UK pallet sizes: the 1200 × 1000 standard and the Euro pallet

The standard UK pallet is 1200 × 1000 mm (47.2 × 39.4 in). It is the default for UK grocery and FMCG supply chains, where it is pooled by CHEP UK and others, and it is one of the six ISO 6780 sizes. The 1200 × 800 mm Euro pallet is the second common UK size, especially for goods moving to and from continental Europe.

#UK pallet sizes at a glance

#The UK standard pallet (1200 × 1000 mm)

The UK standard pallet is usually a 4-way block pallet with a perimeter base, so pallet trucks enter from all sides.

Figures are CHEP's published values for its pooled pallet. White-wood (bought) UK pallets vary by maker: light one-way pallets can weigh much less and carry less. EPAL also makes 1200 × 1000 pallets as the EPAL 2 (162 mm, about 35 kg) and EPAL 3 (144 mm, about 30 kg). See the 1200 × 1000 page and the UK perimeter template, or open it in the designer.

#The Euro pallet in the UK

The 1200 × 800 mm Euro pallet (EPAL 1) is common for UK-EU trade, for retailers and suppliers with European operations, and in pallet networks. It is 144 mm tall, weighs about 25 kg, and EPAL rates it at 1,500 kg safe working load. See the 1200 × 800 page and European pallet sizes.

A UK racking bay built for 1200 × 1000 pallets usually takes Euro pallets too, but with less of the beam covered; check the rack maker's guidance for the orientation.

#UK pallet vs Euro pallet

#Pallet networks: full, half and quarter pallets

UK pallet networks sell space by pallet footprint plus height and weight bands. A "full", "half" or "quarter" pallet in a network's price list often describes a height and weight limit on a standard footprint, not an 800 × 600 or 600 × 400 pallet. Each network sets its own bands and changes them, so check its current service guide before building loads. For physically smaller pallets, see half pallet and quarter pallet.

#Choosing between 1200 × 1000 and 1200 × 800 in the UK

1. Ask the receiver. Grocery and FMCG distribution centers usually receive 1200 × 1000 pooled pallets; many EU customers want 1200 × 800.
2. Fit the product. Case footprints designed for the European module (600 × 400 and its fractions) fit 1200 × 800 exactly; others may fill 1200 × 1000 better. The cases per pallet calculator compares both.
3. Fit the vehicle. A 13.6 m trailer takes 26 UK pallets or 33 Euro pallets on the floor. Total deck area per trailer is almost the same (about 31.7 m² of Euro pallets vs 31.2 m² of UK pallets), so for dense goods the weight limit usually decides.
4. Fit the racking. Check beam depth and pallet orientation for the size you plan to store.

#Pooled, exchanged or bought

• Pooled: CHEP UK (blue) and other pool operators rent 1200 × 1000 and 1200 × 800 pallets and collect them. See CHEP pallets and pallet pooling.
• Exchanged: EPAL pallets can be swapped like-for-like.
• Bought (white wood): new or recycled pallets owned by the shipper. See pallet grades.

#Exporting from the UK

Wood pallets leaving the UK, including to the EU, need ISPM 15 treatment and marking. EPAL pallets are heat treated and marked as standard. Plastic, presswood and paper pallets are exempt. See heat treated pallets. For containers, 1200 × 1000 pallets fit two across with the 1000 mm side across the container; the size pages show the counts.