Guide
Standard pallet dimensions
The most common pallet size in the United States is 48 × 40 inches (121.92 × 101.6 cm). In a peer-reviewed survey of the U.S. pallet industry, about 35% of the new wood pallets produced in 2016 measured 48 × 40 inches, and the same size made up 69% of the recycled pallet market (Gerber et al., BioResources, 2020).
How common is the 48 × 40 pallet?
The same survey estimated that about 513 million new wood pallets were produced in the United States in 2016. Roughly a third of them were 48 × 40 inches, which makes it the dominant standard size. It also found that about 39% of new wood pallets were custom sizes, built to fit a particular product or customer. So a "standard" pallet is common, but it is far from universal.
For an LTL shipment, that means you should never assume a footprint. Measure the pallet you are actually shipping.
Is there an international standard?
Yes. ISO 6780:2003 specifies the principal dimensions and tolerances of flat pallets used for intercontinental materials handling. ISO confirmed the standard in its latest review, so it remains current. The full list of sizes is in the standard itself, which ISO sells; check it there rather than relying on secondary lists.
Why the pallet size matters for LTL freight
The pallet sets the minimum length and width of a shipment, but it is not the whole measurement:
- Overhang counts. If the load sticks out past the pallet edge, the outside dimension is the load, not the pallet.
- Height includes the pallet. Measure from the floor to the highest point of the load.
- The pallet adds weight. Weigh the loaded pallet as it will ship.
Federal rules require a motor carrier's bill of lading to show the weight, volume or measurement of the freight when it affects the rate (49 CFR § 373.101(e)). Those numbers are what a carrier compares when it reweighs or remeasures a shipment.
Worked example (synthetic)
The same 800 lb load, on a 48 × 40 pallet stacked 50 inches high:
| Case | Dimensions (in) | Volume (ft³) | Density (PCF) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Load fits the pallet | 48 × 40 × 50 | 55.56 | 14.40 |
| 2 in overhang on each end | 52 × 40 × 50 | 60.19 | 13.29 |
Four inches of overhang add about 4.6 ft³ and lower the density by more than 1 PCF. Run your own numbers with the freight density calculator.
Measuring checklist
- Measure length, width and height at the outermost points, after wrapping and banding.
- Note the pallet size separately on your records; it helps explain an overhang later.
- Weigh the complete piece, pallet included.
- Photograph each pallet with the tape measure visible.
The shipment measurement sheet keeps these records on one page, and how to measure a pallet explains each step.
Sources
- 49 CFR § 373.101 — For-hire, non-exempt motor carrier bills of lading. Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School (reproduction of the Code of Federal Regulations). Accessed 2026-11-13.
- ISO 6780:2003 — Flat pallets for intercontinental materials handling: principal dimensions and tolerances. International Organization for Standardization (ISO). Accessed 2026-11-13.
- Investigation of new and recovered wood shipping platforms in the United States (Gerber, Horvath, Araman and Gething), BioResources 15(2), 2020. BioResources (peer-reviewed journal). Accessed 2026-11-13.