ANSI MH1: pallets, slip sheets and other bases for unit loads
ANSI MH1 is the American National Standard for pallets, slip sheets and other unit-load bases, published by MHI. It covers terminology, sizes, wood pallets, fasteners, test procedures, slip sheets and military pallets. The current edition is MH1-2021; its committee is the US adviser to ISO/TC 51.
ANSI MH1 is the US national standard for pallets. Its full title is Pallets, Slip Sheets, and Other Bases for Unit Loads. It is published by MHI (the material handling industry association) as an American National Standard, and the current edition is ANSI MH1-2021, which replaced MH1-2016. The MH1 committee also acts as the US Technical Advisory Group to ISO/TC 51, the ISO committee that writes international pallet standards such as ISO 6780 and ISO 8611.
What does ANSI MH1 cover?
MH1 is organized in parts. Its stated scope is standardizing the nomenclature, types, sizes, materials and components of pallets, slip sheets and other unit-load bases, including sampling, inspection and test methods. The parts cover, broadly:
| Topic | What it gives you |
|---|---|
| Definitions and terminology | Common names for pallet parts, types and features |
| Sizes | Preferred North American pallet footprints and dimension conventions |
| Wood pallets | Construction and lumber quality for wood pallets |
| Driven fasteners and nail quality | Fastener requirements and a quality protocol for pallet nails |
| Test procedures | Methods for evaluating pallet performance |
| Slip sheets | Slip sheet terminology and properties |
| Military pallets | Standard DoD wood pallet designs (Part 9) |
| Other bases | Export and automated-handling considerations |
Part numbering and content change between editions. Check the table of contents of the edition you cite.
Sizes in ANSI MH1
MH1 recognizes a set of common North American sizes, stated length first. Industry summaries of the standard note that about 100 sizes are in use, that 48 × 40 and 40 × 48 together exceed a third of production, and that about ten other sizes each exceed 1%.
| Size (in) | Size (mm) | Commonly associated with |
|---|---|---|
| 48 × 40 | 1219 × 1016 | Grocery, consumer goods (GMA pallet) |
| 42 × 42 | 1067 × 1067 | Paint, telecom, chemicals |
| 48 × 48 | 1219 × 1219 | Drums, bulk bags |
| 40 × 48 | 1016 × 1219 | Military, cement |
| 48 × 42 | 1219 × 1067 | Chemicals, beverage |
| 40 × 40 | 1016 × 1016 | Dairy |
| 48 × 45 | 1219 × 1143 | Automotive |
| 44 × 44 | 1118 × 1118 | Drums, chemicals |
| 36 × 36 | 914 × 914 | Beverage |
| 48 × 36 | 1219 × 914 | Beverage, shingles, paper |
The industry associations in this table come from trade sources, not from a mandatory rule. See US pallet sizes for more on each.
Military pallets (Part 9)
MIL-STD-147E points to ANSI MH1 Part 9 for the standard 40 × 48 in wood pallets used by the Department of Defense. It names specific MH1 part numbers (for example MH1/9-02SW4048 for loads under 1,500 lb and MH1/9-03SW4048 or MH1/9-10BW4048 for loads between 1,500 and 3,000 lb). If you supply the DoD, MIL-STD-147 and the contract tell you which MH1 design to build.
How ANSI MH1 relates to other standards
| Standard | Relationship |
|---|---|
| Uniform Standard for Wood Pallets | Wood-industry standard; deeper on lumber grades, tolerances and repair |
| ISO 6780 / ISO 8611 / ISO 445 | International counterparts for sizes, testing and terminology; MH1's committee is the US voice on these |
| ASTM D1185 | US test methods for pallets |
| ASTM F1667 | Nail specification relevant to driven fasteners |
| MIL-STD-147 | Uses MH1 Part 9 pallet designs |
When should a buyer cite ANSI MH1?
- When you want a recognized US definition of pallet terms in a contract, so "four-way", "wing" or "nominal dimension" mean the same thing to every bidder.
- When you buy military-style pallets and the contract cites MH1 part numbers.
- When you specify slip sheets and need a standard vocabulary for tabs and materials.
- As an umbrella reference alongside a test standard for performance.
For most commercial wood pallets, the Uniform Standard plus a drawing is the more specific reference. MH1 is the better citation when the spec covers plastic pallets or slip sheets as well as wood.
How to reference it on a spec sheet
- "Terminology per ANSI MH1-2021."
- "Pallet per ANSI MH1 Part 9, part number MH1/9-xxxxx" (military).
- "Slip sheet per ANSI MH1, tab configuration as drawn."
Always cite the edition year. Pair it with a drawing and a stated load capacity and support condition; MH1 alone does not fix the design of a commercial pallet.
Frequently asked questions
What is the current edition of ANSI MH1?
MH1-2021, which revised the 2016 edition. MHI publishes it; copies are sold through the ANSI webstore and other standards resellers.
Does ANSI MH1 say 48x40 is the standard pallet size?
MH1 lists preferred North American sizes, with 48 × 40 in the most common. The market data often quoted with it says 48 × 40 and 40 × 48 make up over a third of pallets produced, with many other sizes in regular use.
Is ANSI MH1 the same as the Uniform Standard for Wood Pallets?
No. MH1 is an ANSI-accredited consensus standard covering all pallet materials and slip sheets. The Uniform Standard is the wood pallet industry's own standard and goes deeper on wood materials, tolerances and repair.
Sources and references
- ANSI MH1-2021, Pallets, Slip Sheets, and Other Bases for Unit Loads (MHI)
- MIL-STD-147E, Palletized Unit Loads (US Department of Defense), references to ANSI MH1 Part 9
Related
- StandardsUniform Standard for Wood Pallets (Woodpack Global, formerly NWPCA)The Uniform Standard for Wood Pallets is the North American industry standard for specifying, building and repairing wood pallets: terms, lumber quality, tolerances, fasteners, notches, repair and performance. Woodpack Global (formerly NWPCA) publishes it; it is voluntary and was revised in 2025.
- StandardsISO 6780: the six international pallet sizesISO 6780:2003 sets principal dimensions and tolerances of flat pallets for intercontinental handling. It recognizes six sizes: 1200 × 800, 1200 × 1000, 1219 × 1016 (48 × 40 in), 1165 × 1165, 1067 × 1067 and 1100 × 1100 mm, and covers openings, chamfers, wings, flatness and distortion.
- StandardsMIL-STD-147: palletized unit loads for military suppliesMIL-STD-147 is the DoD standard practice for bonded palletized unit loads of military supplies on the standard 40 × 48 in wood pallet. It points to ANSI MH1 Part 9 designs, limits unit-load size and weight (3,000 lb per pallet load in the 2008 base text) and covers bonding and marking.
- 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.
- TypesSlip sheet: the thin pallet alternative, sizes, tabs and materialsA slip sheet is a thin sheet of solid fiberboard, corrugated board or plastic used under a unit load instead of a pallet. A push-pull lift truck attachment grips its tab and pulls the load onto its platens. Sheets for a 40 × 48 in load are commonly 43 × 51 or 44 × 52 in with 3–4 in tabs.
- GlossaryNominal dimension (pallet and lumber)A nominal dimension is the named or trade size of a pallet or piece of lumber, such as a 48 × 40 pallet or a 2×4, rather than its measured size. Lumber nominal sizes are larger than actual: a 2×4 is 1-1/2 × 3-1/2 in.
- StandardsASTM D1185: test methods for palletsASTM D1185 is the US test method for pallets and related structures (skids, bases, platforms and bins). Static tests estimate stiffness, strength and safe working loads; dynamic tests estimate durability in handling. Retailers such as Home Depot accept an ASTM D1185 test as an alternative to a PDS report.
More in Pallet design and testing
- StandardsISO 8611: flat pallet test methods, performance and working loadsISO 8611 is the international standard for testing new flat pallets. Part 1 gives the test methods, Part 2 the performance requirements used to set a nominal load, and Part 3 how to determine the maximum working load for a known payload and support condition. Parts 1 and 2 were revised in 2025; Part 3 dates from 2011.
- StandardsISO 445: pallet vocabularyISO 445 is the international vocabulary standard for pallets used in unit-load handling. It defines the names of pallet types, parts and features so that specs, test reports and other ISO pallet standards use the same words. The current edition is ISO 445:2013, and a revision is in development.
- StandardsISO 18613: repair of flat wooden palletsISO 18613 sets the maximum defects and damage a flat wooden pallet may have before it must be repaired, and the minimum criteria a repair must meet, for pallets repaired with wood-based components. The current edition is ISO 18613:2014. It is the international reference for repair and inspection contracts.
- StandardsASTM D6199: quality of wood members of containers and palletsASTM D6199 is the ASTM practice that sets quality requirements for three classes of hardwood and softwood members used in boxes, crates, pallets and blocking and bracing. It limits defects such as knots, decay, splits, checks, warp and wane by class of use. The current designation is D6199-18a, reapproved since.
- StandardsASTM F680: test methods for nails (including the MIBANT test)ASTM F680 is the ASTM standard for testing nails: dimensions, tension, bend, impact bend, hardness and zinc coatings. Its impact bend test is the MIBANT test pallet makers use to check nail stiffness. F680 gives methods only; the product spec sets the pass values.
- StandardsASTM F1667: specification for nails, spikes and staplesASTM F1667 is the ASTM product specification for driven fasteners: nails, cut nails, spikes and staples. It classifies them by type and style and sets dimensions, material, properties and coatings, with testing to ASTM F680. The current edition is F1667/F1667M-21a.
Last reviewed 2026-09-24. 778 words.