36 × 36 pallet: dimensions, weight and specs
A 36 × 36 in pallet (914 × 914 mm) is a small square North American pallet used mainly in beverage distribution and for compact loads. A typical build has 5 top and 3 bottom deckboards on 3 stringers, about 4.75 in tall, and weighs roughly 20 to 41 lb.
- Type
- Wood stringer
- Footprint
- 36.00 × 36.00 in
- Height
- 4.75 in
- Lumber
- 11.4 bd ft
- Est. weight
- 50 lb (23 kg)
- Fasteners
- 84
Every dimension is editable. Get the drawing free, or request a quote.
Dimensions
| Inches | 36 × 36 in |
|---|---|
| Millimetres | 914 × 914 mm |
| Centimetres | 91.4 × 91.4 cm |
| Feet | 3 × 3 ft |
| Footprint area | 9.00 sq ft (0.836 m²) |
Pallets per floor (single stacked)
| Equipment | Straight | Turned | Best |
|---|---|---|---|
| 53 ft dry van | 34 | 34 | 34 |
| 48 ft dry van | 30 | 30 | 30 |
| 26 ft box truck | 16 | 16 | 16 |
| 20 ft container | 12 | 12 | 12 |
| 40 ft container | 26 | 26 | 26 |
| 45 ft high cube | 28 | 28 | 28 |
Straight = length along the trailer. Floor positions only, with no gaps for load bars or overhang. Weight often limits first. Open the calculator
The 36 × 36 in pallet (914 × 914 mm) is a small square North American pallet. Industry lists associate it with beverage distribution, and it is also a common size for compact, dense loads such as small machines, parts and building products. It ranks ninth in the usual list of North American sizes.
What are the dimensions of a 36 × 36 pallet?
A 36 × 36 pallet is 36 in (914 mm) on each side, 9 sq ft of deck. Overall height is usually about 4.75 in (121 mm) with 5/8 in decks on 3-1/2 in stringers. State the stringer direction on the drawing.
Typical build at 36 × 36
| Component | Typical spec |
|---|---|
| Top deckboards | 5 boards: 2 × 5-1/2 in leads + 3 × 3-1/2 in, 5/8 in thick, 36 in long |
| Bottom deckboards | 3 boards: 2 × 5-1/2 in + 1 × 3-1/2 in |
| Stringers | 3 × 1-3/8 × 3-1/2 × 36 in |
| Entry | 2-way, or partial 4-way if notched |
| Overall height | 4.75 in |
On a 36 in stringer, two standard 9 in notches leave little solid wood, so many 36 × 36 pallets are 2-way. For dense loads, add top boards (6 or 7) to close the gaps. Start from the GMA template and set the size to 36 × 36 in the designer.
How much does a 36 × 36 pallet weigh?
The build above uses about 9.2 board feet. Estimated weight is about 20 lb (9 kg) in dry softwood, 27 lb (12 kg) in kiln-dried hardwood and up to about 41 lb (19 kg) in green hardwood. See pallet weight.
How much weight can a 36 × 36 pallet hold?
Short spans make a small pallet stiff, but the rating depends on design, load type and support condition. A 36 × 36 is often loaded with dense product, so the concentrated load matters more than the total. Ask the manufacturer for static, dynamic and racked ratings based on a PDS analysis or ASTM D1185 testing. Standard selective racks are set for 40 to 48 in deep pallets, so a 36 × 36 may need a pallet support bar or a deck to rack safely. See pallet racking and deflection.
Who uses 36 × 36 pallets?
- Beverage: some direct-store-delivery and route loads. See beverage.
- Industrial: small equipment, castings, fasteners, parts bins.
- Building materials: small dense loads of block, stone or bagged product.
Fit in trucks and containers
Two 36 × 36 pallets take 72 in across, which leaves about 26 in of unused width in a 53 ft dry van; three across (108 in) does not fit. The table above shows the counts. Shippers often fill the space by mixing sizes on the same trailer. At this size the payload limit is often reached before the floor is full.
Related sizes
- 48 × 36: beverage, shingles and paper.
- 40 × 40: dairy.
- 42 × 42: paint and telecom.
- 800 × 600: the European half pallet, about 31.5 × 23.6 in.
Specifying a 36 × 36 pallet for a quote
- Size and stringer direction.
- Entry: 2-way or notched partial 4-way.
- Deckboard count, widths, thickness, top and bottom.
- Species, moisture and new or recycled lumber.
- Load weight and footprint, stacking, and whether it goes in racks.
- ISPM 15 if exported.
See the RFQ checklist.
Frequently asked questions
What is a 36x36 pallet used for?
It is mostly used in beverage distribution and for small, heavy or compact loads that would waste space on a full-size pallet. It is also a common custom size for equipment and parts.
How much does a 36x36 pallet weigh?
A 3-stringer build with 5 top and 3 bottom boards uses about 9 board feet, roughly 20 lb in dry softwood up to about 41 lb in green hardwood (estimates).
Will a 36x36 pallet fit through a standard door?
A 36 in pallet is the same width as a common 36 in door opening, so it is tight. Loads that must pass through personnel doors are usually built narrower, for example 35 in or less.
Sources and references
Related
- SizesUS pallet sizes: the standard North American dimensionsThe standard US pallet is 48 × 40 in (1219 × 1016 mm), the GMA pallet, used for grocery, retail and most general freight. Other common North American sizes are 42 × 42, 48 × 48, 48 × 42, 40 × 40, 48 × 45, 44 × 44, 36 × 36 and 48 × 36 in, each tied to particular industries.
- Sizes48 × 36 pallet: dimensions, weight and specsA 48 × 36 in pallet (1219 × 914 mm) is a North American size used for beverages, roofing shingles and packaged paper. It is usually a 3-stringer wood pallet with 36 in deckboards, about 4.75 in tall and roughly 27 to 56 lb.
- Sizes40 × 40 pallet: dimensions, weight and specsA 40 × 40 in pallet (1016 × 1016 mm) is a square North American size associated with the dairy industry. It is usually a 3-stringer wood pallet about 4.75 in tall, weighing roughly 27 to 56 lb depending on species and moisture.
- IndustriesPallets for beverages: water, soft drinks, beer and spiritsA pallet of bottled water commonly weighs 2,100 to 2,500 lb, and canned drinks and beer 1,500 to 2,200 lb. Most North American beverage loads ship on 48 × 40 in pooled or GMA-style pallets, plus 48 × 20 in half pallets for store delivery. Stiff decks, tier sheets and good wrap prevent crushed loads.
- TypesStringer pallet: construction, dimensions and when to use oneA stringer pallet is a wooden pallet whose deckboards are nailed across two or more continuous beams called stringers, usually three on a 48 × 40 in pallet. It is 2-way entry, or partial 4-way when the stringers are notched. It is the most common and cheapest pallet design in North America.
- GuidesHow much does a pallet weigh? Weights by type, material and moistureA standard 48 × 40 wood stringer pallet weighs about 30 to 60 lb (14 to 27 kg). New green hardwood pallets sit at the top of that range and dry ones near the bottom. A EUR pallet weighs about 25 kg (55 lb), pooled 48 × 40 block pallets about 60 to 70 lb, and plastic pallets 14 to 70 lb depending on type.
More in North American sizes
- Sizes48 × 40 pallet (GMA): dimensions, weight and specsA 48 × 40 in pallet (1219 × 1016 mm) is the North American standard, also called the GMA pallet. The typical build is a partial 4-way stringer pallet about 4.75 in tall with 7 top and 5 bottom deckboards on 3 notched stringers. Pooled 48 × 40 block pallets (CHEP, PECO) share the same footprint.
- Sizes42 × 42 pallet: dimensions, weight and specsA 42 × 42 in pallet (1067 × 1067 mm) is a square pallet used mainly for paint and coatings, telecom equipment and chemicals. It is one of the six ISO 6780 footprints. The usual build is a 3-stringer wood pallet about 4.75 to 5 in tall.
- Sizes48 × 48 pallet (drum pallet): dimensions, weight and specsA 48 × 48 in pallet (1219 × 1219 mm) is the standard drum pallet. It holds four 55-gallon drums in a 2 × 2 pattern and is also common for bulk bags and totes. Typical builds use 4 stringers and 3/4 in top decks, and weigh roughly 45 to 90 lb.
- Sizes48 × 42 pallet: dimensions, weight and specsA 48 × 42 in pallet (1219 × 1067 mm) is a North American size used mainly for chemicals and beverages. It is built like a GMA pallet with 42 in deckboards: typically 3 notched stringers, 7 top and 5 bottom boards, about 4.75 to 5 in tall.
- Sizes48 × 45 pallet: dimensions, weight and specsA 48 × 45 in pallet (1219 × 1143 mm) is the North American automotive size, used for parts shipments and returnable containers. Wood versions are built like a GMA pallet with 45 in deckboards; plastic 48 × 45 pallets are common in closed automotive loops.
- Sizes44 × 44 pallet: dimensions, weight and specsA 44 × 44 in pallet (1118 × 1118 mm) is a square North American size used for drums, bulk bags (FIBCs) and chemicals. It fits two across an ISO shipping container, which a 48 × 48 does not. Typical wood builds are 3 or 4 stringers, about 4.75 to 5 in tall.
Last reviewed 2026-09-24. 589 words.