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Florida Pallet Supply • Updated 2026-03-30
Quick answer: The standard US pallet size is 48 x 40 inches, about 1219 x 1016 mm, known as the GMA pallet. It is the most common pallet in American grocery and retail distribution. Other common US sizes include 42 x 42 inches for telecom and paint, 48 x 48 inches for drums, and 40 x 48 inches when the stringers run the 40-inch way.
Pallet dimensions are not one-size-fits-all. While the GMA 48x40 dominates US general distribution, at least a dozen industry-specific pallet sizes are in common use across different supply chains. Using the wrong pallet size for your industry creates handling problems, racking incompatibilities, and trailer-space waste.
This guide lists every major pallet standard in current use, explains which industries use each, and shows how to calculate trailer utilization for any pallet size.
Stamped kiln-dried pallet lumber, bulk warehouse stock, dimensional yard inventory, raw softwood logs, and sawmill operations - the supply chain behind every custom and standard pallet we ship.
| Size | Industry / Use | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 48 x 40 | Grocery, food, general distribution | Most common in North America (GMA standard) |
| 42 x 42 | Telecom, paint, beverages | Square format for symmetric loads |
| 48 x 48 | Drums, chemicals, beverages | Large square for barrel/drum loads |
| 40 x 40 | Dairy (milk crates) | Fits standard dairy crate dimensions |
| 48 x 36 | Beverage, bottling | Common for 2-liter beverage cases |
| 36 x 36 | Drums, chemical, beverage kegs | Fits standard 55-gallon drum |
| 48 x 45 | Automotive | Fits automotive part packaging dimensions |
| 44 x 44 | Chemical, drums | Standard for chemical industry 55-gal drums |
| 48 x 20 | Half pallet (retail display) | Used for store display half-pallets |
| 1200 x 800mm (47.2 x 31.5) | European (EUR/EPAL) | Standard for European supply chains |
A 53 ft dry van holds 30 standard 48x40 GMA pallets in a single layer when they are loaded 40 in deep, 26 when loaded 48 in deep, and 28 when pinwheeled. Double-stacking raises that to roughly 52 to 56 if the freight is stackable and each unit stays under about 48 in tall. The table below runs the same calculation across every common footprint, because footprint choice changes freight cost more than most buyers expect.
| Footprint (in) | Best single-layer positions | Layout that achieves it | Trailer width used | Width wasted | What this means |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 48 x 40 (GMA) | 30 | 40 in deep x 15 rows, 2 across at 48 in | 96 of 98 in | 2 in | Straight-loaded at 48 in deep it drops to 26 (13 rows x 2). Pinwheeled it lands at 28. The 4-position swing between 26 and 30 is orientation alone. |
| 48 x 36 | 34 | 36 in deep x 17 rows, 2 across at 48 in | 96 of 98 in | 2 in | The densest common North American footprint per trailer. Standard in beverage and bottling for exactly this reason. |
| 42 x 42 | 30 | 42 in deep x 15 rows, 2 across at 42 in | 84 of 98 in | 14 in | Matches 48x40 on count while wasting 14 in of width. The square format is chosen for symmetric loads, not for cube. |
| 40 x 40 | 30 | 40 in deep x 15 rows, 2 across at 40 in | 80 of 98 in | 18 in | Same position count as 48x40 but each pallet carries a smaller deck, so payload per trailer is lower. |
| 48 x 48 | 26 | 48 in deep x 13 rows, 2 across at 48 in | 96 of 98 in | 2 in | The lowest count of the common sizes. Justified only when the load itself needs the 48 in square deck, such as drums. |
| 1200 x 800 mm Euro (47.2 x 31.5) | 40 | 31.5 in deep x 20 rows, 2 across at 47.2 in | 94.5 of 98 in | 3.5 in | The highest count of any listed footprint in a US trailer, and it also fits 3 across at 31.5 in for 39. Euro pallets are not built for US trailers, they just happen to divide well into 630 in. |
Method: usable interior taken as 630 in long by 98 in wide, the conservative end of the 630 to 636 in and 98 to 100 in range published for 53 ft dry vans. Positions are floor positions in a single layer, rounded down to whole rows. Real loads lose positions to trailer bulkheads, load bars, air ride equipment and door clearance, so treat these as ceilings rather than promises. Container equivalents for the 48x40 GMA pallet are 10 in a 20 ft and 21 in a 40 ft; Euro pallets run 11 and 24.
The practical takeaway: if you are shipping full truckloads and your product does not require a 48 in deck, a 48x36 footprint puts four more pallets on every trailer than a straight-loaded 48x40. Over a year of weekly truckloads that is roughly 200 additional pallet positions without adding a single trip.
American pallet sizes are quoted in inches, with the first number by convention giving the stringer length and the second the deck-board length. Here are the most requested US sizes with metric conversions (1 inch = 25.4 mm):
For weights, load ratings and every other standard, see the full pallet sizes and dimensions chart and the 48x40 pallet spec sheet. Florida Pallet Supply stocks 48x40 GMA pallets and builds custom sizes, with same-day dispatch from Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville, Miami and Lakeland. Request a quote.
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The standard pallet sizes used in North America range from 48x40 inches (the GMA standard) to 42x42, 48x48, and 40x40 inches depending on industry. The 48x40 GMA pallet is the most common size, used in grocery, retail, and general distribution. Other standard sizes are designed for specific industries: 42x42 for chemical drums, 48x48 for barrels, 40x40 for dairy, and 48x45 for automotive parts. Custom sizes are available for any application that falls outside these standards.
