Short answer: ISO 6780 sanctions six pallet sizes, from 800 x 1,200 mm to 1,219 x 1,016 mm. The EPAL Euro pallet is 800 x 1,200 x 144 mm with a stated safe working load of 1,500 kg. Pick the pallet your buyer's warehouse uses first, then check how many fit across the container width.
ISO 6780 pallet sizes
| Footprint | Region the source names | Fit across a 2.350 m container width (side 1 across / side 2 across) | Footprint area (m2) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,016 x 1,219 mm (40 x 48 in) | North America | 2 / 1 | 1.239 |
| 1,000 x 1,200 mm | Europe, Asia | 2 / 1 | 1.200 |
| 1,165 x 1,165 mm | Australia | 2 / 2 | 1.357 |
| 1,067 x 1,067 mm (42 x 42 in) | North America, Europe, Asia | 2 / 2 | 1.138 |
| 1,100 x 1,100 mm | Asia | 2 / 2 | 1.210 |
| 800 x 1,200 mm | Europe | 2 / 1 | 0.960 |
Sizes and regions from Wikipedia [1]; container width of 2.350 m from the ONE dry container table [3]. The across-count is simple one-orientation division; mixed orientations can fit more, so ask the forwarder.
EPAL Euro pallet
| Item | Stated value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Size | 800 x 1,200 mm, height 144 mm | [2] |
| Weight | About 25 kg | [2] |
| Load capacity | 1,500 kg safe working load | [2] |
| Stacking | On a solid level surface the bottom pallet in a stack carries no more than 5,500 kg | [2] |
Wikipedia lists the EUR 1 pallet at 800 x 1,200 x 144 mm and gives other capacities for EUR 2 and EUR 3, so confirm which pallet specification a buyer means [1]. It adds that goods on pallets are often secured by strapping, stretch wrap or shrink wrap [1].
Five steps
- Ask the receiving warehouse. Find out which pallet footprint the receiving warehouse or fulfilment centre accepts.
- Pick the footprint. Choose the matching footprint from the ISO table.
- Check the width. Divide the container internal width by each pallet side, rounded down, to see how many fit across.
- Set a height limit. Agree a maximum stack height with the buyer and the forwarder.
- Write it into the order. Put pallet type, cartons per layer and layers per pallet on the purchase order.
Cartons on a pallet layer: example
Example only, not ArtzFolio's price or terms. Invented 0.60 x 0.40 m carton footprint on an 0.800 x 1.200 m pallet: 2 across the 0.8 m side and 2 along the 1.2 m side gives 4 cartons per layer. Layers then depend on carton height and the height limit you agree.
Carton counts per container are in cartons per container.
Questions answered
How many standard pallet sizes does ISO 6780 sanction?
Wikipedia lists six sanctioned dimensions, from 800 x 1,200 mm up to 1,219 x 1,016 mm.
What are the EPAL Euro pallet dimensions?
EPAL gives 800 mm by 1,200 mm by 144 mm, about 25 kg, with a 1,500 kg safe working load.
Who decides which pallet to use?
The receiving warehouse usually decides in practice; ask them before the order is packed. This is general practice, not a rule from the sources.
Sources
| No. | Source page | Publisher | Fetched |
|---|---|---|---|
| [1] | Pallet | Wikipedia | 2026-11-13 |
| [2] | EPAL Euro pallet | EPAL | 2026-11-13 |
| [3] | Shipping Container Size and Dimensions (dry containers) | Ocean Network Express (ONE) | 2026-11-13 |
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As of 2026-11-13. General information, not legal, customs or tax advice. Wording is paraphrased from the pages linked above; your written quote and contract govern. Examples use invented numbers unless a source is named.