Euro pallet (EUR / EPAL 1): dimensions, weight and construction
The Euro pallet (EUR or EPAL 1) is a licensed European block pallet measuring 1200 × 800 × 144 mm (47.2 × 31.5 × 5.7 in). It weighs about 25 kg (55 lb), has 11 boards, 9 blocks and 78 nails, and carries a safe working load of 1,500 kg (3,307 lb). Only EPAL licensees may build and mark it.
- Type
- Wood block
- Footprint
- 1200 × 800 mm
- Height
- 144 mm
- Lumber
- 19.2 bd ft
- Est. weight
- 44 lb (20 kg)
- Fasteners
- 83
Every dimension is editable. Get the drawing free, or request a quote.
The Euro pallet is the standard pallet of European logistics and the base of the open EPAL exchange pool, in which pallets of equal quality are swapped rather than returned. It is a precisely specified block pallet, and the licence behind it is what separates a genuine EPAL pallet from a "Euro-size" copy.
What is a Euro pallet?
A Euro pallet is a 1200 × 800 mm wooden block pallet built to the EPAL (European Pallet Association) specification. It is also called EUR pallet, EUR 1, EPAL 1 or europallet. The marks on the blocks (the EPAL oval, producer code, date and ISPM 15 data) prove it was built by a licensee and can enter the exchange pool. The dimensions are also one of the six ISO 6780 footprints. See the EPAL standard page and the 1200 × 800 size page.
Euro pallet dimensions and construction
EPAL states 11 boards, 9 blocks and 78 nails for the EPAL 1.
| Component | Count | Size (mm) | Size (in) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top deckboards, outer and centre | 3 | 22 × 145 × 1200 | 0.87 × 5.71 × 47.2 |
| Top deckboards, interior | 2 | 22 × 100 × 1200 | 0.87 × 3.94 × 47.2 |
| Stringerboards | 3 | 22 × 145 × 800 | 0.87 × 5.71 × 31.5 |
| Blocks, outer | 6 | 145 × 100 × 78 | 5.71 × 3.94 × 3.07 |
| Blocks, centre row | 3 | 145 × 145 × 78 | 5.71 × 5.71 × 3.07 |
| Bottom boards, outer | 2 | 22 × 100 × 1200 | 0.87 × 3.94 × 47.2 |
| Bottom board, centre | 1 | 22 × 145 × 1200 | 0.87 × 5.71 × 47.2 |
| Overall height | 144 | 5.67 |
Boards are 22–24 mm thick. The bottom boards are chamfered on the upper edges of their long sides so pallet-jack wheels can climb over them. The bottom deck is unidirectional: its three boards run the 1200 mm direction only.
Nails are EPAL-approved, carry a two-letter head marking, and must sit at least 20 mm from component edges. EPAL also prohibits poplar for the stringerboards.
EPAL family: EUR 1, 2, 3 and 6 compared
| Model | Size (mm) | Height | Weight | Safe working load | Parts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EPAL 1 (Euro pallet) | 1200 × 800 | 144 mm | about 25 kg (55 lb) | 1,500 kg (3,307 lb) | 11 boards, 9 blocks, 78 nails |
| EPAL 2 | 1200 × 1000 | 162 mm | about 35 kg (77 lb) | 1,250 kg (2,756 lb) | 17 boards, 9 blocks, 133 nails |
| EPAL 3 | 1000 × 1200 | 144 mm | about 30 kg (66 lb) | 1,500 kg (3,307 lb) | 13 boards, 9 blocks, 84 nails |
| EPAL 6 (half) | 800 × 600 | 144 mm | about 9.5 kg (21 lb) | 750 kg (1,653 lb) | 13 boards, 9 blocks, 69 nails |
Maximum load on the bottom pallet in a stack (flat, solid surface), per EPAL: EPAL 1, 5,500 kg; EPAL 2, 4,250 kg; EPAL 3, 4,500 kg; EPAL 6, 1,500 kg. EPAL 2 and EPAL 3 share a 1200 × 1000 mm footprint but are different designs: EPAL 2 is taller, heavier and has more boards, while EPAL 3 keeps the 144 mm height of the EPAL 1. EPAL also lists other load carriers, such as the EPAL 7 half pallet and the steel mesh box pallet; see the pallet box page.
Where are Euro pallets used?
- Road freight across Europe; a standard 13.6 m trailer is planned around 33 Euro pallets
- Retail, grocery and FMCG in Europe
- Exports to European customers who require EPAL or EUR-footprint pallets
- The EPAL 6 half pallet for store-floor displays; see display pallets
Pros and limits
| Pros | Limits |
|---|---|
| Tightly specified, consistent everywhere | Licensed: only EPAL licensees may mark it |
| Exchangeable in the open EPAL pool | 800 mm width wastes space in US trailers and ISO containers |
| Heat treated, export-ready | Unidirectional base conveys best in one direction |
| Full 4-way entry | More expensive than a US stringer pallet |
ISPM 15
EPAL pallets are heat treated and carry the IPPC mark on the centre block. They meet ISPM 15 as built. A repaired EPAL pallet must be repaired by a licensed repairer and re-marked.
What drives the cost?
- EPAL licence and quality control (genuine EPAL vs "Euro-size" block pallet)
- Lumber: 22 mm boards and 78 mm blocks in European softwood, or the local equivalent
- Heat treatment and drying
- New vs used (the used EPAL market in Europe is large)
- For US buyers, the small number of licensed North American producers
Specifying a Euro pallet for a quote
- Genuine EPAL (licensed and marked) or 1200 × 800 mm "Euro-size" block pallet
- New or used, and used grade if relevant
- EPAL 1, or another model (EPAL 2, 3, 6)
- ISPM 15 HT (standard for EPAL)
- Any customer marking allowed on the side blocks (licence rules apply)
- Load weight, racking and stacking
- Quantity, delivery location, need-by date
Related: GMA vs Euro pallet, European pallet sizes, CP pallets. The EPAL 1 template has the full drawing; open it in the designer to model a Euro-size variant.
Drawing and parts listEdit in the design app
EUR / EPAL 1 (1200×800) template, generated from the model. Every dimension is editable.
Pallet
- Type
- Wood block
- Footprint
- 1200 × 800 mm
- Overall height
- 144 mm
- Classification
- 1200 x 800 mm, Block-Class, Double-Face Non-Reversible, Unidirectional Base, Full 4-Way, Reusable, New Manufacture, Euro-Size
Construction
- Top deck
- 5 boards × 22 mm; leads 145 mm, interior 100 mm, centre 145 mm; run along length
- Stringerboards
- 3 × 145 mm wide × 22 mm
- Blocks
- 9 × 100 mm × 145 mm × 78 mm; middle row 145 mm; solid
- Bottom
- Unidirectional; 22 mm boards, outer 100 mm, centre 145 mm
- EUR / EPAL
- Euro-size
- Lumber
- Spf, Standard Btr, kd19, new
- Fasteners
- 83 × 57 mm helical
Requirements
- Load
- 2,000 lb, uniform
- Handling
- forklift, pallet jack
- Racking
- Not racked
- Floor stack
- 1 high
- Use
- Reusable / multi-trip
- Environment
- Standard
- ISPM-15
- Heat treated (HT) + mark
- Certified rating
- Not required
- Food contact / fire
- No / no listing
Order
- Quantity
- Not specified
- Ship to
- —
- Needed by
- —
Frequently asked questions
What are the dimensions of a Euro pallet?
1200 × 800 × 144 mm, which is 47.24 × 31.50 × 5.67 in. The 1200 mm side is the length of the deckboards.
How much does a Euro pallet weigh?
About 25 kg (55 lb) according to EPAL. Weight varies with wood species and moisture content.
How much weight can a Euro pallet hold?
EPAL gives a safe working load of 1,500 kg (3,307 lb) for the EPAL 1. Stacked on a flat, solid surface, the bottom pallet may carry up to 5,500 kg (12,125 lb).
Can a US pallet company make Euro pallets?
Any shop can build a 1200 × 800 mm block pallet. Only EPAL-licensed manufacturers may build and mark a genuine EPAL pallet that enters the European exchange pool. A few US producers hold EPAL licences.
Is a Euro pallet heat treated?
Yes. EPAL pallets are heat treated and carry the ISPM 15 mark, so they can be used for export.
Sources and references
Related
- Sizes1200 × 800 pallet (Euro pallet): dimensions, weight and specsA 1200 × 800 mm pallet (47.2 × 31.5 in) is the Euro pallet, standardized as EPAL 1 / EUR 1 and one of the six ISO 6780 sizes. The EPAL 1 is 144 mm tall, weighs about 25 kg, and has a safe working load of 1,500 kg. It is the standard pallet for European retail and food logistics.
- StandardsEPAL: the European pallet system, marks, licensing and exchangeEPAL (European Pallet Association e.V.) runs the open exchange pool for EPAL Euro pallets. Only licensed producers and repairers may make or repair them, and independent inspectors check quality. The EPAL 1 is 800 × 1200 × 144 mm, about 25 kg, with a 1,500 kg safe working load.
- ComparisonsGMA vs Euro pallet: size, construction and useThe GMA pallet is 48 × 40 in (1219 × 1016 mm), traditionally a 3-stringer, partial 4-way pallet, and is the North American grocery standard. The Euro pallet (EPAL 1) is 1200 × 800 mm (47.2 × 31.5 in), a licensed 9-block, 4-way pallet. Use the one your destination's supply chain runs on.
- TypesBlock pallet: construction, dimensions and usesA block pallet is a wooden pallet whose deck sits on blocks, usually nine arranged 3 × 3, joined by stringerboards. The gaps between blocks give full 4-way entry for both forklifts and pallet jacks. EUR/EPAL, CP and the pooled 48 × 40 in pallets of CHEP and PECO are all block pallets.
- TypesCP pallets (CP1 to CP9): dimensions, construction and usesCP pallets are nine standardised wooden block pallets (CP1 to CP9) designed for the European chemical and plastics industry. They range from 760 × 1140 mm to 1300 × 1100 mm. CP1 to CP5 are 138 mm (5.4 in) high with bottom boards in one direction; CP6 to CP9 are 156 mm (6.1 in) high with perimeter or full-frame bottoms.
- SizesEuropean pallet sizes: Euro, industrial, half, quarter and CP palletsThe standard European pallet is the 1200 × 800 mm Euro pallet (EPAL 1), 144 mm tall. The 1200 × 1000 mm industrial pallet (EPAL 2 and EPAL 3) is the second standard. Retail uses the 800 × 600 half and 600 × 400 quarter pallets, and the chemical industry uses the CP1 to CP9 pallets.
- GlossaryEPALEPAL (European Pallet Association e.V.) is the organization that licenses manufacturers and repairers of EPAL Euro pallets and other EPAL load carriers and controls their quality. The EPAL 1 Euro pallet is a 1200 × 800 × 144 mm block pallet used in open pallet exchange across Europe.
- Sizes800 × 600 pallet (half Euro pallet): dimensions, weight and specsAn 800 × 600 mm pallet (31.5 × 23.6 in) is the half Euro pallet, half of a 1200 × 800. EPAL makes two versions: the EPAL 6 (144 mm tall, 750 kg safe working load) and the EPAL 7 (163 mm tall, 500 kg), both about 9.5 kg. It is used for retail display and small loads.
More in Wood pallets
- TypesWooden pallets: types, construction, sizes and how to specify themA wooden pallet is a flat transport platform built from lumber deckboards fastened to stringers or blocks. In North America most are 48 × 40 in stringer pallets weighing about 30–70 lb (14–32 kg); in Europe the 1200 × 800 mm EPAL block pallet dominates. Wood must be ISPM 15 treated for most export.
- 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.
- TypesGMA pallet: 48 × 40 in dimensions, construction, weight and gradesA GMA pallet is a 48 × 40 in (1219 × 1016 mm) wooden stringer pallet built to the grocery industry's standard: three notched stringers for partial 4-way entry, seven top and five bottom deckboards, and an overall height of about 4-3/4 in (121 mm) in the standard build. It is the most common pallet in the United States.
- TypesPerimeter-base pallet: picture-frame bottom block pallets explainedA perimeter-base pallet is a block pallet whose bottom deckboards form a closed frame around the edges, often with a centre board. The frame gives full 4-way entry, rides roller conveyors in either direction and spreads load in stacks. Pooled 48 × 40 in and UK 1200 × 1000 mm pallets use it.
- TypesRecycled pallets: grades, remanufacturing, cost and how to buy themA recycled pallet is a used wooden pallet that has been sorted, repaired or rebuilt and resold. Used 48 × 40 in pallets are sold as Grade A (few or no repairs) or Grade B (repaired). They cost less than new, but grade definitions vary by supplier and any repair voids an existing ISPM 15 mark.
- TypesWhite wood pallets: what the term means and when to use themIn North American logistics, a white wood pallet is an unpainted wooden pallet that the shipper buys and owns, as opposed to a rented pooled pallet painted blue (CHEP) or red (PECO). Most are 48 × 40 in stringer pallets, new or recycled. In Europe, "whitewood" also names the spruce and fir lumber used for pallets.
Last reviewed 2026-09-24. 935 words.