Standard pallet sizes & dimensions

The 48x40 GMA pallet (the standard)

The 48x40 pallet — 48 inches long by 40 inches wide — is the most common footprint in North America. It is often called the GMA pallet after the Grocery Manufacturers Association spec, and it is what most warehouses, distribution centers, and trucks are set up around.

A standard 48x40 sits about 5–6 inches tall empty and weighs roughly 35–50 lb depending on wood and condition. It is sized so two sit side by side across the roughly 100-inch interior width of a standard trailer, and a 53-foot trailer floor-loads around 26–30 of them.

Other common pallet sizes

Plenty of operations use non-GMA footprints. The common ones:

• 42 x 42 — common for drums, paint, and some beverage loads.
• 48 x 48 — common for drums and wider products.
• 48 x 45 — automotive industry.
• 40 x 48 — the same footprint as 48x40, just oriented the other way for loading.
• 36 x 36 — beverage and retail.
• 48 x 42 / 44 x 44 / others — chemical, telecom, and specialty loads.

Stringer vs. block pallets

A stringer pallet uses three long boards (stringers) running between the top and bottom decks. A block pallet uses nine blocks instead, which lets a forklift in from all four sides. Block pallets are sturdier and fully 4-way; stringer pallets are lighter and cheaper, and are the typical recycled 48x40.

2-way vs. 4-way entry

Entry is the number of sides a forklift or pallet jack can enter from. A 2-way pallet opens on two opposite sides only, so it cannot be turned sideways during loading. A 4-way pallet (notched stringers or a block design) opens on all four sides and is easier to handle in tight spaces. It matters when you are planning how a trailer gets loaded — our truck loader lets you set 2-way vs. 4-way and see the difference.

Common pallet footprints