Euro pallet: dimensions, weight and load capacity
A Euro pallet measures 1200 × 800 × 144 mm and weighs about 25 kg. According to EPAL it carries 1500 kg when the load is spread evenly. An articulated trailer with a 13.6 m loading length takes 33 Euro pallets.
Contents of this page
Technical data of the EPAL Euro pallet
- Length × width × height
- 1200 × 800 × 144 mm
- Footprint
- 0.96 m²
- Own weight
- about 25 kg (roughly 20 to 27 kg depending on moisture in the wood)
- Load capacity
- 1500 kg with the load spread evenly, up to 2000 kg with a compact load resting on the whole surface
- Stacking load
- up to 4000 kg on the bottom pallet, on a firm and level floor
- Construction
- 11 boards, 9 blocks, 78 special nails
- Standards
- EN 13698-1, UIC 435-2, dimensions under ISO 6780
- Marking
- EPAL oval on the corner blocks, IPPC mark for heat-treated wood (HT)
These capacities apply to undamaged pallets. Broken boards or missing nails reduce the load considerably. In racking, the permitted loads are lower depending on how the pallet is supported. The figures from the European Pallet Association (EPAL) and the racking manufacturer’s specifications always apply.
Other pallet sizes
| Pallet | Dimensions | Per articulated trailer |
|---|---|---|
| Euro pallet | 1200 × 800 mm | 33 |
| Industrial pallet, UK standard pallet | 1200 × 1000 mm | 26 |
| North American pallet (GMA) | 48 × 40 in (1219 × 1016 mm) | 26 in a European trailer |
| Half pallet | 800 × 600 mm | depends on height and weight |
| Quarter pallet (display pallet) | 600 × 400 mm | depends on height and weight |
How many pallets fit in a lorry or container?
An articulated trailer is about 13.6 m long and 2.45 m wide inside. Three Euro pallets fit side by side across (3 × 800 mm = 2.4 m), with eleven rows one behind the other (11 × 1.2 m = 13.2 m). That gives 33 pallets. Industrial pallets stand two abreast, and 13 rows give 26.
Euro pallets fit less well into shipping containers, because containers were designed around American dimensions. A 20-foot container takes about 11 Euro pallets in one layer, a 40-foot container about 23 to 24, depending on how they are arranged.
Pallets and paper
Printers deliver large runs on Euro pallets. A pallet stack of paper soon gets very heavy: a cubic metre of paper weighs roughly 700 to 1200 kg, depending on the grade. So with print jobs it is usually the weight, not the footprint, that decides how many pallets you need. If you order brochures by the pallet, check beforehand whether there is a pallet truck or a loading ramp at the delivery address.
Frequently asked questions
How big is a Euro pallet?
1200 × 800 mm, and 144 mm high.
How heavy is a Euro pallet?
About 25 kg, between roughly 20 and 27 kg depending on moisture in the wood.
How much can a Euro pallet carry?
According to EPAL, 1500 kg with an evenly spread load and up to 2000 kg with a compact load over the whole surface.
How many Euro pallets fit in a lorry?
33 in an articulated trailer with a loading length of 13.6 m.
Is a UK pallet the same as a Euro pallet?
No. The UK standard pallet is 1200 × 1000 mm, the Euro pallet 1200 × 800 mm.