The size, converted
| Measure | Euro | 48 x 40 |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 1,200 mm / 47.2 in | 1,219 mm / 48 in |
| Width | 800 mm / 31.5 in | 1,016 mm / 40 in |
| Deck area | 960,000 sq mm | 1,238,000 sq mm |
| Share of a 48 x 40 deck | About 78 percent | 100 percent |
The lengths are nearly equal, but the Euro is almost nine inches narrower. It does not fit a US rack bay set for 48 x 40 without waste, and conveyors may need adjusting.
Where Euro pallets appear in Utah
Containers from overseas, unloaded at the Union Pacific terminal or the new BNSF yard in the Northwest Quadrant, sometimes carry goods on Euro pallets. A receiving dock can end up with stacks of them and no use.
What to say in a request
- Name it as 800 x 1,200 mm or Euro, not just a short pallet.
- Say whether it is block or stringer and whether it carries a stamp.
- Give a count.
- If you need it for a European customer, mention that the load must follow that customer's rules.
Block construction is typical, and block pallets explain it. For a custom footprint in other proportions, see custom pallets. Compare all six on the size chart.
A converted sketch
Lay a Euro pallet beside a 48 x 40 and the lengths match within a few millimetres, while the width falls short by nearly nine inches. That is why a Euro stack sitting in an American rack bay can overhang or rest on the beams awkwardly, and why it is wise to treat it as a separate stock line.
Handling an imported pallet
- Check the stamp: imported wood packaging should carry the IPPC mark.
- Check the markings on the blocks, which may show the maker or a pooling code.
- Do not mix Euro pallets into a standard 48 x 40 stack.
- If you hold a pile, count them separately in a request.
Whether a Euro stack has a buyer depends on the buyer, not on the pallet. Say how many, how clean, and where they sit, and let the reply tell you.
Is a Euro pallet the same as 48 x 40?
No. It is about nine inches narrower and fits American racks poorly.
Can Euro pallets be sold locally?
Describe how many and in what shape. Demand for the size is thin, so a clear description matters.
Do imported pallets carry the stamp?
Wood packaging from abroad should carry the IPPC mark; check each stack.
Rack beams and a Euro pallet
A Euro pallet's 800 mm width is narrower than a US rack bay expects, so the load may rest on only one beam at each end, or hang over. Racking suppliers can advise whether a Euro pallet is safe in your system. If it is not, store imported stock on the floor or on a separate rack set for the size.