The master chart
Every footprint that matters, and who uses it
Ordered by prevalence in North America, then by international standard. Share figures are approximate and move slowly.
| Imperial | Metric | Name | Primary industry | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 48 x 40 in | 1219 x 1016 mm | GMA / North American standard | Grocery, retail, general freight | ~30% of US stock |
| 42 x 42 in | 1067 x 1067 mm | Square 42 | Telecom, paint, drums | ~4% |
| 48 x 48 in | 1219 x 1219 mm | Square 48 | Chemical drums, wire reels | ~4% |
| 40 x 48 in | 1016 x 1219 mm | GMA rotated | Military, some auto | ~3% |
| 48 x 42 in | 1219 x 1067 mm | Chemical / dairy | Chemicals, dairy | ~2% |
| 40 x 40 in | 1016 x 1016 mm | Square 40 | Dairy, beverage | ~2% |
| 48 x 45 in | 1219 x 1143 mm | Automotive | Automotive tier 1 and 2 | ~2% |
| 44 x 44 in | 1118 x 1118 mm | Drum square | Petro-chemical | ~1.5% |
| 36 x 36 in | 914 x 914 mm | Beverage | Soft drinks, brewing | ~1.5% |
| 48 x 36 in | 1219 x 914 mm | Beverage / shingles | Beverage, roofing | ~1% |
| 35 x 45.5 in | 889 x 1156 mm | Military / NATO | Defence logistics | <1% |
| 47.24 x 31.5 in | 1200 x 800 mm | Euro pallet EUR-1 | European trade | Dominant in EU |
| 47.24 x 39.37 in | 1200 x 1000 mm | Euro pallet EUR-2 / ISO | European and Asian trade | Common in EU |
| 43.3 x 43.3 in | 1100 x 1100 mm | Asian standard | Japan, Korea, SE Asia | Dominant in Asia |
| 42 x 42 in | 1067 x 1067 mm | Australian standard | Australia, NZ | Dominant in AU |
Conversions
Imperial ⇄ metric, with area
Multiply inches by 25.4 for millimetres. Area matters when you are costing warehouse space rather than freight.
| Size | Converted | Area (ft²) | Area (m²) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 48 x 40 in | 1219 x 1016 mm | 13.33 ft² | 1.24 m² |
| 48 x 48 in | 1219 x 1219 mm | 16.00 ft² | 1.49 m² |
| 42 x 42 in | 1067 x 1067 mm | 12.25 ft² | 1.14 m² |
| 40 x 48 in | 1016 x 1219 mm | 13.33 ft² | 1.24 m² |
| 1200 x 800 mm | 47.24 x 31.5 in | 10.33 ft² | 0.96 m² |
| 1200 x 1000 mm | 47.24 x 39.37 in | 12.92 ft² | 1.20 m² |
| 1100 x 1100 mm | 43.31 x 43.31 in | 13.02 ft² | 1.21 m² |
| 36 x 36 in | 914 x 914 mm | 9.00 ft² | 0.84 m² |
Vehicle fit
How many actually fit
The number that decides your freight cost. Empty stacked counts assume standard 5.5 inch pallet height.
| Vehicle | Internal width | Loaded 48x40 | Empty stacked |
|---|---|---|---|
| 53 ft dry van | 98–100 in | 26 single / 52 double | 500–560 empty stacked |
| 48 ft dry van | 98–100 in | 24 single / 48 double | 450–500 empty stacked |
| 40 ft container | 92.5 in | 20–22 single | Two 48in do not fit side by side |
| 20 ft container | 92.5 in | 10–11 single | Weight-limited before cube |
| Straight truck 26 ft | 96 in | 12 single | Lift gate common |
Method
How to measure a pallet properly
Six checks, a tape measure, about ninety seconds. Doing this on a sample of every inbound load is the cheapest quality control available to a buyer.
- 01
Identify the stringer axis first
The boards on edge separating the decks. In North American convention that dimension is quoted first, so a 48x40 has 48-inch stringers.
- 02
Measure outside edge to outside edge
Not the deck boards alone, and not including any protruding fastener. Wings count — they are part of the footprint.
- 03
Measure overall height
Top deck surface to the underside of the bottom boards. 5.0–5.5 in is standard for a 48x40; a collar programme depends on this being consistent.
- 04
Check both diagonals
Corner to corner, both ways. More than an inch of difference and the pallet is out of square, whatever the paperwork says.
- 05
Count the boards
Seven top and three bottom is the GMA layout. Five bottom boards means it was built for racking.
- 06
Check the notch
9 in long by 1.5 in deep, centred. Run a hand along the shoulder — that is where fatigue cracks start and where a grader looks first.
International
What the rest of the world uses
Footprints are regional because vehicles are regional. Every standard below exists because two of them fit across something.
| Region | Standard footprint | Fits | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| North America | 48 x 40 in | 53 ft trailer, 2 across | GMA. ~30% of US stock |
| Europe | 1200 x 800 mm | 2,400 mm trailer, 2 across | EPAL EUR-1, licence-controlled |
| Europe (deep) | 1200 x 1000 mm | 2,400 mm trailer, 2 across | EUR-2 / ISO 6780 |
| Asia | 1100 x 1100 mm | Regional container geometry | Square; Japan, Korea, SE Asia |
| Australia | 1165 x 1165 mm | Australian rail and road | Not the same as 42x42 |
| Ocean export | 45 x 45 in | 40 ft container, 2 across | Custom; 92.5 in internal width |
The pattern worth noticing
Every regional standard is derived from a vehicle interior width, not from anything about the goods. That is also why the 48x40 — perfect for a 53-foot trailer at 98–100 inches wide — fails in a 40-foot ocean container at 92.5 inches. If you export, design from the container inward rather than the catalogue outward.
Go deeper
Six reference articles
Each one is a full specification page rather than a summary — dimensions, board layout, capacity tables and the questions buyers actually ask.
Size guide
48x40 GMA pallet
Everything about the 48x40 GMA pallet: exact dimensions, board layout, weight, static and dynamic load capacity, and why it became standard.
Read the specSize guide
42x42 pallet
The 42x42 square pallet: dimensions, capacity, and why telecom, paint and drum shippers prefer a square deck over a rectangular one.
Read the specSize guide
euro pallet 1200x800
The 1200x800 mm Euro pallet explained for US shippers: EPAL licensing, exact specification, exchange rules and how it compares to the 48x40 GMA.
Read the specReference
pallet grades explained
What Grade A, Grade B, #1 and #2 pallets actually mean, why definitions vary between suppliers, and how to write a grade spec that gets enforced.
Read the specReference
pallet load capacity
How much weight a pallet holds: static, dynamic and racked capacity explained, with figures by size, species and grade, plus safety factors.
Read the specSize guide
custom pallet sizes
Odd and custom pallet sizes: when a non-standard footprint pays for itself, container cube maths, and the hidden costs of leaving the standard.
Read the specQuestions
Sizing questions we answer weekly
What is the standard pallet size in the United States?
48 x 40 inches — the GMA pallet — accounting for roughly 30% of pallets in circulation. The 48 inches runs along the stringers and the 40 inches along the deck boards, and that order matters when you specify.
What is the standard pallet size in Europe?
1200 x 800 mm, the EPAL EUR-1 Euro pallet. It is a licence-controlled block pallet, not merely a dimension, and genuine ones carry EPAL or UIC marks branded into the corner blocks.
How do I convert pallet dimensions between inches and millimetres?
Multiply inches by 25.4 for millimetres. A 48 x 40 inch pallet is 1219 x 1016 mm. A 1200 x 800 mm Euro pallet is 47.24 x 31.5 inches — noticeably narrower than a GMA pallet, which is why they are not interchangeable.
Why don't 48x40 pallets fit well in shipping containers?
A standard 40-foot container has an internal width of about 92.5 inches. Two 48-inch pallets need 96 inches side by side and do not fit. Two 45-inch pallets use 90 inches and do, which is why exporters frequently move to a 45x45 or 44x44 footprint.
How high should I stack a pallet?
Most trailers allow a load height around 92–100 inches including the pallet, and most warehouse racking is configured for 48–60 inches per bay. The binding constraint is usually rack beam spacing rather than the trailer, so check the rack first.