A 48 × 40 in pallet and a 1200 × 800 mm pallet are different footprints, not interchangeable labels for the same platform. Choose the pallet the destination can receive and handle, then design the case arrangement around its actual dimensions and load conditions.
“GMA” commonly identifies the North American 48 × 40 in footprint. It does not uniquely define the pallet construction or its capacity. Likewise, a pallet with Euro dimensions is not necessarily an approved EPAL exchange pallet.
1. Side-by-Side: GMA and EUR at a Glance
| Attribute | 48 × 40 in footprint | EPAL Euro pallet, EPAL 1 |
|---|---|---|
| Nominal footprint | 48 × 40 in | 1200 × 800 mm |
| Exact unit conversion | 1219.2 × 1016 mm | Approximately 47.244 × 31.496 in |
| Height and tare | Depend on the actual design | 144 mm and approximately 25 kg |
| Working-load value | Obtain for the specific pallet and support condition | EPAL publishes 1,500 kg safe working load |
| Construction and entry | Confirm supplier design and equipment compatibility | Licensed EPAL construction; four-way access |
| Acceptance | Receiver, pallet supplier and pool requirements | Receiver requirements plus applicable EPAL exchange conditions |
Scroll to compare all columns.
The EPAL dimensions and working-load value come from its official product specification. That value is not a universal rack rating or a permitted gross weight for every warehouse operation.
2. GMA: Footprint Is Not a Capacity Rating
Wood species, deckboards, fasteners, block or stringer design, damage and support conditions all matter. Confirm whether the quoted limit concerns a supported load, forklift handling, free-span racking or stacking loaded pallets on the floor.
For example, CHEP describes its own 48 × 40 pooled block pallet with a 2,800 lb load under its stated conditions. That is a product-specific figure, not permission to assign 2,800 lb to any pallet of the same footprint.
Also check fork and pallet-jack entry from the intended direction. Nominal “four-way” terminology does not remove the need to match openings, wheels and support members to the handling equipment.
3. EUR / EPAL: Size and Exchange Status
EPAL’s product documentation defines a licensed platform, markings and acceptance conditions. An unmarked 1200 × 800 pallet may fit the same floor space but have different construction, quality and pooling status.
Confirm the receiver’s accepted pool, condition criteria and return arrangements. Do this before converting a case range around a pallet that will need to be replaced at the destination.
Other metric platforms are also common. EPAL’s load-carrier overview includes 1200 × 1000 platforms and 800 × 600 half pallets with their own specifications. “Half pallet” should always be accompanied by dimensions; it is not one worldwide size.
4. Other Pallet Standards You Will See
ISO 6780:2003 addresses principal dimensions, tolerances and handling features of flat pallets. It is a dimensional reference, not a generic payload table.
Use the named platform and supplier specification rather than inventing numbered “ISO Type 1” through “Type 6” capacity classes. A practical planning list may include 1200 × 800, 1200 × 1000, 1219 × 1016, 1100 × 1100 or other receiver-approved footprints. Keep exact inch conversion separate from a rounded metric nominal size.
5. Compare Cases on Both Footprints
Consider a 300 × 200 mm case footprint with no overhang:
- On 1200 × 800: floor(1200 ÷ 300) × floor(800 ÷ 200) = 4 × 4 = 16 cases.
- On 1219.2 × 1016: the same orientation gives 4 × 5 = 20 cases.
- Area utilization is 100% on the metric pallet and approximately 96.88% on the 48 × 40 in pallet.
This is nominal geometric fit only. A perfect 1200 × 800 layout leaves no allowance for case bulge or tolerance. The better count also changes layer mass, case demand and downstream order quantities.
Do not require every case dimension to divide both pallet sides exactly. Mixed orientations can produce useful layouts. Compare the actual alternatives in the Pallet Calculator, including receiving requirements and dimensional variation.
6. Loading Into Containers and Trucks
A floor-layout calculation needs the usable internal width and length of the actual vehicle, plus door clearance, load envelope, securing space and weight distribution. Container and trailer type names alone are insufficient.
These examples demonstrate grid arithmetic, not maximum-capacity promises:
| Assumed clear floor | Pallet orientation | Simple grid result |
|---|---|---|
| 100 × 636 in | 48 in across, 40 in along | 2 × 15 = 30 footprints |
| 100 × 636 in | 40 in across, 48 in along | 2 × 13 = 26 footprints |
| 2480 × 13620 mm | 800 mm across, 1200 mm along | 3 × 11 = 33 footprints |
| 2480 × 13620 mm | 1200 mm across, 800 mm along | 2 × 17 = 34 footprints |
Scroll to compare all columns.
The final row has only 20 mm nominal longitudinal clearance. It illustrates why a mathematical count can be operationally impractical. Actual loading may need fewer positions for clearance, restraint, access or weight distribution. Do not apply a blanket 90% factor as a substitute for a loading plan.
The same reasoning applies to ocean containers: rotating a pallet changes which dimension must fit across the container. A claim that two pallets cannot fit side-by-side is incomplete without their orientation.
7. Compatibility Checks Before Release
- Obtain destination acceptance for pallet size, pool, condition, height and weight.
- Confirm loaded footprint, including actual edge protection and bulge.
- Review case support over deckboard gaps and around pallet edges.
- Check racking and handling equipment with the actual pallet design.
- Review any applicable wood-packaging phytosanitary requirements for the lane.
- Keep payload, pallet tare and gross loaded-unit mass separately identified.
EPAL describes the ISPM 15 treatment and markings on its pallet page. Those markings address phytosanitary treatment, not product cleanliness, load strength or unconditional entry into every market.
8. Next Steps
Compare both footprints before committing to the case size, then check height, weight, compression and stability. The boxes-per-pallet guide works through those constraints; the TI/HI guide explains how to communicate the chosen build.