EURO PALLETS AND INDUSTRIAL PALLETS
Euro pallets have a standardized size of 800 x 1,200 mm (EUR) and are typically not used in ISO containers (i.e., shipping containers) because the metric dimensions of Euro pallets do not align with those of ISO containers (which follow the Anglo-American measurement system).
Industrial pallets come in two main sizes: 1,000 x 1,200 mm (EUR 3) and 1,200 x 1,000 mm (EUR 2). These pallets allow for better utilization of space within ISO containers.
This discrepancy arises from the different measurement systems used in North America (the "birthplace of containers") and Europe (the origin of Euro pallets). To improve space utilization in containers, plastic pallets with dimensions optimized for containers (1,140 x 1,140 mm) have become available on the market.
Nevertheless, the world of pallets is essentially still divided into three categories:
- In North America, the primary dimensions are 48 x 40 inches.
- For Asia, pallet sizes are typically 1,000 x 1,200 mm, 1,100 x 1,100 mm, and 800 x 1,200 mm.
- In Europe, pallet sizes are generally 1,200 x 800 mm and 1,000 x 1,200 mm.
The table below illustrates the number of pallet spaces in standard containers (with an external width of 2.44m) and pallet-wide containers (2.50m wide), as well as swap bodies (intermodal containers).