The common UK and international pallet sizes in one table, and a plain explanation of how a pallet’s safe load is worked out.
By Matthew Bowes, APS Packaging Ltd. Last reviewed 30 October 2026
Most UK pallet sizes come from a handful of standards. In the UK the 1200 x 1000 mm pallet is the most common, followed by the 1200 x 800 mm Euro size. Exporters also meet the North American and Asian sizes. Picking the right size is only half the job: the other half is a specification that will carry your load safely, which is decided by the timber, the build and how the pallet is used, not the size alone.
| Size (mm) | Name | Where it is used |
|---|---|---|
| 1200 x 1000 | UK standard | The most common UK size; fits UK racking and pallet networks |
| 1200 x 800 | Euro size | Across Europe and in UK retail; four-way entry |
| 800 x 600 | Half Euro | Retail displays and smaller loads |
| 1000 x 1200 | UK standard, other way round | Same pallet entered from the 1200 side |
| 1219 x 1016 (48 x 40 in) | North American | Goods going to the USA and Canada |
| 1100 x 1100 | Asian | Common in Asian markets |
| 1165 x 1165 | Australian | Australian standard |
| To order | Custom | Anything that does not suit a standard size |
Euro-branded pallets are made under a licensed scheme. Pallets we make in the Euro size are not branded as part of that scheme unless stated.
| Type | How it is built | Entry |
|---|---|---|
| Two-way stringer | Top boards on three bearers or stringers | Two-way, from the ends |
| Four-way block | Top boards on blocks, with bottom boards | Four-way, from any side |
| Three-leg (perimeter base) | Top boards on three legs with bottom boards | Two-way |
| Shock pallet | An isolated deck on foam or cushion isolators | Two-way or four-way |
A pallet does not have one load rating. It has at least three, and the one that matters depends on how the pallet is used:
| Rating | What it means | Typical situation |
|---|---|---|
| Static | The load the pallet can carry standing on a flat floor | Bottom pallet in a stack, or stored on the floor |
| Dynamic | The load it can carry while being moved by forklift or pallet truck | Loading, unloading and moving around the warehouse |
| Racking | The load it can carry spanning between two racking beams, supported only at the edges | Stored in beam racking; usually the lowest rating |
The rating depends on the timber species and grade, the thickness and spacing of the boards, the size of the bearers or blocks, the fixings, and whether the load is spread evenly or concentrated in one place. A pallet that is fine for 1,000 kg on the floor may be unsafe for the same load in racking.
We work out safe loads for our pallet specifications using structural timber design methods (Eurocode 5), and can supply a spec sheet showing the rating and the assumptions behind it. Tell us how your pallets are used and we will rate them for that use.
APS Packaging Ltd
Designs our shock pallet and crate specifications, from the isolator count to the bolt pattern, and wrote our guides on shock protection and ISPM 15.
Standard and custom sizes, built in Devon.
Pallets designed for the load.
ISPM 15 pallets treated in our own kilns.
Size, timber, build, treatment and load, explained.
The UK standard pallet is 1200 x 1000 mm. The 1200 x 800 mm Euro size is the next most common.
A UK standard pallet is 1200 x 1000 mm; a Euro size pallet is 1200 x 800 mm. Euro-branded pallets are made under a licensed scheme.
It depends on the specification and how the pallet is used. Static, dynamic and racking ratings are all different, and racking is usually the lowest. Ask for a rated spec sheet for your use.
Use the size your customer or destination expects, such as 1200 x 800 for Europe or 48 x 40 inches for North America, and make sure the pallet is ISPM 15 heat treated.
Yes. We make bespoke pallets to any size, rated for the load.
Send the size, load and use and we will quote and rate the specification.
Email our Sales Team : sales@apspackaging.co.uk
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