire and safety expense
Aluminum Pallets
- Will not rust, rot, warp, or burn, therefore giving a better ROI
- Fireproof quality may lower insurance rates
- Stronger than other pallets now being used such as wood and plastic
- Reduce product damage and are lighter than some wood or other metal pallets, therefore reducing shipping cost
- Are stackable for space-saving efficiency
- Require virtually no maintenance
- Last for years and can withstand extremes in temperatures
- Ideally suited for closed-loop and automated retrieval systems
- Lightweight, durable, repairable and 100% recyclable
- Can be customized
- Resources: Pallet Size Resource
For more information about pallets please see the following resources: