Ask ten people on a dock what the standard pallet size is and nine will say 48 by 40 without looking anything up. Ask what happens when the pallet on your next shipment is 48 by 44, or 42 by 42, or hangs three inches past the edge of the deck, and the answers get a lot less confident. Most pallet problems don’t show up until a freight quote gets adjusted, a carrier refuses an overhanging load, or a trailer that should hold 26 pallets only holds 22.
This guide covers the standard pallet size in Canada, the other footprints you’ll run into, how many pallets fit in a truck or container, and what changes for LTL, full truckload, cross-border and warehouse work. It also walks through how to build a pallet a carrier can move without a phone call. Sizes and counts come from pallet-industry and carrier sources checked this month, plus RoadLINX’s own equipment specifications. Where sources disagree, we say so.
What Is the Standard Pallet Size in Canada?
The standard pallet size in Canada is 48 inches by 40 inches, or about 1,219 mm by 1,016 mm, the same footprint used across North America. It is often called the GMA pallet, and it is the default for grocery, retail and general freight moving between Canadian and U.S. warehouses.
Canada doesn’t publish a separate national pallet standard. Canadian suppliers follow the North American one. CHEP’s Canadian site lists 48 x 40 inches as the standard pallet size, and Pallet Management Group, an Ontario pallet supplier, calls it one of the most widely used sizes in the country. If you have no other information about a shipment, plan around 48 x 40 and confirm the rest later.
Why 48 x 40 Became the Default
The footprint comes from the Grocery Manufacturers Association, which was renamed the Consumer Brands Association in 2019. The old name stuck to the pallet anyway. Freightquote reports that GMA pallets make up roughly one third of all pallets used in the United States, and the share in Canadian grocery and retail freight is likely similar because so much of it crosses the border.
The real reason the size matters is not the pallet. It is everything built around it. Dock doors, racking bays, forklift forks, pallet jacks, trailer loading patterns and carrier tariffs all assume 48 x 40 unless someone says otherwise. Pick a different footprint and you are asking every one of those systems to make an exception for you.
Standard Pallet Dimensions in Inches, Feet and Millimetres
A standard pallet is 48 inches long and 40 inches wide. The deck height is a little under six inches on most wood block pallets. CHEP lists its timber block pallet at 1,219 x 1,016 x 141 mm, which is about 5.5 inches tall, and Freightquote describes a standard pallet as roughly 6.5 inches tall. The difference is mostly board thickness and construction style, so measure the ones you actually use.
| Measurement | Imperial | Metric |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 48 in (4 ft) | 1,219 mm |
| Width | 40 in (3 ft 4 in) | 1,016 mm |
| Empty height | about 5.5 to 6.5 in | about 140 to 165 mm |
| Footprint | 13.3 sq ft | about 1.24 sq m |
| Empty weight, wood | about 30 to 48 lb | about 14 to 22 kg |
| Empty weight, plastic | about 13 to 32 lb | about 6 to 15 kg |
Common Pallet Sizes Used in North American Freight
48 x 40 is the default, not the only option. Manufacturers pick other footprints because their product, container or packaging line works better on them. You will see these most often on inbound freight, and each one changes how it stacks in a trailer.
| Size (in) | Size (mm) | Footprint | Commonly associated with |
|---|---|---|---|
| 48 x 40 | 1,219 x 1,016 | 13.3 sq ft | Grocery, retail, general warehousing |
| 48 x 48 | 1,219 x 1,219 | 16.0 sq ft | Drums, large containers, chemicals |
| 48 x 45 | 1,219 x 1,143 | 15.0 sq ft | Automotive, chemical, pharmaceutical |
| 48 x 42 | 1,219 x 1,067 | 14.0 sq ft | Beverage, chemical |
| 48 x 36 | 1,219 x 914 | 12.0 sq ft | Beverage, paper, building materials such as shingles |
| 42 x 42 | 1,067 x 1,067 | 12.3 sq ft | Paint, telecom equipment, square loads |
| 40 x 40 | 1,016 x 1,016 | 11.1 sq ft | Dairy |
| 36 x 36 | 914 x 914 | 9.0 sq ft | Pharmaceutical, electronics |
| 48 x 20 (half pallet) | 1,220 x 508 | 6.7 sq ft | Retail displays, smaller drops |
Industry assignments vary from one source to the next. Freightquote ties 42 x 42 to paint and telecom, while Pallet Management Group places 42 x 42 in beverage. Treat the last column as a hint about who tends to use what. Your own supplier’s spec sheet is the only answer that counts for your product.
Square Pallets and Why Forklift Access Matters
Square pallets such as 48 x 48 and 42 x 42 look tidy on a diagram, but they change how forks and pallet jacks enter. A stringer pallet with two-way entry can only be lifted from the two open ends. On a square footprint, that limitation decides how the load can be staged in a narrow trailer or a tight racking bay. A four-way block pallet solves it, which is one reason block construction is popular for odd footprints.
Half Pallets and Quarter Pallets
Half pallets, roughly 48 x 20 inches, show up in retail replenishment and display programs. They make sense when the order is small, but they rarely make a shipment cheaper on their own. A carrier still has to handle, position and block each one, and two half pallets often take the same trailer floor space as one full pallet once you account for how they load.
Pallet Sizes Outside North America
If you import from overseas or export to Europe or Asia, the pallet may not be 48 x 40 at all. Some of these arrive on containers headed for a Canadian warehouse, and they cause trouble when the receiving dock is set up for a different footprint.
| Pallet | Size (mm) | Size (in) | Where it is used |
|---|---|---|---|
| North American standard | 1,219 x 1,016 | 48 x 40 | United States, Canada |
| Euro pallet (EUR 1) | 1,200 x 800 | 47.2 x 31.5 | Most European countries |
| ISO / UK standard | 1,200 x 1,000 | 47.2 x 39.4 | United Kingdom, parts of Europe, Latin America, India |
| Australian standard | 1,165 x 1,165 | 45.9 x 45.9 | Australia, New Zealand |
| Square 1,200 pallet | 1,200 x 1,200 | 47.2 x 47.2 | India, China, southern Africa |
The 1,200 x 1,000 mm pallet is the one to watch. At 47.2 x 39.4 inches it looks like a 48 x 40 to the eye, but it is a fraction of an inch smaller in each direction. Mixed loads of the two sit together in a trailer, yet racking and automated conveyors can be picky about the difference. The Euro pallet, at about 31.5 inches wide, is narrow enough that it can sit awkwardly on beams and forks set for a 48 x 40 pallet.
Pallet Height, Weight and Load Capacity
The footprint gets all the attention, but height and weight decide how a pallet is priced and where it can go. A pallet that measures 48 x 40 on the deck and 72 inches tall is a very different piece of freight from a 48 inch stack on the same deck.
How Tall Can a Loaded Pallet Be?
There is no single legal height for a pallet. The limit comes from the trailer, the dock door, and the carrier’s own rules. A 53-foot dry van is about 9 feet tall inside according to RoadLINX’s dry van freight specifications, so a single-stacked pallet has room to spare. Stacking two loads is where it gets tight, because two 54 inch loads including their pallets already use the full 108 inches, with nothing left for clearance.
For LTL, carriers set their own maximum heights and charge extra or refuse freight above them. Many use a limit somewhere around six feet, but it varies by carrier and by service, so ask for the number before you build the pallet, not after. Our guide to how LTL freight works explains why a tall, light pallet can cost more than a short, dense one.
How Much Weight Can a Pallet Hold?
Published load ratings run all over the map. Google’s AI summary for this search cites around 2,500 pounds for a standard wood pallet, while Freightquote says a standard pallet can support up to 4,600 pounds when weight is evenly distributed. Both can be true. Static loads on a flat floor, dynamic loads on a forklift and racked loads on beams are three different tests, and pallet age, wood species and board condition change all three.
The practical rule is to treat any rating as a ceiling for a new, undamaged pallet with evenly spread weight. If your loaded pallet comes near it, or your product is dense in a small footprint, ask your pallet supplier for a rated pallet instead of guessing. On a 53-foot dry van rated for 45,000 pounds of cargo, an even 26-pallet load works out to about 1,700 pounds per pallet, well under the ratings above but enough to punish a cracked deck board.
Density, Cube and Why Height Affects Your Rate
Freight class is tied to density, which is weight divided by the space the shipment takes up. A pallet measuring 48 x 40 x 48 inches is about 53 cubic feet. At 800 pounds that is 15 pounds per cubic foot. At 400 pounds it is 7.5, and the carrier will treat it very differently. Taller or wider pallets lower density and can push a shipment into a higher, more expensive class. We break the classification steps down in freight class explained.
| What to record | Why the carrier needs it | Common mistake |
|---|---|---|
| Length, width and height of the loaded pallet | Sets space used, density and class | Measuring the empty pallet, not the finished load |
| Gross weight including the pallet and wrap | Sets weight-based charges and axle planning | Quoting product weight only |
| Number of pallets and handling units | Determines linear space on the trailer | Counting boxes instead of pallets |
| Stackable or not stackable | Decides whether the carrier can load on top | Leaving it blank and hoping for the best |
| Overhang, if any | Affects trailer fit and handling risk | Ignoring a two-inch lip that later gets measured |
How Many Pallets Fit in a Truck or Container?
A standard 53-foot dry van holds 26 single-stacked 48 x 40 pallets. RoadLINX’s dry van specifications say the same, and Freightquote gives the same count. Double-stacked, the number can climb toward 52 if the freight is stackable, light enough and within the weight limit.
| Equipment | Pallets (48 x 40, single stacked) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 53 ft dry van | 26 | RoadLINX lists up to 26 standard pallets and up to 45,000 lb of cargo |
| 53 ft dry van, stacked | up to about 52 | Only if freight is stackable, within weight limits and within trailer height |
| 20 ft container | about 10 | Freightquote’s single-stacked estimate |
| 20 ft container, stacked | up to about 20 | Only if stackable and not overweight |
Why Real Loads Come in Under the Textbook Number
The 26 count assumes identical pallets, dry conditions, clean loading and no wasted floor space. Real loads rarely cooperate. A single 48 x 45 pallet or a couple of pallets with two inches of overhang can cost you a position. Mixed sizes leave gaps. A pallet with a bulging wrap job can stick out past the trailer’s usable width.
Weight limits matter just as much as space. Dense freight can hit the road weight limit long before the floor is full, and light freight can fill the floor while leaving weight unused. That is why we suggest checking the weight limits that apply to trucks and trailers in Canada when you plan a heavy load.
Loading Patterns: Straight, Turned and Mixed
On paper, a trailer about 100 inches wide can take two 48 x 40 pallets side by side in two columns with the 48 inch side along the trailer length. That gives 13 rows in roughly 636 inches of floor, or 26 pallets. Turning pallets so the 40 inch side runs along the length can fit more on a plain floor plan, but it changes how the load is blocked and how the doors are worked at delivery. The plan the driver actually uses depends on weight distribution, securement and how the freight comes off at each stop. Our cargo securement guide covers the rules that shape those decisions.
Choosing the Right Equipment for Your Pallet Count
The count gives you a simple decision path. A few pallets, up to roughly ten thousand pounds, usually fit LTL shipping. RoadLINX describes typical LTL freight as between 150 and 10,000 pounds. Once you approach 10 or more pallets, or the freight is time sensitive or fragile, a dedicated trailer through full truckload service can be cleaner and sometimes cheaper. Temperature-sensitive pallets go on refrigerated shipping equipment, where airflow and pallet height rules are tighter.
Pallet Types: Stringer, Block and Beyond
Two pallets with the same 48 x 40 footprint can behave very differently. Construction decides how forks enter, how much weight the deck carries, and how well the pallet holds up on the second or third trip.
| Type | Construction | Fork entry | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stringer | Deck boards nailed to parallel 2 x 4 stringers | Two-way, or four-way if notched | Lighter general freight, one-way shipping |
| Block | Deck boards on blocks or posts with stringers in both directions | Four-way | Heavier freight, repeated use, pallet jacks |
| Solid deck | Fully connected top surface | Depends on base | Small parts, uneven or shifting loads |
| Double face | Deck boards on top and bottom | Depends on base | Heavier freight needing even load spread |
| Double wing | Top and bottom decks extend past the stringers | Depends on base | Strapped or clamped handling |
The information above follows how Freightquote and Pallet Management Group describe each type. Ask your supplier exactly what they mean by the name, because the same word can describe slightly different builds from one plant to the next. The differences are covered more thoroughly in our post on skids, pallets and crates.
Wood, Plastic and Pooled Pallets
| Material | Typical weight | Strengths | Watch for |
|---|---|---|---|
| New wood | about 32 to 48 lb | Low cost, easy to repair, widely accepted | Splinters, moisture, ISPM 15 rules on some cross-border moves |
| Recycled wood | about 30 to 48 lb | Lowest cost, sustainable choice | Inconsistent quality, missing boards |
| Plastic | about 13 to 32 lb | Uniform, easy to clean, no wood packaging rules | Higher price, can be slippery under wrap |
| Pooled (rented) | varies by program | Consistent quality across the chain | Return and tracking requirements |
Weights in this table are typical ranges from the sources above, not guarantees for a specific pallet. The right choice is usually the one your receiver already accepts. Sending a shipment on a pooled pallet that the consignee has no return program for creates paperwork nobody wants.
Pallet Size and LTL Shipping
LTL is where pallet details cost money. Your freight shares a trailer with other shippers’ freight, so the carrier has to plan space, and it checks what you told them. Carriers may weigh and measure freight at the terminal and adjust the invoice when the paperwork doesn’t match, a correction shippers usually meet as a reclassification or reweigh charge.
What to Put on the Bill of Lading
Write the loaded dimensions, the gross weight, the number of handling units and whether the pallets are stackable. Our bill of lading template guide shows where each field goes. A common slip is entering the empty pallet size while the actual load is four inches wider across the middle after the wrap goes on.
Overhang, Bulge and Damaged Decks
Anything sticking out past the edge of the pallet is a risk. Forklift forks, dock plates and neighbouring freight can catch it. Cartons that overhang a pallet lose a lot of their strength, because compression strength depends on the box corners sitting on solid deck. The safest rule is to keep the load inside the footprint of the pallet, wrap it tight, and replace any pallet with broken stringers or missing boards before it leaves your dock.
Delivery Conditions That Affect Pallet Choice
Where the pallet is going matters as much as what it is on. A receiver without a dock may need a liftgate, which is covered in our post on liftgate delivery service. Limited-access sites such as schools, churches and storage facilities bring their own rules, explained in what counts as limited access for LTL. A tall or heavy pallet that a liftgate can’t lift safely is a good reason to reconsider the build before the shipment is booked.
Pallet Size and Full Truckload Shipping
With a full trailer you control the whole floor, so the question shifts from how the carrier prices space to how well you use it. The economics of a truckload change quickly when you gain or lose even one pallet position. Fitting 26 pallets instead of 24 can mean two fewer trips per year on a repeating lane.
Getting the Most Out of a Dry Van
Plan the pallet count against the trailer before you commit to a footprint. If you are choosing between 48 x 40 and 48 x 45 for a new product, the larger pallet holds more product per position but reduces the number of positions, and neither one is wrong until you know the freight weight. For steady lanes, ask for a load plan or a trial load before changing sizes at scale. Our overview of what to expect from dry van freight transport covers the loading and delivery side.
When Non-Standard Pallets Need Other Equipment
Very wide, very tall or very heavy loads may need different equipment. Tall machinery on skids or oversize crates can call for a flatbed, and some dimensions trigger permits. See our guide to oversize load permits in Ontario if a pallet load is heading toward those limits.
Pallets on Cross-Border Shipments
Pallet size rarely stops a Canada to U.S. shipment. Pallet material sometimes can. Wood is a pathway for pests, so countries regulate wood packaging, and the rules change with where the wood comes from.
ISPM 15 and Wood Packaging Entering Canada
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s directive D-98-08 sets the entry requirements for wood packaging material. Under it, wood packaging entering Canada must be debarked, treated with an approved method such as heat treatment or fumigation, and carry the International Plant Protection Convention mark. The directive exempts wood packaging made entirely of continental U.S. or Canadian wood in trade between the two countries from the treatment and marking requirements. It also excludes items made from processed wood such as plywood, particleboard and oriented strand board.
That means a pallet built from U.S. or Canadian lumber usually moves freely in a U.S. to Canada shipment. A pallet from overseas, or one of unknown origin, is where the paperwork and marking matter. If you are unsure, ask your customs broker before the freight leaves. For freight heading south, check with your broker on the U.S. side, because we have not verified the U.S. requirements for this article. Our guides on cross-border shipping and USMCA certificates of origin cover the other documents a cross-border shipment needs.
Pallet Size in Warehousing, Cross-Docking and Fulfillment
Inside a building, the pallet is a storage unit. Racking beams, aisle widths and slotting plans are usually built for a specific footprint, and mixing sizes wastes cubic space. A 48 x 48 pallet in a bay designed for 48 x 40 can leave less clearance than staff expect.
Cross-docking makes pallet consistency even more valuable, since freight moves from inbound to outbound door with little or no storage. Damaged or odd-sized pallets slow that flow. We explain the whole process in our guide to cross-docking services in Canada. If your freight needs to sit between trucks, RoadLINX offers warehouse storage with a primary facility in Toronto, and our post on warehouse overflow explains when extra space is really a freight problem.
How to Build a Pallet That Ships Cleanly
Building the pallet properly is the cheapest damage prevention there is. The steps below reflect common carrier and pallet-industry advice, including Freightquote’s guidance on strapping and wrapping.
Build the Load
Start with a sound pallet, check the boards and stringers, and stack the heaviest cartons on the bottom. Keep the load square and inside the pallet edge. Interlocking the layers, the way bricklayers stagger a wall, gives the stack more stability than straight columns. Keep the weight centred so the pallet doesn’t tip when a forklift picks it up. Our post on packaging and shipping costs has more on cartons and fill.
Secure the Load
Freightquote recommends strapping with at least two straps looped through the pallet, or shrink wrapping with at least five full wraps so the finished shipment feels like one piece. Wrap onto the pallet itself, not only around the cartons, so the load can’t slide off the deck. Add corner boards for fragile or soft-sided freight, and use crush cones or a not-stackable label if nothing should be loaded on top.
Label and Document
Put the shipping label on two sides of the pallet, where it can be read from the forklift aisle, and keep it clear of the wrap seams. The label, the bill of lading and the pallet count should all tell the same story. When they don’t, freight is held up at the dock.
| Mistake | What it costs you | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Overhanging cartons | Crushed boxes, refused freight, broken corners | Keep the load inside the pallet edge |
| Wrong footprint on the BOL | Reclassification or reweigh charges | Measure the finished load, not the empty pallet |
| Loose or thin wrap | Shifted cartons, damage claims | Wrap the base and load together, with several full turns |
| Broken stringers or boards | Pallet collapse under a forklift | Replace damaged pallets before loading |
| Unmarked fragile pallet | Freight stacked on top | Label not stackable and add corner protection |
| Mixed pallet sizes in one order | Lost trailer positions | Standardize the footprint per lane |
How Pallet Choices Change Your Freight Bill
You don’t pay for a pallet size directly. You pay for weight, the space the freight takes, distance, and any extra handling. The pallet influences all of them. A smaller footprint can reduce space used, a taller stack changes density, and an overhang or a non-stackable label can add to what the carrier charges. Our post on the cost of LTL shipping shows how these factors add up, and if you handle cargo claims, cargo insurance in Canada explains what carrier liability does and doesn’t cover when a pallet fails.
How to Choose the Right Pallet Size for Your Freight
Use this order of questions. Start with what your receiver and carrier already expect, then move to what your product needs.
First, ask whether 48 x 40 works. If it does, use it, because every system in the chain is set up for it. Second, check the weight of the loaded pallet against the pallet’s rating and against the trailer limit. Third, measure the finished height against the carrier’s limit and the delivery site’s access. Fourth, count how many pallet positions your regular shipment uses on the trailer and compare that with the alternative size. Fifth, confirm that the pallet material suits the lanes you ship on, especially any that leave North America.
If your freight fits a standard footprint on paper but your quotes keep getting adjusted, the mismatch is usually between the measured load and the paperwork. Fixing that costs nothing.
Talk to RoadLINX About Your Pallet Shipments
RoadLINX moves palletized freight across Canada and between Canada and the U.S. through LTL, full truckload, dry van and refrigerated service, with warehousing and cross-docking when freight needs to stop between trucks. If you are not sure how your pallets will load, send us the pallet count, dimensions and weight and we will help you compare options. Contact our team to talk through your shipment, or request a free estimate for your next pallet move.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the standard pallet size in Canada?
The standard pallet size in Canada is 48 inches by 40 inches, about 1,219 mm by 1,016 mm. It is the same GMA footprint used across North America and the default for grocery, retail and general warehouse freight.
What size is a 48 x 40 pallet in cm and mm?
A 48 x 40 inch pallet measures about 122 cm by 102 cm, or 1,219 mm by 1,016 mm. Its footprint is roughly 13.3 square feet, or about 1.24 square metres.
Why are pallets 48 x 40?
The size comes from the Grocery Manufacturers Association, now the Consumer Brands Association, which standardized the footprint for grocery freight. Suppliers, carriers, racking and forklifts then built around it, and it stayed the default.
What is the standard pallet size in length, width and height?
A standard pallet is 48 inches long, 40 inches wide and roughly 5.5 to 6.5 inches tall when empty. The loaded height depends on the freight, and carriers set their own maximums for it.
How many standard pallets fit on a truck?
A 53-foot dry van holds 26 single-stacked 48 x 40 pallets, according to RoadLINX and Freightquote. Stackable freight within weight and height limits can raise that toward 52.
How many pallets fit in a 20-foot container?
Freightquote estimates about 10 standard 48 x 40 pallets fit single-stacked in a 20-foot container, and up to about 20 if they can be stacked and stay within the weight limit.
Does a standard pallet fit in a pickup truck?
Usually not flat. A 48 x 40 pallet has to fit between the wheel wells of the bed, and many beds are narrower than 48 inches there. Measure your own bed, and remember that weight and securement still apply.
How much does a standard pallet weigh?
An empty wood pallet typically weighs about 30 to 48 pounds. Plastic pallets are lighter, often about 13 to 32 pounds. Exact weight depends on the wood, the build and how dry it is.
How much weight can a standard pallet hold?
Published ratings range from about 2,500 pounds to 4,600 pounds for an evenly loaded new pallet. Real capacity depends on the pallet condition, how the weight is distributed and whether it is on the floor, a forklift or a rack.
What is the difference between a GMA pallet and a Euro pallet?
A GMA pallet is 48 x 40 inches and is the North American standard. A Euro pallet is 1,200 x 800 mm, about 47.2 x 31.5 inches, and is common in Europe. They are not interchangeable in racking or trailers.
Can I ship a non-standard pallet by LTL?
Often yes, but tell the carrier the exact dimensions when you book. Odd sizes can change the space used, add charges or, if oversized, be refused. Measure the loaded pallet, not the empty deck.
Do pallets need ISPM 15 marks for shipments into Canada?
Wood packaging entering Canada generally must be treated and marked under CFIA directive D-98-08. Wood packaging made entirely of continental U.S. or Canadian wood in trade between the two countries is exempt from the treatment and marking requirements.
Are plastic pallets better than wood pallets?
Plastic pallets are lighter, uniform and easy to clean, and they avoid wood packaging rules. They cost more and can be slippery under wrap. Wood is cheaper and widely accepted, so the better choice depends on the lane and the receiver.
What is a half pallet?
A half pallet is a smaller footprint, commonly about 48 x 20 inches, used for retail displays and small drops. CHEP lists a timber half pallet at 1,220 x 508 mm. It holds less and still needs handling and blocking like a full pallet.
How do I measure a pallet for a freight quote?
Measure the finished, wrapped load at its longest, widest and tallest points, including any overhang, and weigh it with the pallet. Record the number of pallets and whether they can be stacked.
Is a skid the same as a pallet?
Not quite. A skid has deck boards on runners but no bottom deck and is usually two-way entry. A pallet commonly has a bottom deck or blocks and, on block builds, four-way fork entry. People often use the words loosely.
Can pallets be stacked in a truck?
Sometimes. The freight must be stackable, strong enough to carry the load above it, within the trailer height and within weight limits. Mark pallets that cannot be stacked so the carrier does not load on top.
What happens if my pallet is bigger than I declared on the bill of lading?
The carrier may measure it at the terminal and adjust the charges, which shippers usually see as a reclassification or reweigh fee. It can also delay the shipment. Accurate loaded dimensions on the bill of lading prevent it.
