EUR · US GMA · ISO 6780
Pallet Sizes & Dimensions
Container maths starts with the pallet. The world runs on two footprints — the European 1200 × 800 mm EPAL pallet and the American 48 × 40 inch GMA pallet — with four more ISO-recognised sizes covering Asia-Pacific and specialty freight.
Neither of the two big pallets divides cleanly into a 2.352 m container width, which is why pallet counts per container are pattern puzzles rather than simple division — and why the 2.5 m wide pallet-wide container exists.
The six ISO pallet sizes
1200 × 800 mm (EUR/EPAL — Europe) · 1219 × 1016 mm (48 × 40″ GMA — North America) · 1165 × 1165 mm (Australia) · 1100 × 1100 mm (Asia) · 1200 × 1000 mm (Europe/Asia industrial) · 1067 × 1067 mm (42 × 42″ — North America beverage/telecom).
Standard EPAL pallet height is 144 mm and weight ~25 kg, rated to 1,500 kg dynamic load. The GMA pallet stands ~6.5 in (165 mm) and carries up to 2,087 kg (4,600 lb).
Pallets per container, by pallet size
Floor-loaded single tier: EUR 1200 × 800 → 11 in a 20 ft, 25 in a 40 ft, 27 in a 45 ft (33 in pallet-wide). GMA 48 × 40″ → 9–10 in a 20 ft, 20–21 in a 40 ft, ~30 in a 53 ft. Asian 1100 × 1100 → 8 in a 20 ft, 16–17 in a 40 ft. Run your own size through the pallet calculator.
ISPM-15: the stamp on the pallet
Wooden pallets crossing borders must carry the ISPM-15 mark — the wheat-stamp logo with a country code and treatment code: HT (heat-treated to 56 °C core temperature for 30 minutes) or MB (methyl bromide fumigated, now banned in the EU). Untreated wood packaging gets a shipment refused, fumigated or destroyed at the border, at the shipper’s expense. Plastic pallets are exempt entirely.
Beyond the two big footprints: the chemical industry runs its own CP1–CP9 pallet series (1000 × 1200 down to 1140 × 1140 mm) standardised by the European chemical producers. Plastic pallets trade durability and exemption from ISPM-15 against price (3–5× wood), a slippery deck and near-impossible field repair — common in closed loops, rare in one-way export.
Frequently asked questions
What is the standard pallet size?
In North America, 48 × 40 inches (1219 × 1016 mm, the GMA pallet). In Europe, 1200 × 800 mm (the EUR/EPAL pallet). ISO 6780 recognises six standard sizes worldwide.
What are euro pallet dimensions?
1200 × 800 mm footprint, 144 mm tall, ~25 kg tare, 1,500 kg dynamic load rating. Marked EPAL or EUR on the corner blocks.
How tall is a standard pallet?
An empty EUR pallet is 144 mm; a GMA pallet about 165 mm (6.5 in). A “standard” loaded pallet is typically planned at 1.2–1.5 m including cargo.
What is the ISPM-15 stamp?
The international mark certifying wood packaging has been treated against pests — heat treatment (HT) or methyl bromide fumigation (MB). Required on wooden pallets for international shipments; pallets without it are refused or fumigated at the border. Plastic pallets need no stamp.