Pallet dimensions are not just numbers on a spec sheet. They dictate how efficiently you can load a trailer, how well your products fit into warehouse racking, whether your goods clear international customs without delays, and ultimately how much you spend on freight per unit shipped. Choosing the wrong pallet size can cascade into wasted trailer space, damaged goods, incompatible racking, and regulatory headaches that cost far more than the pallets themselves.
In this guide we will walk through every major pallet size used in North America and around the world, explain the reasoning behind each standard, and give you practical advice for selecting the right dimensions for your specific operation. Whether you are shipping domestically within the United States, exporting to Europe or Asia, or managing a multi-channel distribution network, you will find the information you need here.
The GMA Pallet: 48 x 40 Inches
The Grocery Manufacturers Association pallet, measuring 48 inches long by 40 inches wide, is the undisputed king of North American logistics. It accounts for approximately 30 percent of all new wood pallets produced in the United States each year, and its dominance is even greater when you include recycled and remanufactured units. The 48x40 format was standardized in the 1960s specifically because two of these pallets fit side by side across the width of a standard 96-inch-wide trailer, maximizing floor utilization.
The GMA pallet typically supports a static load of 2,500 pounds and a dynamic load of 2,200 pounds. Racking capacity varies by construction but generally falls between 1,800 and 2,200 pounds. These ratings make the 48x40 suitable for the vast majority of consumer goods, food products, beverages, and general merchandise. If you are starting a new operation and have no specific reason to choose a different size, the 48x40 should be your default.
Why the 48x40 Dominates
- Fits two-wide in standard 96-inch trailers with zero wasted width
- Compatible with virtually every pallet rack system in the US
- Universally accepted by major retailers including Walmart, Target, and Costco
- Largest available supply of new and recycled units keeps prices competitive
- Standardized footprint simplifies warehouse layout and slotting optimization
- Supported by every brand and model of forklift, pallet jack, and automated handling equipment
The 48 x 48 Inch Pallet
The 48x48 square pallet is the second most common size in North America. It is the standard for the drum and barrel industry because its square footprint perfectly accommodates four 55-gallon drums in a 2x2 arrangement. Chemical companies, petroleum distributors, paint manufacturers, and industrial suppliers rely on this size extensively.
The square format also appears frequently in the telecommunications and automotive industries, where components and equipment often have square or near-square footprints. While the 48x48 does not pack as efficiently into trailers as the 48x40 due to four inches of wasted depth per row, its utility for specific product categories keeps it firmly in the top tier of pallet sizes.
The 42 x 42 Inch Pallet
This size is the standard for the paint and coatings industry and is also widely used for shipping telecommunications equipment. The 42x42 is the official pallet of the Chemical Manufacturers Association. Its slightly smaller footprint compared to the 48x48 makes it better suited for lighter chemical products and allows for slightly more efficient stacking in certain trailer configurations.
The 48 x 45 Inch Automotive Pallet
The automotive industry developed the 48x45 pallet to optimize the shipping of auto parts and assemblies. The extra five inches of width compared to the GMA pallet provides additional surface area needed for automotive component packaging, which tends to be bulkier than consumer goods. Major automakers including General Motors, Ford, and Toyota specify this size for their supply chain operations.
International Pallet Sizes
If you ship internationally, understanding foreign pallet standards is essential. Using the wrong pallet size in a foreign market can result in incompatibility with local racking, wasted container space, and even rejected shipments. The International Organization for Standardization recognizes six pallet dimensions for international trade.
EUR Pallet: 800 x 1200 mm (31.5 x 47.25 inches)
The European pallet, commonly called the Euro pallet or EPAL pallet, is the dominant standard across the European Union and much of the Middle East. It is managed by the European Pallet Association, which licenses manufacturers and enforces strict quality standards including the distinctive EPAL branding burned into the corner blocks. Approximately 500 million EUR pallets are in circulation at any given time.
APAC Pallet: 1100 x 1100 mm (43.3 x 43.3 inches)
The Asia-Pacific region primarily uses the 1100x1100mm square pallet. This size is standard in Japan, South Korea, and increasingly across Southeast Asia. It is optimized for the ISO shipping container and provides an excellent floor coverage ratio when loaded into 20-foot or 40-foot containers. Companies exporting to Asian markets should consider keeping a stock of this size or working with a supplier who can source them.
Australian Standard: 1165 x 1165 mm (45.9 x 45.9 inches)
Australia uses its own unique square pallet managed by the CHEP pallet pooling system. The 1165x1165mm format is deeply embedded in Australian retail and distribution infrastructure. Exporting to Australia on non-standard pallets often means your goods will be depalletized and repalletized at the destination, adding cost and handling risk.
Choosing the Right Size for Your Operation
The decision framework for pallet size selection should consider four primary factors: your primary shipping lanes, your customers receiving requirements, your warehouse racking configuration, and your product dimensions. Start by mapping your top five shipping destinations and identifying what pallet sizes their docks and racking systems are designed to handle.
- 1Identify your primary domestic and international shipping lanes and the pallet standards used at each destination
- 2Check your warehouse racking beam spacing and depth to confirm which pallet sizes fit without overhang or underhang
- 3Review your customers receiving specifications, as many large retailers mandate specific pallet sizes
- 4Calculate the optimal unit load configuration for your product dimensions on each candidate pallet size
- 5Factor in pallet cost and availability, since non-standard sizes may have longer lead times and higher prices
- 6Consider using the 48x40 GMA as your primary pallet and sourcing specialty sizes only for specific lanes
Weight Capacity Considerations
Every pallet size comes with three weight ratings that you must understand. Static capacity is the maximum load the pallet can bear when sitting motionless on a flat surface. Dynamic capacity is the maximum load during forklift transport, where the pallet is supported only at its center by the fork tines. Racking capacity is the maximum load when the pallet is supported only at its edges on rack beams, which creates the greatest structural stress.
As a general rule, dynamic capacity is approximately 60 to 75 percent of static capacity, and racking capacity is approximately 50 to 60 percent of dynamic capacity. Always select your pallet based on the most demanding load scenario it will encounter, not the least demanding. A pallet rated for 2,500 pounds static may only support 1,200 pounds in a racking application.
How Pallets Eco Can Help
At Pallets Eco we stock all major North American pallet sizes and can source international formats on short lead times. Our team can analyze your shipping data, warehouse layout, and product specifications to recommend the optimal pallet size strategy for your operation. We also offer custom pallet manufacturing for applications where no standard size fits perfectly. Contact us for a free consultation and let us help you get the dimensions right from the start.