Footprint (pallet)
Also called: pallet size, plan size, L × W
A pallet's footprint is its plan size, length × width, such as 48 × 40 in (1219 × 1016 mm) or 1200 × 800 mm. It sets how many pallets fit in a trailer, container or rack bay.
In depth: US pallet sizes: the standard North American dimensions
The footprint is the rectangle a pallet covers on the floor, stated as length × width. Height is separate: see overall height. In North America the length is the stringer or stringerboard length and is stated first (see dimension order).
Common footprints
| Footprint | Metric | Main use |
|---|---|---|
| 48 × 40 in | 1219 × 1016 mm | US grocery and retail (GMA) |
| 42 × 42 in | 1067 × 1067 mm | Paint, telecom |
| 48 × 48 in | 1219 × 1219 mm | Drums |
| 1200 × 800 mm | 47.2 × 31.5 in | Europe (EUR 1) |
| 1200 × 1000 mm | 47.2 × 39.4 in | Europe, UK, Asia |
| 1100 × 1100 mm | 43.3 × 43.3 in | Japan, Korea |
ISO 6780 lists six footprints, and ANSI MH1 covers the common North American sizes. See ISO pallet sizes.
Why it matters
Footprint decides cube use in trailers and containers, fit in rack bays, and how the product pattern lays out on the deck. A load that hangs over the footprint (overhang) crushes box corners, and one that sits well inside it wastes space. Use the pallets per truck calculator to check trailer fit.
On a spec sheet
The footprint is the first element of the classification line, for example "48.00 x 40.00". It is a nominal size. Real pallets are built to a tolerance: the Uniform Standard (2012) allows +1/4 / −1/2 in on overall pallet size.
Related
- GlossaryDimension order (pallet sizes)Dimension order is the convention for stating pallet sizes. In North America the first number is the length, meaning the stringer or stringerboard length, then width, then height: a 48 × 40 pallet has 48 in stringers.
- 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.
- 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.
- SizesISO pallet sizes: the six ISO 6780 footprintsISO 6780 lists six standard pallet footprints: 1200 × 800 mm (Europe), 1200 × 1000 mm (Europe, Asia), 1219 × 1016 mm or 48 × 40 in (North America), 1165 × 1165 mm (Australia), 1067 × 1067 mm or 42 × 42 in (North America, Europe, Asia) and 1100 × 1100 mm (Asia). There is no single world pallet size.
- CalculatorsPallets per truck and containerHow many pallets fit in a 53 ft or 48 ft trailer, a box truck, or a 20 ft, 40 ft or 45 ft container, straight, turned or mixed, with a top-view load plan.
- GuidesPallet overhang: why loads should not hang past the pallet edgePallet overhang is any part of the load that extends past the pallet edge. It leaves the bottom edges of boxes unsupported, cuts their stacking strength, exposes them to damage, and enlarges the billed freight dimensions. Most receivers want zero overhang: keep the load flush with or just inside the pallet edges.
More in Components and construction
- GlossaryActual dimension (pallet and lumber)An actual dimension is the measured size of a pallet or component at manufacture. Pallet spec sheets state component sizes as actual dimensions, for example a 5/8 × 3-1/2 × 40 in deckboard.
- GlossaryBlock (pallet)A block is a rectangular, square or cylindrical spacer between the decks of a block pallet. Most block pallets have 9 blocks in a 3 × 3 grid, and the block height sets the fork entry height.
- GlossaryBottom deck (pallet)The bottom deck is the lower layer of deckboards (or a perimeter, runner or panel base) on a double-face pallet. It spreads the load onto the floor, rack or conveyor and stabilizes the stringers or blocks.
- GlossaryBottom deck coverage (pallet)Bottom deck coverage is the percentage of a pallet's underside covered by bottom deckboards. A GMA-style 48 × 40 bottom deck covers about 45%, less than the top deck, to leave room for notches and pallet-jack wheels.
- GlossaryCenter block (block pallet)The center block is the middle block in the 3 × 3 grid of a nine-block pallet. It supports the middle of the deck and, on EPAL pallets, carries the producer, date and treatment marks.
- GlossaryChamfer (pallet)A chamfer is a bevel cut along the edge of a bottom deckboard, usually a lead board, so pallet-jack wheels can ride up and over it instead of hitting a square edge.
Last reviewed 2026-09-24. 259 words.