Euro pallet versus standard pallet dimensions
Compare 1200 × 800 mm Euro and 48 × 40 inch North American footprints, with a worked carton layout and practical specification checks.
Have your measurements ready? Put the method to work.
Pallet CalculatorStandard depends on the supply chain
There is no single pallet footprint that is standard everywhere. EPAL specifies its Euro pallet at 1,200 × 800 mm with a 144 mm height. CHEP lists a North American pooled wood format at 48 × 40 inches. These identify particular formats, not interchangeable ratings for every pallet with a similar footprint.
The exact conversion of 48 × 40 inches is 1,219.2 × 1,016 mm. A 1,200 × 1,000 mm pallet is another useful format, but it is not the exact metric conversion of 48 × 40 inches. Keep the actual dimensions when a fit is tight.
Compare footprint before assuming capacity
A 1,200 × 800 mm footprint has an area of 0.96 m². A 48 × 40 inch footprint has an area of approximately 1.2387 m², about 29% larger. That area difference does not guarantee 29% more cartons: cartons are discrete objects and their dimensions determine how rows fit.
Pallet height, tare weight, allowable loading, and racking suitability depend on design and condition. Do not transfer a supplier's rating to an unrelated pallet merely because the outer dimensions match.
Worked example: the same carton on two decks
Consider cartons with a 400 × 300 mm footprint and no overhang. On a 1,200 × 800 mm deck, a uniform layout with 300 mm along the long side and 400 mm along the short side fits 4 × 2 = 8 cartons.
On a 1,219.2 × 1,016 mm deck, a uniform layout with 400 mm along the long side and 300 mm along the short side fits 3 × 3 = 9 cartons. This comparison demonstrates two feasible uniform layouts; it does not prove the best mixed arrangement. Use the actual packing tool for a candidate plan.
The receiver's equipment matters
A pallet has to work with receiving docks, rack beams, conveyors, forklifts, automated equipment, and the customer's exchange or pooling arrangements. Choosing a deck solely because it holds one extra carton can create a downstream handling problem.
Before changing format, obtain the receiver's accepted footprint, height, loading, labeling, and handling requirements. Check the booked transport equipment and door clearance using the loaded pallet dimensions, including any wrap or protrusions.
What to enter in a calculator
Enter the measured or specified usable footprint, empty pallet height and weight, carton dimensions, and the applicable total height and gross weight limits. Treat presets as starting points and replace them when the allocated equipment differs.
Keep the pallet specification with the loading plan. The format name helps communication, but the numbers and the actual equipment condition are what make the calculation reproducible.
Technical references
Service rules and equipment can change. Verify the specifications for your shipment.