Editing Pallet (section)

== Dimensions ==

Wooden pallets typically consist of three or four stringers that support several deckboards, on top of which goods are placed. In a pallet measurement, the first number is the stringer length and the second is the deckboard length. Square or nearly square pallets help a load resist tipping.

Pallet users want pallets to pass easily through buildings, to stack and fit in [[warehouse|racks]], to be accessible to forklifts and pallet jacks and to function in automated [[warehouse]]s. To avoid shipping air, pallets should also pack tightly inside intermodal containers and vans.

Though some major standards exist, there are no universally accepted standards for pallet dimensions. Companies and organizations utilize hundreds of different pallet sizes around the globe.<ref>{{cite report |ssrn=665064 |title=How Do Differing Standards Increase Trade Costs? The Case of Pallets |first1=Gaël |last1=Raballand |first2=Enrique |last2=Aldaz-Carroll |date=February 2005 |publisher=World Bank Policy Research Working Paper No. 3519 |doi=10.2139/ssrn.665064|hdl=10986/8837 |hdl-access=free }}</ref>  While no single dimensional standard governs pallet production, a few different sizes are widely used.

The standard 48×40 North American pallet, or GMA pallet, has stringers of 48 inches and deckboards of 40 inches, and was standardized by the [[Grocery Manufacturers Association]] (GMA). 
* A standard wooden pallet ({{convert|48 × 40 × 6|in|mm|0|abbr=on|disp=or}}) with a static load bearing capacity of {{convert|3|ST|LT t}} and a {{convert|1|ST|LT t|adj=on}} dynamic capacity, will weigh approximately {{convert|33 to 48|lbs|kg|abbr=on}} 
* GMA pallets typically weigh {{convert|37|lbs}}, and are {{convert|6+1/2|in}} tall. Their deck boards measure {{convert|3+1/4|in}} wide and are {{convert|5/16|in|mm|0}} thick each. Other dimensions of pallets have different weight capacities.

Lightweight plastic pallets can weigh as little as {{convert|3 to 15|lb|kg}}, while heavier models may weigh up to {{convert|300|lb}}. Standard GMA pallets can hold up to {{convert|4,60|lbs|kg}}. 

Heavy duty [[International Plant Protection Convention]] (IPPC) Pallets are approximately {{convert|44|in|mm|0}} wide by {{convert|48|in|mm|0}} long, have three wood stringers that are a nominal {{convert|4|in|mm|0}} high by {{convert|3|in|mm|0}} wide timber, and weigh about {{convert|135|lbs}}. Their deck is fully covered by {{convert|30|mm|in|2|abbr=on}} plywood, and is painted in blue in European and Russian countries.

Two-way pallets are designed to be lifted by the deckboards. 

Four-way pallets, or pallets for heavy loads  (or general-purpose systems that might have heavy loads) are best lifted by their more rigid stringers. These pallets are usually heavier, bigger and more durable than two-way pallets.

=== ISO ===

The [[International Organization for Standardization]] (ISO) sanctions six pallet dimensions, detailed in ''ISO Standard 6780:2003 Flat pallets for intercontinental materials handling — Principal dimensions and tolerances'', which was reviewed and confirmed in 2014:<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.iso.org/standard/30524.html |title=ISO 6780:2003 - Flat pallets for intercontinental materials handling -- Principal dimensions and tolerances |publisher=[[International Organization for Standardization]] |access-date=2019-01-31}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Dimensions<br>(''W'' × ''L'') mm
! Dimensions<br>(''W'' × ''L'') in
! Wasted floor,
[[ISO container]]
! Region most used in
|- 
| 1,016 × 1,219
| 40.00 × 48.00
| 3.7% (20 pallets in 40&nbsp;ft ISO) 
| North America
|-
| 1,000 × 1,200
| 39.37 × 47.24 
| 6.7%
| Europe, Asia; similar to 40 × 48-inch. Same footprint as a EUR 3 pallet.
|-
| 1,165 × 1,165
| 45.9 × 45.9
| 8.1%
| Australia
|-
| 1,067 × 1,067
| 42.00 × 42.00
| 11.5%
| North America, Europe, Asia
|-
| 1,100 × 1,100
| 43.30 × 43.30
| 14%
| Asia
|-
| 800 × 1,200
| 31.50 × 47.24
| 15.2%
| Europe; fits many doorways. Same footprint as a EUR 1 pallet.
|}

=== North America ===

Of the top pallets used in North America, the most commonly used by far is the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) pallet, which accounts for 30% of all new wood pallets produced in the United States.<ref>{{cite web |last=Clarke |first=John |date=2004 |title=Pallets 101: Industry Overview and Wood, Plastic, Paper, and Metal Options |url=http://www.ista.org/forms/Pallets_101-Clarke_2004.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091122190428/http://www.ista.org/forms/Pallets_101-Clarke_2004.pdf |archive-date=22 November 2009 |access-date=31 January 2019}}</ref> The ISO also recognizes the GMA pallet footprint as one of its six standard sizes.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Dimensions<br />(''W'' × ''L'') mm
! Dimensions<br />(''W'' × ''L'') in
! Production<br />rank
! Industries using
|-
| 1,016 × 1,219
| 40 × 48
| 1
| Grocery, many others
|-
| 1,067 ×1,067
| 42 × 42
| 2
| Telecommunications, paint
|-
| 1219 × 1219
| 48 × 48
| 3
| Drums
|-
| 1,219 × 1,016 {{Explain|date=November 2017|reason=How is this different than the first entry in this table? Especially consider that elsewhere, this article lists military loads as 40x48 (not as 48x40): 'DOD Unit loads generally use 40 in × 48 in...' }}
| 48 × 40 
| 4
| Military,<ref>{{Cite web
 | date = 8 April 1970
 | title = Design Criteria for Ammunition Unit Loads
 | publisher = U.S. DOD, Dept of the Navy, Naval Sea Systems Command
 | id = MIL-STD-1660
 | url = http://www.combatindex.com/mil_docs/mil_std_1600.html
 | access-date = 2008-01-01
 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071124084541/http://www.combatindex.com/mil_docs/mil_std_1600.html <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 2007-11-24}}, para. 4.8.3, mil-std pallets are 4-way: 4.3.1</ref> cement
|-
| 1,219 × 1,067
| 48 × 42
| 5
| Chemical, beverage
|-
| 1,016 × 1,016
| 40 × 40
| 6
| Dairy
|-
| 1,219 × 1,143
| 48 × 45
| 7
| Automotive
|-
| 1,118 × 1,118
| 44 × 44
| 8
| Drums, chemical
|-
| 914 × 914
| 36 × 36
| 9
| Beverage
|-
| 1,219 × 914
| 48 × 36
| 10
| Beverage, shingles, packaged paper
|-
| 889 × 1,156
| 35 × 45.5
| Unknown
| Military {{frac|1|2}} ISO container, fits 36-inch standard doors<ref>MIL-STD-1660, ibid.,
 para. 4.8.3</ref> 
|-
| 2,240 × 2,740
| 88 ×108
| Unknown
| Military air cargo ([[463L master pallet|463L system]])
|-
| 1,219 × 508
| 48 × 20
| Unknown
| Retail
|}

=== Europe ===
{{Main|EUR-pallet}}
[[File:Plan palette-europe.svg|thumb|EuroPallet|alt=A diagram showed the correct dimensions for various parts of a EuroPallet]]

{|- class="wikitable"
! EURO<br />pallet type
! Dimensions (''L'' × ''W'' × ''H'')
! ISO pallet alternative
|-
| EUR<br />EUR 1
| {{convert|800|×|1200|x|144|mm|in|2|abbr=on|disp=br}}
| ISO1, same size as EUR.<br />The pallet weight is 20–25&nbsp;kg.<br />Weight of a load: 2490&nbsp;kg.
|-
| EUR 2
| {{convert|1200|×|1000|x|144|mm|in|2|abbr=on|disp=br}}
| ISO2. The pallet weight is 33&nbsp;kg.<br />Weight of a load: 1470&nbsp;kg.
|-
| EUR 3
| {{convert|1000|×|1200|x|144|mm|in|2|abbr=on|disp=br}}
|The pallet weight is 29&nbsp;kg.<br />Weight of a load of 1920&nbsp;kg.
|-
| EUR 6
| {{convert|800|×|600|x|144|mm|in|2|abbr=on|disp=br}}
| ISO0, half the size of EUR.<br />The pallet weight is 9.5&nbsp;kg.<br />Weight of the safe load: 500&nbsp;kg.
|-
|
| {{convert|600|×|400|mm|in|2|abbr=on|disp=br}}
| quarter the size of EUR
|-
|
| {{convert|400|×|300|mm|in|2|abbr=on|disp=br}}
| one-eighth the size of EUR
|}

=== Australia ===
{{Main|Australian standard pallet}}

The Australian standard pallet is a pallet size commonly found in Australia but rarely found elsewhere. It is a square pallet originally made of hardwood {{convert|1165|×|1165|mm|in|abbr=on}} in size which fits perfectly in the [[RACE container]] of the Australian Railway. They are ill-suited for the standard {{convert|20|ft|adj=on}} and {{convert|40|ft|adj=on}} ISO shipping containers used around the globe. Australian standard pallets are usually manufactured in hardwood, but 1165 × 1165&nbsp;mm pallets can also be manufactured using lighter timber suitable for use as disposable pallets using 16 millimeter boards. Extensively used in storage and warehousing, they are popular pallets for racking, with the right shape and size to be removed from transport and directly onto warehouse racking for storage.

The Australian standard pallet dates back to [[World War II]], while ISO containers date to the late 1950s. Although the pallet's dimensions pre-date the ISO containers, it requires less [[dunnage]], is square, and leaves less wasted space than other pallets, including the GMA pallet. In 2010, Australia adopted the globally accepted [[ISPM 15]] wood packaging material regulations (before this time it was hardwood and more expensive).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.daff.gov.au/aqis/import/general-info/ian/10/18-2010 |title=18-2010 - Adoption of bark tolerance for imports defined in the wood packaging standard ISPM 15 |access-date=2010-06-25 |publisher=Commonwealth of Australia |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100627200106/http://www.daff.gov.au/aqis/import/general-info/ian/10/18-2010 |archive-date=2010-06-27 }}</ref>