A pallet is used in handling goods. It has different sizes which change according to the geography where it is used. It has different sizes in the US, Australia, and in European countries.
A pallet is a flat structure used to support and handle goods and loads for storage efficiencies. These transport ‘unit loads’ are used to lift up shipping containers with the help of a pallet jack or forklift, which is then secured with strapping or wraps, and then the goods are shipped from manufacturers to the retailers. They can vary in dimensions, they and may be either 4-way or 2-way (pallets with two sides where tines are infixed from two sides).
Another aspect of pallet measurement is the way it’s measured initially, the first number happens to be the stringer length and the second is the length of the deck-board. There are several sizes available in the market, some are standard and some depend on the shipping prospective. In USA, the most common size available is 48” × 40”. Let’s take a look at some standardized sizes which differ according to different continents.
Grocery Pallet Size
Nearly 30% of the grocery manufacturers’ association (GMA) and industrialists in the US use pallets of size 48” × 40”. In North America, this is the most popular size, standard rather in the books of International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
ISO Standard Pallets
- ISO 48” × 40” – Mainly used in North America
- ISO 1200mm × 1000mm – Mainly used in Asia and Europe
- ISO 42” × 42” – Global Use
- ISO 1140mm × 1140mm – Mainly used in Australia
- ISO 1100mm x 1100mm – Mainly used in Central Asia
- ISO 1200mm × 800mm – Specifically designed for European standard doorways
Other North American Pallets
- 48” × 40” – (GMA) Grocery Manufacturers’ Association
- 42” × 42” – Used for telecommunications and paint
- 48” × 48” – Used for drums
- 40” × 48” – Used for cement and military shipments
- 48” × 42” – Used for heavy machines, beverages and chemical loads
- 40” × 40” – Used for dairy
- 48” × 45” – Used for automobiles and automotive
- 44” × 44” – Used for handling chemical drums and containers
- 36” × 36” – Used in the beverage industries
- 48” × 36” – Used for manufacturing packaged paper, beverages and shingles
Although they have a variation in their existence, like the ones which are mentioned above, besides their standard sizes, they occur in several other sizes and contours as well. They are simply designed to allow moving, loading, and unloading of goods with the use of those standard forklift prongs. The main two pallet categories are: ‘stringer’ and ‘block’. Amongst the lot, one of them is the wood pallet. A wooden pallet is a mandatory shipping equipment which is expended broadly in warehouses and manufacturing associations. Also, besides the North American size variations that are available, ISO acknowledges 5 more shipping sizes which are internationally accredited.
European Size
The basic size disseminating in the country of Europe is: 800mm × 1200mm, which happens to be the most convenient and fiscal size fitting through doorways as well. These are barely used across the globe.
Australian Size
These are solely used in Australia. The standard size there is 1165mm × 1165mm. This type of sizing fits best for railway shipping cars and other railway vehicles exclusively in Australia.