40 × 40 pallet: dimensions, weight and specs
A 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.
- Type
- Wood stringer
- Footprint
- 40.00 × 40.00 in
- Height
- 4.75 in
- Lumber
- 12.7 bd ft
- Est. weight
- 55 lb (25 kg)
- Fasteners
- 84
Every dimension is editable. Get the drawing free, or request a quote.
Dimensions
| Inches | 40 × 40 in |
|---|---|
| Millimetres | 1016 × 1016 mm |
| Centimetres | 101.6 × 101.6 cm |
| Feet | 3.33 × 3.33 ft |
| Footprint area | 11.11 sq ft (1.032 m²) |
Pallets per floor (single stacked)
| Equipment | Straight | Turned | Best |
|---|---|---|---|
| 53 ft dry van | 30 | 30 | 30 |
| 48 ft dry van | 28 | 28 | 28 |
| 26 ft box truck | 14 | 14 | 14 |
| 20 ft container | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| 40 ft container | 22 | 22 | 22 |
| 45 ft high cube | 26 | 26 | 26 |
Straight = length along the trailer. Floor positions only, with no gaps for load bars or overhang. Weight often limits first. Open the calculator
The 40 × 40 in pallet (1016 × 1016 mm) is a square North American pallet size associated mainly with the dairy industry. It uses the same 40 in deckboard length as a 48 × 40 with shorter 40 in stringers.
What are the dimensions of a 40 × 40 pallet?
A 40 × 40 pallet is 40 in (1016 mm) on each side. Overall height is usually about 4.75 to 5 in (121 to 127 mm). Because it is square, the drawing should show which way the stringers run so entry sides and notches are clear.
Typical build at 40 × 40
| Component | Typical spec |
|---|---|
| Top deckboards | 7 boards: 2 × 5-1/2 in + 5 × 3-1/2 in, 5/8 in thick, 40 in long |
| Bottom deckboards | 5 boards, same widths |
| Stringers | 3 × 1-3/8 × 3-1/2 × 40 in |
| Entry | Partial 4-way if notched, 2-way if not |
| Overall height | 4.75 in with 5/8 in decks |
On a 40 in stringer, two standard 9 in notches leave less solid wood between them than on a 48 in stringer, so some 40 × 40 designs skip the notches and stay 2-way. Dairy loads that live in coolers and wash areas may also call for kiln-dried lumber to limit mold. Start from the GMA template and set the length to 40 in in the designer.
How much does a 40 × 40 pallet weigh?
The build above has about 12.7 board feet, which gives estimated weights of about 27 lb (12 kg) in dry softwood, 37 lb (17 kg) in kiln-dried hardwood and up to about 56 lb (25 kg) in green hardwood. See pallet weight.
How much weight can a 40 × 40 pallet hold?
Shorter stringers make a stiffer pallet for the same lumber, but the rating still depends on the design, the load type and the support condition (floor, forklift or rack). Ask for static, dynamic and racked ratings from the manufacturer, based on a PDS analysis or ASTM D1185 testing. See pallet load capacity.
Who uses 40 × 40 pallets?
- Dairy: milk crates, cases and cultured products. See dairy.
- Other square loads: some beverage, bagged and component loads that fit a 40 in square without overhang.
Many dairy operations also use 48 × 40 pallets, especially for shipments to grocery DCs, so confirm which size your customer receives.
Fit in trucks and containers
Two 40 × 40 pallets side by side take 80 in of trailer width, which leaves 18 in or more unused in a 53 ft dry van. The table above shows the counts for trailers and containers. In ISO containers the 40 in width fits two across with more room to spare than a 48 × 40 turned.
Related sizes
- 42 × 42: the ISO square North American size.
- 36 × 36: smaller beverage square.
- 48 × 40: the GMA standard.
- 1100 × 1100: the Asian square standard.
Specifying a 40 × 40 pallet for a quote
- Size and stringer direction.
- Entry: notched (partial 4-way) or unnotched (2-way).
- Deckboard count, width and thickness, top and bottom.
- Lumber species and moisture (kiln-dried for cold, wet storage).
- Load weight, stacking height and racking.
- ISPM 15 if exported.
The RFQ checklist covers the full list.
Frequently asked questions
What is a 40x40 pallet used for?
It is best known as a dairy pallet, and it is also used for other square loads that would overhang a 40 in wide pallet on only one axis. Check your customer's spec, since dairy practice varies by processor.
How much does a 40x40 pallet weigh?
A 3-stringer build with 7 top and 5 bottom boards uses about 12.7 board feet, which is roughly 27 lb in dry softwood up to about 56 lb in green hardwood (estimates).
Is 40x40 an ISO pallet size?
No. The ISO 6780 square sizes are 1067 × 1067 mm (42 × 42 in), 1100 × 1100 mm and 1165 × 1165 mm. 40 × 40 is a North American size.
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.
- 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 × 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.
- IndustriesPallets for dairy: milk, cheese, butter and dairy ingredientsDairy uses 40 × 40 in pallets, the size traditionally linked to dairy in North America, and 48 × 40 in pallets for retail DCs. Plants are cold, wet and washed down, so plastic is common inside and wood must arrive dry. Much fluid milk moves in stacked crates on dollies or pallets.
- 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 × 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.
- Sizes36 × 36 pallet: dimensions, weight and specsA 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.
- 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.
Last reviewed 2026-09-24. 576 words.