Standards & dimensions
The pallet size chart, decoded.
In short: The North American standard is the 48×40-inch (1219×1016 mm) GMA pallet, but a dozen other footprints serve specific industries — from square drum pallets to the 1200×1000 mm Euro block. The full reference table is below.
Dimensions, metric conversions, target industries and the reasoning behind each size — plus deep-dive articles.
Standard pallet dimensions
Inches × mm · 12 footprints| Size (in) | Metric (mm) | Common name | Primary industry | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 48" × 40" | 1219 × 1016 mm | GMA / Standard | Grocery, CPG, general freight | The most common pallet in North America — roughly a third of all new pallets built. |
| 42" × 42" | 1067 × 1067 mm | Square / Drum | Paint, chemicals, telecom | Square footprint favored for round drums and even 4-way stacking. |
| 48" × 48" | 1219 × 1219 mm | Drum Pallet | Drums, chemicals | Carries 55-gallon drums squarely without overhang. |
| 40" × 48" | 1016 × 1219 mm | Rotated GMA | Retail, automotive | Same footprint as GMA, loaded on the long axis for specific racking. |
| 48" × 45" | 1219 × 1143 mm | Automotive | Automotive parts | Sized for automotive components and assembly-line feeds. |
| 44" × 44" | 1118 × 1118 mm | Chemical / Drum | Chemicals, petroleum | Another square option common in drum and chemical handling. |
| 36" × 36" | 914 × 914 mm | Beverage / Half | Beverage, DTC | Compact footprint for beverage and tighter retail spaces. |
| 48" × 42" | 1219 × 1067 mm | Chem / Paint | Chemical, paint | Slightly wider than GMA for specific container patterns. |
| 40" × 40" | 1016 × 1016 mm | Dairy | Dairy, beverage | Square footprint used across dairy distribution. |
| 48" × 20" | 1219 × 508 mm | Half Pallet / Display | Retail display | Half-footprint used for in-aisle retail displays and small loads. |
| 47.2" × 39.4" | 1200 × 1000 mm | Euro (EUR2 / ISO) | Export, international | ISO/EUR block pallet for international and pooled freight. |
| 31.5" × 47.2" | 800 × 1200 mm | EUR / EPAL 1 | European supply chains | The classic EUR-pallet footprint used across Europe. |
Dimensions are nominal industry standards; actual production tolerances vary by ±¼". Need a size that isn't here? We build custom footprints.
How to measure a pallet correctly
Pallet dimensions are always written length × width, where length is the stringer (or the longer deck-board span) and width is the deck-board length. For a 48×40 GMA, the 48-inch stringer runs front-to-back and the 40-inch deck boards run side-to-side. Height (the third dimension) matters for racking and truck cube but isn't part of the name.
When you order, confirm three things: footprint (length × width), overall height, and the way of entry — two-way or four-way. A mismatch on any one can stall an automated line or waste trailer space.
Why 48×40 dominates North America
The 48×40 GMA footprint fits a standard 48-inch trailer opening two-wide with almost no wasted space and suits the case sizes of most grocery and consumer-goods products. Once retailers standardized racking and automation around it, network effects locked it in. Today it's roughly a third of all new pallets built on the continent — and the deepest, cheapest pool on the used market.
Euro, drum and specialty footprints
Outside grocery, industries pick footprints that fit their product. Chemical and petroleum handlers favor square 42×42 or 48×48 pallets so round drums sit without overhang. Beverage and dairy lean on compact 36×36 and 40×40 units. International freight often runs the ISO/EUR 1200×1000 mm or 800×1200 mm block pallet, which is engineered for four-way access and pooled reuse across borders.
Weight capacity, briefly
Capacity depends on construction and grade far more than footprint alone. A well-built 48×40 GMA commonly carries a static load in the thousands of pounds and a lower dynamic (in-motion) rating. Never spec by footprint alone — confirm the load rating against your heaviest unit, especially for racked or automated storage.
See how grade affects strength →
Metric conversion cheat-sheet
- 1 inch = 25.4 mm — so 48" = 1219 mm and 40" = 1016 mm.
- The Euro EPAL-1 (800×1200 mm) is roughly 31.5" × 47.2".
- The ISO 1200×1000 mm is roughly 47.2" × 39.4" — close to, but not the same as, a 48×40.
Read the footprint
Length always comes first, entry always matters.
A pallet is written length × width — the stringer span, then the deck-board span. A 48×40 runs a 48-inch stringer front-to-back and 40-inch deck boards side-to-side. Height and way-of-entry finish the spec.
Get those three numbers right — footprint, height and two- or four-way entry — and your load fits the trailer, the rack and the automation on the first try.
MeasuredSizing glossary
The dimension terms behind the chart.
Footprints, overhang, cube and the standards that define them — the vocabulary that turns a size into a spec.
GMA Pallet
The 48×40 inch grocery-industry standard pallet.
GMA refers to the Grocery Manufacturers Association, which standardized the 48×40 inch stringer pallet now used across most US supply chains. It is the single most common pallet footprint in North America, sized to fit standard truck trailers two-wide. GMA #1 and GMA #2 are the primary recycled-market grades.
EPAL / Euro Pallet
The 1200×800 mm European standard block pallet.
The EUR/EPAL pallet is an 800×1200 mm block pallet built to strict specifications and marked with the EPAL logo in an oval on the corner blocks. It is the backbone of European pallet pooling and open exchange systems. Each licensed EPAL pallet is repairable and re-enters the pool under controlled quality rules.
48×40 Footprint
The 48-inch by 40-inch standard North American pallet size.
The 48×40 inch footprint is the dominant pallet dimension in the US, fitting two-wide in a 96-inch-wide trailer or container. Its stringers run the 48-inch length and deck boards span the 40-inch width. This size is synonymous with the GMA grocery pallet and sets the baseline for most warehouse racking and material handling.
Half Pallet
A compact 48×20 or 24×40 pallet for smaller displays and loads.
A half pallet is roughly half the footprint of a standard GMA pallet, commonly 40×24 or 48×20 inches, used for retail-ready displays and small-quantity shipments. It fits neatly on a full pallet or in tight store aisles and reduces overstock at point of sale. Half pallets are popular in club stores and promotional merchandising.
Custom Pallet
A pallet built to non-standard dimensions or specifications.
Custom pallets are engineered to fit unusual product sizes, weights, racking systems, or automated equipment that standard pallets cannot serve. Design variables include deck coverage, stringer count, board thickness, entry type, and species. They cost more per unit but prevent overhang, load failure, and equipment jams in specialized operations.
Sizing FAQ
Common questions on pallet dimensions.
From metric conversions to why 48×40 dominates — the sizing questions we field most.
What pallet sizes do you stock?
Our most common stock is the 48×40 GMA footprint, but we regularly carry 48×48, 42×42, 36×36, 48×45, and 40×48 pallets, plus a rotating supply of odd and custom sizes. Availability changes with what comes through our recycling stream, so we recommend emailing your target size and quantity. If we do not have it recycled, we can often build it new to spec.
Can you supply block pallets as well as stringer pallets?
Yes. We stock both traditional stringer pallets, which use three parallel runners, and block pallets, which use nine support blocks for true four-way forklift and pallet-jack entry. Block pallets are common in export, automotive, and beverage programs, while stringer pallets dominate general Midwest warehousing. We can advise which style fits your handling equipment and load profile.
What sizes are considered standard versus custom?
The 48×40 GMA pallet is the North American standard and the most widely available, followed by 48×48 for drums, 42×42 for beverages and telecom, and 36×36 for retail. Anything outside those common footprints, or with a special deck or load rating, is treated as custom. Custom sizes usually carry a longer lead time and a slightly higher price.
What is a stringer versus a block pallet in practical terms?
A stringer pallet uses long boards, called stringers, running the length of the pallet to support the deck, and forklifts usually enter from two sides with partial access on the others. A block pallet uses solid blocks at nine points, giving genuine four-way entry that is easier for pallet jacks and automated systems. Your choice depends on your handling equipment and whether the pallet needs to be accessed from all four sides.