ISO 6780: the six international pallet sizes
ISO 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.
ISO 6780 is the international standard that says which pallet footprints count as "ISO pallets". Its title is Flat pallets for intercontinental materials handling: Principal dimensions and tolerances. It is written by ISO/TC 51, the ISO committee for pallets. The current edition is ISO 6780:2003 (second edition, with a corrected version issued in 2004). It replaced the 1988 edition and added the Asia-Pacific sizes that earlier editions left out.
What does ISO 6780 cover?
ISO 6780 applies to new single-deck and double-deck flat pallets, reversible and non-reversible, of all entry types and any material. It covers the dimensions that affect handling by pallet trucks, forklifts and automated systems:
| Section topic | What it controls |
|---|---|
| Plan dimensions and tolerances | The six recognized footprints and allowed deviation |
| Vertical entry clearances | Opening heights for forks and pallet-truck arms (entry height) |
| Horizontal clearances | Opening widths for pallet trucks and forklifts |
| Bottom deck chamfers | Chamfer dimensions for pallet-truck wheels |
| Deck projections | Wing overhangs |
| Bearing surface | Minimum bottom-deck bearing area |
| Diagonal distortion | Squareness limit |
| Flatness | Deck flatness limit |
An informative annex describes where each size is used regionally. The standard itself states the dimension convention: pallet length is the deck dimension along the stringers or stringerboards, or the longer side if there are none, and length is stated first. See dimension order.
The six ISO pallet sizes
| Size (mm) | Size (in, approx.) | Main region and common name |
|---|---|---|
| 1200 × 800 | 47.24 × 31.50 | Europe; EUR / EPAL pallet |
| 1200 × 1000 | 47.24 × 39.37 | Europe, UK, Asia; EUR 2 / EUR 3, UK standard |
| 1219 × 1016 | 48 × 40 | North America; GMA pallet |
| 1165 × 1165 | 45.87 × 45.87 | Australia |
| 1067 × 1067 | 42 × 42 | North America, Europe, Asia |
| 1100 × 1100 | 43.31 × 43.31 | Japan, Korea and wider Asia |
Each size has its own page: 1200 × 800, 1200 × 1000, 48 × 40, 1165 × 1165, 42 × 42 and 1100 × 1100. The ISO pallet sizes hub compares them.
The standard's introduction admits that six sizes cannot suit every product, handling system and region. It aims to limit sizes for intercontinental trade, not to outlaw others. 48 × 48, 48 × 42 and the CP sizes remain common.
Who uses ISO 6780?
- Exporters and global shippers choosing a footprint that works in the destination's racking, trucks and containers.
- Pallet pools and system owners. The EPAL and Australian pools use ISO sizes.
- Automation and racking suppliers, who design around ISO footprints and entry clearances.
- Standards writers. ISO 8611 testing and national standards such as AS 4068 build on these sizes.
How ISO 6780 relates to other standards
| Standard | Relationship |
|---|---|
| ISO 445 | Vocabulary the definitions come from |
| ISO 8611 | Performance testing of flat pallets; ISO 6780 does not rate load |
| ANSI MH1 | US standard with its own list of preferred North American sizes |
| EN 13698 | Full production specs for two ISO sizes (1200 × 800 and 1200 × 1000) |
| AS 4068 | Australian standard for the 1165 × 1165 and 1100 × 1100 sizes (withdrawn in 2019, still referenced) |
When should a buyer cite ISO 6780?
Cite it when a pallet must work in international or mixed handling systems and you want the supplier to hold ISO opening, chamfer and flatness limits, not just the footprint. Typical cases:
- Export programs where the receiving warehouse uses ISO-sized racking or automated storage.
- Plastic or metal pallets bought from overseas suppliers, where a named standard avoids arguments about "1200 × 1000" meaning 1200 mm or 47 in.
- Tenders that allow several materials, since ISO 6780 applies to any material.
How to reference it on a spec sheet
- "Plan dimensions 1200 × 1000 mm per ISO 6780:2003, length along stringerboards."
- "Entry clearances, chamfers and flatness per ISO 6780:2003."
A footprint alone does not define a pallet. Add a drawing, deck and base configuration, and a performance requirement referencing ISO 8611 or ASTM D1185. To model an ISO size, start from the EPAL 1 template or 1200 × 1000 perimeter template.
Frequently asked questions
What are the six ISO pallet sizes?
1200 × 800 mm, 1200 × 1000 mm, 1219 × 1016 mm (48 × 40 in), 1165 × 1165 mm, 1067 × 1067 mm (42 × 42 in) and 1100 × 1100 mm.
Which dimension comes first in ISO 6780?
Length comes first. ISO 6780 defines length as the deck dimension in the direction of the stringers or stringerboards, or the longer dimension if there are none, followed by width.
Does ISO 6780 set load capacity?
No. ISO 6780 covers dimensions, clearances and geometric tolerances only. Load performance is tested under ISO 8611.
Sources and references
Related
- 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.
- GlossaryISO palletAn ISO pallet is a pallet built to one of the six footprints recognized in ISO 6780: 1200 × 800, 1200 × 1000, 1219 × 1016 (48 × 40 in), 1165 × 1165, 1067 × 1067 and 1100 × 1100 mm. ISO 6780 sets principal dimensions and tolerances, not construction.
- 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.
- 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.
- Sizes1200 × 1000 pallet: dimensions, weight and specsA 1200 × 1000 mm pallet (47.2 × 39.4 in) is the UK standard pallet and the industrial pallet in Europe and Asia. It is one of the six ISO 6780 sizes. EPAL makes it as the EPAL 2 (162 mm, about 35 kg) and EPAL 3 (144 mm, about 30 kg); CHEP's UK wooden pallet is 162 mm tall and 28 kg.
- 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.
- 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.
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Last reviewed 2026-09-24. 755 words.