Pallet sizes: UK, Euro and US standard dimensions
The pallet you use decides how many boxes fit, what you pay to ship and whether a carrier accepts the load. Here are the sizes you will meet most.
Updated October 2026
The UK standard pallet: 1200 × 1000 mm
The UK standard (sometimes called the industrial pallet) is 1200 mm long and 1000 mm wide. It is the default for most UK warehouses, manufacturers and pallet networks. Pallet deck height is usually around 15 cm, but check yours: block and stringer pallets vary.
The Euro pallet: 1200 × 800 mm
The Euro pallet (EUR or EPAL) is 1200 × 800 mm and about 144 mm high. It is the most common pallet in mainland Europe, and its narrower width lets three fit across a standard European trailer. Smaller versions are widely used for retail and lighter loads:
| Pallet | Size |
|---|---|
| Euro (full) | 1200 × 800 mm |
| Half Euro | 800 × 600 mm |
| Quarter Euro | 600 × 400 mm |
The US standard pallet: 48 × 40 inches
In North America the GMA pallet, 48 × 40 inches (1219 × 1016 mm), is by far the most common size. By convention the first number is the length of the stringers (the boards the deck sits on), so 48 × 40 and 40 × 48 describe how the pallet is entered by a forklift as well as its size. Other sizes you will see in the US include 42 × 42 in and 48 × 48 in, often for drums and bulk containers.
The six ISO pallet sizes
ISO 6780 lists six standard pallet footprints used around the world:
| Metric | Imperial | Where it is used |
|---|---|---|
| 1200 × 800 mm | 47.2 × 31.5 in | Euro pallet (EUR / EPAL). Most common in mainland Europe. |
| 1200 × 1000 mm | 47.2 × 39.4 in | UK standard pallet, also common in Europe and Asia. |
| 1219 × 1016 mm | 48 × 40 in | US GMA pallet, the most common size in North America. |
| 1165 × 1165 mm | 45.9 × 45.9 in | Australian standard pallet. |
| 1100 × 1100 mm | 43.3 × 43.3 in | Common in Asia. |
| 1067 × 1067 mm | 42 × 42 in | Used in North America, Europe and Asia. |
Height and weight limits
There is no single limit: it depends on the pallet's own rating, your carrier or pallet network, and the vehicle. As a guide:
- UK and European pallet networks usually price by footprint, height and weight band (for example full, half and quarter pallets), with full pallets commonly allowed up to around 1.8 to 2.2 m total height. Check your network's bands before you build the load.
- US LTL carriers often work to around 72 in total height for a standard pallet, and charge by freight class, which depends on density. See freight density and freight class.
- The pallet itself has a safe working load printed or published by the manufacturer. Never exceed it, and remember a racked pallet can usually carry less than one on the floor.
Total height is measured from the floor, so include the pallet deck. Any box overhanging the edge counts too: carriers measure to the outermost point of the load.
Which pallet should I use?
Use the size your customer, carrier or network expects. If you have a choice, compare how many of your boxes fit on each: a box that tiles badly on a UK pallet may fit far better on a Euro pallet, and the difference can be a whole extra layer. The free pallet calculator lets you switch pallet sizes and see the result instantly.
Get a quick answer for one box size with no signup, or create a free account for mixed boxes, a 3D load plan and exports.