Pallet sizes, drawn to scale
Pallet sizes on Mid-South docks come down to six footprints: 48 x 40 is the common one, and 42 x 42, 48 x 48, 48 x 45, 48 x 42 and the 1200 x 800 mm Euro pallet belong to particular freight. Each size below lists its dimensions, weight and who ships on it.
- 01Most common
- 48 x 40 inches
- 02Beverage
- 42 x 42
- 03Chemical
- 48 x 48, 48 x 42
- 04Auto parts
- 48 x 45
BOX 01The six footprints, drawn to scale
Length is the first number, width the second, both in inches. No universally accepted standard exists for pallet dimensions, according to PHS, but the 48 x 40 GMA footprint is accepted as the North American standard by ISO and is the most used. The GMA organization no longer governs pallet specifications.
BOX 02Sizes compared
| Size | Metric | Area | Known for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 48 x 40 | 1,219 x 1,016 mm | 13.3 sq ft | Grocery, retail, general freight |
| 42 x 42 | 1,067 x 1,067 mm | 12.3 sq ft | Beverage |
| 48 x 48 | 1,219 x 1,219 mm | 16.0 sq ft | Chemical |
| 48 x 45 | 1,219 x 1,143 mm | 15.0 sq ft | Automotive |
| 48 x 42 | 1,219 x 1,067 mm | 14.0 sq ft | Chemical and beverage |
| 1200 x 800 mm | 1,200 x 800 mm | 10.3 sq ft | The Euro pallet |
Areas are computed as length times width divided by 144. They are footprints only; the pallet's height and the load stacked on it are separate.
BOX 03How to pick
Use the size your product already ships on. If you are choosing for the first time, 48 x 40 has the largest supply of used and new stock, so it is the easiest to buy and to sell. For an odd load, see custom pallets, and for the grade of whatever size you choose, see the grade guide.
BOX 04Measuring one yourself
Put a tape on the deck and read the side the fork enters first. By convention that is the stringer length, written first, and the other side is the width. A pallet measured at 48 by 40 with the long boards running across the stringers is a 48 x 40 stringer pallet; turn the same pallet a quarter turn and you get the wrong order and a confused delivery.
Measure two or three from the pile, since pallets of one size drift by a fraction of an inch as boards wear. Round to the nearest whole inch and say so. If a pallet is metric, give millimeters and and convert it: 1200 x 800 is the metric pallet.
BOX 05Choosing a size for a new product
If you are packing a product for the first time, work out the case footprint and pick the pallet that leaves the smallest overhang. Overhang of more than an inch on a side is usually a sign that the wrong size is in use. The common sizes cover most cases.
FAQStraight answers
What is the standard pallet size?
48 x 40 inches, also written 1,219 x 1,016 mm. It accounts for 30 percent of all new wood pallets made in the United States.
Which side counts as the length?
The side the stringers or blocks run along, written first in the size.
Last reviewed 12 November 2026. Sources:
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