Standard Pallet Sizes & Dimensions - Freightquote

What is the standard pallet size?

In North America, the standard pallet size is 48″ × 40″ (48 inches long and 40 inches wide)—roughly 4' × 3.33' or about 160 square inches if you're looking for a quick conversion. Wooden “GMA pallets” are by far the most common pallet used in shipping, making up roughly one‑third of all U.S. pallets. Other standard pallet dimensions like 42″ × 42″ and 48″ × 48″ are also widely used for specific industries.

North American standard pallet sizes & uses:

Pallet Size (W × L, in) Common Name / Industry Use
48″ × 40″ Standard GMA pallet used for grocery and general retail (≈30% of U.S. pallets). The most ubiquitous pallet size in North America.
42″ × 42″ Common for paint, telecom equipment, and square shipments.
48″ × 48″ Large industrial pallet used for 55‑gallon drums and liquid materials; popular in chemical and oil industries.
48″ × 42″ Widely used in beverage and chemical industries; fits many bottling and packaging footprints.
40″ × 40″ Dairy industry pallet; compact square footprint, often plastic for hygienic handling.
48″ × 36″ Used in beverage, paper, and building materials such as shingles, where a slightly narrower pallet is beneficial.

The Consumer Brand Association (CBA—formerly the GMA) influences the consumer packaged goods industry across North America. Despite the group’s renaming in 2019, the common 48” × 40” pallets are still widely known as GMA pallets.

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