GMA pallet: 48 × 40 in dimensions, construction, weight and grades
A 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.
- Type
- Wood stringer
- Footprint
- 48.00 × 40.00 in
- Height
- 4.75 in
- Lumber
- 13.5 bd ft
- Est. weight
- 59 lb (27 kg)
- Fasteners
- 84
Every dimension is editable. Get the drawing free, or request a quote.
"GMA pallet" is shorthand for the standard North American 48 × 40 in wooden stringer pallet. Most grocery, consumer goods and retail distribution in the US runs on this footprint, and it is one of the six footprints in ISO 6780.
What is a GMA pallet?
A GMA pallet is a 48 × 40 in (1219 × 1016 mm) stringer pallet with 48 in stringers and 40 in deckboards. The name comes from the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA), now the Consumer Brands Association. Its defining features are the footprint, three notched stringers and the seven-over-five deckboard layout. There is no single licensed GMA drawing: builders use the same general layout and vary thickness, species and nails.
GMA pallet dimensions and construction
| Component | Count | Typical size | Metric |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top lead deckboards | 2 | 5/8 × 5-1/2 × 40 in | 16 × 140 × 1016 mm |
| Top interior deckboards | 5 | 5/8 × 3-1/2 × 40 in | 16 × 89 × 1016 mm |
| Stringers (notched) | 3 | 1-1/4 to 1-3/8 × 3-1/2 × 48 in | 32–35 × 89 × 1219 mm |
| Bottom lead deckboards | 2 | 5/8 × 5-1/2 × 40 in | 16 × 140 × 1016 mm |
| Bottom interior deckboards | 3 | 5/8 × 3-1/2 × 40 in | 16 × 89 × 1016 mm |
| Overall height | about 4-3/4 in | about 121 mm |
Some builds use 1/2 in or 11/16 in deckboards, 4 in interior boards or 6 in leads, so real 48 × 40 stringer pallets typically run 4-3/4 to 6 in (121–152 mm) tall. See pallet height.
Notches and deckboard spacing
Each stringer has two notches, typically 9 in (229 mm) long, 1-1/4 in (32 mm) deep and starting 6 in (152 mm) from each end. The bottom interior boards are clustered between the notches so they do not block the fork openings. In the reference layout, top boards are evenly spaced with 3.25 in (83 mm) gaps.
Fasteners
A typical GMA build uses 2-1/4 in helically threaded nails with a 0.112 in (about 11-1/2 gauge) wire: 3 per joint on the 5-1/2 in lead boards and 2 per joint on the 3-1/2 in boards. That is 48 nails on top and 36 on the bottom, 84 in total. Heavier wire gives longer life: a Virginia Tech study found an 11.5 gauge build lasted roughly twice as many trips as a 12.5 gauge collated build.
Where are GMA pallets used?
Grocery and consumer packaged goods, retail distribution centres, beverage, household goods and general freight. A 53 ft trailer takes 26 GMA pallets loaded straight or 30 turned (floor-loaded, single-stacked); see pallets per truckload and the pallets per truck calculator.
GMA pallet grades
Used GMA pallets are sold by grade. Grade definitions are market conventions, not a standard:
| Grade | Typical meaning |
|---|---|
| Grade A (#1) | Used, sound, no or few repairs, standard 4-way GMA layout |
| Grade B (#2) | Repaired, may have companion stringers or mismatched boards |
| Core | Broken pallets sold to recyclers for parts |
See pallet grades and recycled pallets.
Pros and limits
| Pros | Limits |
|---|---|
| Fits almost every US rack, dock, trailer and retailer | Pallet jacks enter from two sides only |
| Cheapest standard pallet, new or used | Racked across the 40 in width, deckboards carry the span |
| Huge used and recycled market | Not ideal for automation that needs a flat perimeter base |
| Easy to repair | Heavy when built green from hardwood |
Weight and capacity
A GMA pallet usually weighs 30–70 lb (14–32 kg). One published design analysis of a GMA-style pallet at 1,500 lb (680 kg) gave these safe loads:
| Support condition | Safe load |
|---|---|
| Racked across length, 44 in span | 1,558 lb (707 kg) |
| Racked across width, 36 in span | 1,630 lb (739 kg) |
| Forklift, end entry | 2,504 lb (1,136 kg) |
| Floor, stacked 1 high | 5,223 lb (2,369 kg) |
These are one design's numbers, not a GMA standard. Vendor-quoted racked ratings for "GMA pallets" range roughly 2,500–2,800 lb and conflict with each other. The rating that counts is the manufacturer's analysis for your design, species and support condition. See pallet load capacity.
ISPM 15
A GMA pallet is solid wood and needs heat treatment and an ISPM 15 mark for most export. The pallet.design template assumes domestic use (no HT).
What drives the cost of a GMA pallet?
As a 2026 US estimate, a new GMA pallet costs about $10–25 and a used Grade A less. Prices move with lumber markets. Cost rises with:
- Deckboard thickness and species (hardwood vs SPF or SYP)
- Nail gauge and count
- Heat treatment and kiln drying
- Small order volumes and long delivery distance
See pallet cost.
Specifying a GMA pallet for a quote
- 48 × 40 in, stringer length 48 in, maximum height
- Deckboard thickness (for example 5/8 in), lead and interior widths
- Stringer size and species; notch depth and length
- Species or species group, grade, green or kiln-dried
- Nail type, length and wire gauge
- New, Grade A, Grade B or combo acceptable
- Heat treated, yes or no
- Load weight and whether pallets will be racked
- Quantity, cadence, delivery ZIP
Related: 48 × 40 pallet size, GMA vs Euro pallet. The GMA template shows the full drawing and parts list; open it in the designer to change boards or nails.
Drawing and parts listEdit in the design app
48×40 GMA template, generated from the model. Every dimension is editable.
Pallet
- Type
- Wood stringer
- Footprint
- 48.00 × 40.00 in
- Overall height
- 4.75 in
- Classification
- 48.00 x 40.00, Stringer-Class, Double-Face Non-Reversible, Flush, Partial 4-Way, Reusable, New Manufacture
Construction
- Build
- Wood stringer pallet
- Wings
- Flush
- Top deck
- 7 boards × 0.625 in (5/8); leads 5.50 in (5-1/2), interior 3.50 in (3-1/2)
- Bottom deck
- 5 boards × 0.625 in (5/8); interior grouped between notches
- Stringers
- 3 × 1.375 in (1-3/8) wide × 3.50 in (3-1/2) tall
- Notches
- Partial 4-way: 1.25 in (1-1/4) deep × 9.00 in (9) long, 6.00 in (6) from each end, R 0.75 in (3/4)
- Lumber
- Mixed Hardwood, Standard & Btr, green, new
- Fasteners
- 84 × 2.25 in (2-1/4) helical, 0.112 in wire, per Uniform Standard Table 5
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
- Domestic only
- Certified rating
- Not required
- Food contact / fire
- No / no listing
Order
- Quantity
- Not specified
- Ship to
- —
- Needed by
- —
Frequently asked questions
What does GMA stand for?
Grocery Manufacturers Association, the US grocery trade group whose members standardised on this pallet. The association renamed itself the Consumer Brands Association in 2020, but the pallet is still called a GMA pallet.
How much does a GMA pallet weigh?
Typically 30–70 lb (14–32 kg). Moisture is the biggest variable: the same GMA-style design (5/8 in decks, 1-3/8 × 3-1/2 in stringers, 13.5 board feet) weighs about 59 lb green in mixed hardwood and about 39 lb kiln-dried.
How much weight can a GMA pallet hold?
It depends on how it is supported. Stacked on the floor it holds several thousand pounds; racked it holds far less. Vendor claims vary widely, so ask the manufacturer for a rating at your support condition and beam span.
Is a GMA pallet 4-way?
It is partial 4-way. Forklifts can enter all four sides through the stringer notches, but pallet jacks can only enter the two 40 in ends.
What is the difference between a GMA pallet and a CHEP pallet?
Both are 48 × 40 in, but a GMA pallet is a stringer pallet you buy and own, while a CHEP pallet is a rented block pallet with full 4-way entry, painted blue and owned by CHEP.
Sources and references
Related
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- GlossaryGMAGMA stands for the Grocery Manufacturers Association (now the Consumer Brands Association), whose name became attached to the standard 48 × 40 in (1219 × 1016 mm) US grocery pallet: a partial four-way wood stringer pallet with three notched stringers, seven top and five bottom deckboards.
- GuidesPallet grades: Grade A, Grade B, remanufactured and combo palletsUsed pallets are sold by grade. Grade A (#1) pallets are clean and sound with few or no repairs; Grade B (#2) pallets are sound but repaired, often with companion stringers. Remanufactured and combo pallets are rebuilt from used and new parts. Definitions vary by vendor, so write yours down.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
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.
- 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.
- TypesEuro pallet (EUR / EPAL 1): dimensions, weight and constructionThe 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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. 963 words.