Nominal dimension (pallet and lumber)
Also called: nominal size, trade size
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.
In depth: How to measure a pallet: length, width, height and every board
"Nominal" is the name, "actual" is what a tape measure reads. Both appear in pallet work, and mixing them up causes most sizing mistakes.
Lumber
| Nominal | Actual (dry softwood dimension lumber) | Metric |
|---|---|---|
| 1×4 | 3/4 × 3-1/2 in | 19 × 89 mm |
| 1×6 | 3/4 × 5-1/2 in | 19 × 140 mm |
| 2×4 | 1-1/2 × 3-1/2 in | 38 × 89 mm |
Pallet parts are usually cut stock sawn to size, not dimension lumber, so a "1×4" pallet deckboard is often 5/8 in thick, not 3/4 in.
Pallets
A "48 × 40" pallet is nominally 48 by 40 in. Assembled pallets are allowed +1/4 / −1/2 in on overall size under the Uniform Standard (2012), so a real one might measure 47-5/8 × 40-1/8 in.
Why it matters
Board-foot counts, weights and strength depend on actual dimensions. A spec that says "2×4 stringers" without actual sizes can be read as 1-1/2 × 3-1/2 in softwood or 1-3/8 × 3-1/2 in hardwood, which differ in strength.
On a spec sheet
PDS and the Uniform Standard specify component sizes as actual dimensions at manufacture. Use nominal names only as labels. The pallet footprint in the classification line is nominal.
Related
- 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.
- GlossaryFootprint (pallet)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.
- GlossaryCut stock (pallet components)Cut stock is lumber already sawn to the finished thickness, width and length of pallet parts, such as 5/8 × 3-1/2 × 40 in deckboards, ready for nailing. It is also called pallet stock or shook.
- GuidesHow to measure a pallet: length, width, height and every boardMeasure the stringer (or stringerboard) direction first and call it length, then the deckboard length as width, then overall height from floor to top deck. A 48 × 40 pallet is 48 in along the stringers. For a quote, also record every board's actual size, count and position, and the notch and opening sizes.
- CalculatorsBoard feet and pallet weightBoard feet and estimated weight of a wood pallet from its cut list, by species and moisture, starting from any template.
More in Components and construction
- 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.
- GlossaryCorner block (block pallet)A corner block is one of the four blocks at the corners of a block pallet. Corner blocks take the most fork and pallet-jack impact, so the Uniform Standard requires more fasteners there than at interior blocks.
Last reviewed 2026-09-24. 215 words.