Pallet sizes and dimensions
Footprints, heights, own weights and load ratings of the standard pallets in world trade — and how many fit in each container and trailer.
At a glance
- A Euro pallet (EUR 1) is 800 mm × 1,200 mm and weighs about 25 kg empty.
- The standard US pallet is 48 × 40 in (1,016 mm × 1,219 mm).
- Asia's most common square pallet is 1,100 × 1,100 mm; Australia's standard pallet is 1,165 × 1,165 mm.
- A 13.6 m European trailer takes 33 Euro pallets; a 40ft container takes 25.
| Pallet | Size W × L | Own height | Own weight | Max load (moving) | Where it's used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EUR 1 — Euro pallet | 800 × 1,200 mm 31½″ × 47″ | 144 mm 5½″ | 25 kg 55 lb | 1,500 kg 3,307 lb | Europe — the most common pallet |
| EUR 2 — industrial pallet | 1,000 × 1,200 mm 39½″ × 47″ | 162 mm 6½″ | 33 kg 73 lb | 1,250 kg 2,756 lb | Europe, industry and chemicals |
| EUR 3 | 1,200 × 1,000 mm 47″ × 39½″ | 144 mm 5½″ | 29 kg 64 lb | 1,500 kg 3,307 lb | Europe, same footprint as EUR 2 |
| EUR 6 — half pallet | 800 × 600 mm 31½″ × 23½″ | 144 mm 5½″ | 10 kg 22 lb | 500 kg 1,102 lb | Europe, retail displays |
| US standard (GMA) 48 × 40 in | 1,016 × 1,219 mm 40″ × 48″ | 146 mm 5½″ | 20 kg 44 lb | 2,100 kg 4,630 lb | North America |
| Asian square pallet (T11) | 1,100 × 1,100 mm 43½″ × 43½″ | 150 mm 6″ | 30 kg 66 lb | 1,500 kg 3,307 lb | Japan, Korea and much of Asia |
| Australian standard pallet | 1,165 × 1,165 mm 46″ × 46″ | 150 mm 6″ | 35 kg 77 lb | 2,000 kg 4,409 lb | Australia |
How many pallets fit
One tier on the floor, no overhang, tight loading. Stacking multiplies it when the goods and the payload allow; mixed sizes and stacked loads are what the load planner is for.
| Equipment | EUR 1 | 1200 × 1000 | US 48 × 40 | Asia 1100 | Australia 1165 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20ft standard (20GP / 20DV) | 11 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 |
| 40ft standard (40GP / 40DV) | 25 | 22 | 20 | 20 | 20 |
| 45ft high cube (45HC) | 27 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 22 |
| 45ft pallet-wide high cube | 33 | 26 | 26 | 24 | 22 |
| 20ft reefer (20RF) | 10 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 4 |
| 40ft high cube reefer (40RH) | 23 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 9 |
| Curtainsider 13.6 m, standard (82 m³) | 33 | 26 | 26 | 24 | 22 |
| 53ft dry van | 39 | 30 | 30 | 28 | 26 |
| 48ft dry van | 34 | 28 | 28 | 26 | 24 |
| 26ft box truck | 15 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 12 |
Figures are customary planning values from carrier and manufacturer specifications — the same equipment catalog our load planner uses. Boxes differ by a few millimeters between owners; check the carrier's spec sheet for critical loads.
The 3D load planner does the fitting.
Enter the cargo or drop in a packing list: DO IT ALL SOFT picks the containers or trucks, shows how full they are and how to load them, and shares the plan by link.
Frequently asked questions
What are the dimensions of a Euro pallet?
A Euro pallet (EUR 1) is 800 mm × 1,200 mm (31½″ × 47″) and 144 mm high. It weighs about 25 kg and is rated for about 1,500 kg when moved by forklift.
What size is a standard US pallet?
48 × 40 inches (1,016 mm × 1,219 mm), about 146 mm high and 20 kg empty, rated for about 2,100 kg in motion.
How many Euro pallets fit in a 20ft container?
11 in one tier, against 9 US pallets. A 40ft container takes 25 Euro pallets; a 45ft pallet-wide container takes 33.
How many Euro pallets fit in a truck?
A standard 13.6 m European trailer takes 33 Euro pallets three across, or 26 pallets of 1200 × 1000 mm two across.
What is the difference between EUR 2 and EUR 3?
Both have a 1200 × 1000 mm footprint; they differ in construction — the board layout — and in their own weight: about 33 kg for EUR 2 and 29 kg for EUR 3.
Does the pallet count in the shipment's dimensions?
Yes. Carriers measure the loaded pallet, so the pallet's own 144 mm is part of the height and its own weight part of the gross weight. That is why quote forms ask for the loaded height and weight.
Calculators
Terms explained
- Cubic meter
- Loading meter
- Packing list
- Less than container load
- Less than truckload
- Volumetric weight
More reference
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