Technical guide
Euro pallet dimensions: all pallet sizes, weights and load capacities
1200 × 800, 800 × 600, 1000 × 1200, 48 × 40 inches — pallet formats are a jungle of near-identical numbers. This guide puts every standard size in one chart: Euro pallet, half and quarter pallets, industrial pallets, CP chemical pallets and the US GMA format, with weights and load ratings for each.
Quick answer: the Euro pallet (EPAL) measures 1200 × 800 mm, stands 144 mm tall, weighs ~25 kg and carries 1,500 kg dynamic / 4,000 kg static.
The EPAL Euro pallet in detail
The reference format of European logistics is the EPAL 1 Euro pallet: a 1200 × 800 mm footprint, an overall height of 144 mm, and a strictly standardised construction — 11 boards (5 top deck, 3 bottom, 3 cross), 9 solid wood blocks and 78 stamped nails. More than 600 million of them are in circulation, which is exactly why the dimensions matter: racking, conveyors, trailers and warehouse layouts across Europe are designed around the 1200 × 800 module.
Its ratings: 1,500 kg dynamic load (in motion), 4,000 kg static (at rest) and up to 5,500 kg at the bottom of a stack. Weight: around 25 kg, varying between 20 and 27 kg with the moisture content of the wood. Current wholesale price ranges are on our pallet prices page.
Every pallet size at a glance
| Pallet type | Footprint (mm) | Height (mm) | Dynamic load | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EPAL 1 Euro pallet | 1200 × 800 | 144 | 1,500 kg | Details → |
| EPAL 2 industrial pallet | 1200 × 1000 | 162 | 1,250 kg | Details → |
| EPAL 6 half pallet | 800 × 600 | 144 | 500 kg | Details → |
| Half pallet, light (display) | 800 × 600 | 108–120 | 250 kg | Details → |
| Quarter pallet | 600 × 400 | 107 | 200 kg | Details → |
| One-way pallet 800×1200 | 800 × 1200 | often ~120 | varies by build | Details → |
| One-way pallet 1000×1200 | 1000 × 1200 | often ~120 | varies by build | Details → |
| VMF glass-industry pallet (D 3071) | 1000 × 1200 | 154 | 1,000–1,500 kg | Details → |
| CP pallets (chemical, CP1–CP9) | 760 × 1140 to 1300 × 1100 | 138 / 156 | 1,500 kg, indicative (CP8 and CP9: 2,000 kg; CP2: no indicative value) | Details → |
| US GMA pallet | 1219 × 1016 (48 × 40 in) | — | — | Informative |
A note on the last line: the US GMA pallet measures 1219 × 1016 mm — 48 × 40 inches — and dominates North-American logistics the way the 1200 × 800 dominates Europe. It does not circulate in the European exchange pool, so goods arriving from the US are usually re-palletised onto Euro or industrial pallets for onward distribution.
Half pallet 800 × 600 and quarter pallet 600 × 400
Divide the Euro footprint in two and you get the half pallet, 800 × 600 mm — exactly two of them sit on one Euro pallet position. Two versions coexist:
- EPAL 6 — the pool version: 800 × 600 × 144 mm, 500 kg dynamic load, same block construction as the EPAL 1
- Light half pallet — the display/promo version: 800 × 600 × 108–120 mm, 250 kg dynamic / 500 kg static, designed to roll straight onto the shop floor
Divide again and you reach the quarter pallet, 600 × 400 × 107 mm, rated around 200 kg — the standard footprint for checkout-area displays. Formats, grades and use cases: half & quarter pallets →
Industrial pallet 1000 × 1200
The second great European footprint is the industrial pallet, 1000 × 1200 mm — wider than the Euro pallet, favoured for drums, big bags, chemicals and beverage logistics. Under that single footprint sit three distinct builds:
- EPAL 2 — the pool version: 1200 × 1000 × 162 mm, 1,250 kg dynamic load
- VMF pallet (D 3071) — the glass and beverage industry standard: 1000 × 1200 × 154 mm — VMF pallets →
- One-way 1000×1200 — single-rotation, often ~120 mm tall, from €4.60 excl. VAT per unit in full-truckload volumes — one-way pallets →
CP pallets: CP1 to CP9
The chemical industry runs on its own set of nine standardised formats, the CP pallets. Deck layouts and runners differ, but every dimension is fixed by the standard:
| Model | Dimensions (mm) | Model | Dimensions (mm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| CP1 | 1000 × 1200 × 138 | CP6 | 1200 × 1000 × 156 |
| CP2 | 800 × 1200 × 138 | CP7 | 1300 × 1100 × 156 |
| CP3 | 1140 × 1140 × 138 | CP8 | 1140 × 1140 × 156 |
| CP4 | 1100 × 1300 × 138 | CP9 | 1140 × 1140 × 156 |
| CP5 | 760 × 1140 × 138 | Indicative handling loads, varying by manufacturer (the CP specification sets no handling load per model): 1,500 kg dynamic / 4,000 kg static for CP1 and CP3 to CP7; for the CP8 and CP9, manufacturers often state higher values (2,000 / 6,000 kg, as an indication); CP2: no indicative value. Racking values: see the note below the table. | |
Reference nominal racking loads under the CP specification (edition 7, table 13): about 520 kg (CP1), 750 kg (CP2), 460 kg (CP3), 500 kg (CP4), 690 kg (CP5), 930 kg (CP6), 830 kg (CP7), 1,000 kg (CP8) and 810 kg (CP9), that is, 50% of the average breaking load measured on pallets made of low-strength timber that still meets the specified quality. The specification states that these values also apply to less severe uses than racking, such as block stacking. They are reference values for a new pallet tested as described in the specification; for a used pallet, a concentrated load or another racking configuration, have the permissible load checked.
Full specifications and stock: CP chemical pallets →. Not sure which of the nine fits your product? Our selector walks you through it: which CP pallet for which use →
Height, weight and load capacity
Three figures buyers mix up constantly:
- Height — 144 mm (EPAL 1 and EPAL 6), 162 mm (EPAL 2), 154 mm (VMF), often only ~120 mm on one-way pallets. Height is the fastest visual check of what you are handling.
- Weight — ~25 kg for a Euro pallet (20–27 kg depending on wood moisture). It matters for gross-weight calculations: 33 empty Euro pallets already represent roughly 800 kg of tare.
- Load capacity — three situations to tell apart: in motion, at rest (on the floor or in a stack) and in racking. For the EPAL: a safe working load of 1,500 kg; when laden pallets are stacked on a solid, even surface, the bottom pallet must not carry more than 5,500 kg; EPAL publishes no racking value.
How to read the three ratings and size your pallet with a proper safety margin: dynamic vs static load →
How many pallets fit in a truck?
Dimensions translate directly into transport maths:
- 13.6 m semi-trailer: 33 Euro pallet footprints on the floor — loaded goods, single layer
- Empty pallets, stacked: around 500 to 600 empty Euro pallets per full tautliner — which is why pallets are bought by the truckload
- 20-ft container: 10 Euro pallets per layer on the floor
Good to know: Delivery by full truckload from 300 pallets — below that, pickup at one of our 3 depots in the Paris region, France.
Frequently asked questions
What are the dimensions of a Euro pallet?
The standard Euro pallet (EPAL 1) measures 1200 × 800 mm with an overall height of 144 mm — so 1200 × 800 × 144 mm. It is built from 11 boards and 9 blocks assembled with 78 nails, and more than 600 million units are in circulation across Europe.
How much does a Euro pallet weigh?
Around 25 kg — in practice between 20 and 27 kg depending on the moisture content of the wood. A freshly heat-treated pallet stored in dry conditions sits at the lower end of that range.
How tall is a Euro pallet?
The EPAL 1 is 144 mm tall. The EPAL 2 industrial pallet is 162 mm, the VMF glass-industry pallet 154 mm, and one-way pallets are often only about 120 mm tall — a quick visual clue that a pallet is not an EPAL.
How many Euro pallets fit in a truck?
33 footprints on the floor of a standard 13.6 m semi-trailer. Empty pallets travel stacked: a full tautliner carries around 500 to 600 empty Euro pallets. A 20-ft container takes 10 Euro pallets per layer on the floor.
Is a 1200×800 pallet without EPAL markings a Euro pallet?
No. The footprint alone does not make a Euro pallet: a genuine EPAL bears the oval brand on the corner blocks, 78 stamped nails and a 144 mm height. An unmarked 1200×800 — often only ~120 mm tall, lighter build — is a one-way pallet and is not exchangeable. See what EPAL certification means and EPAL markings & how to spot counterfeits.
What are US pallet dimensions?
The North-American standard is the GMA pallet: 1219 × 1016 mm, i.e. 48 × 40 inches. It dominates the US and Canada but is not part of the European exchange pool — transatlantic flows are usually re-palletised on arrival in Europe.