Pallets: Dimensions, Weight, and Container Capacity

Dimensions of Euro-pallets, Finnish, and Other Pallets

An EPAL 1 Euro-pallet measuring 1200 × 800 × 144 mm weighs about 25 kg and holds up to 1,500 kg of cargo. When stacked on a level floor, the bottom pallet can support up to 5,500 kg.

A 1200 × 1000 mm pallet is known in Russia as a Finnish pallet. Under the EPAL 2 standard, it is taller (162 mm), heavier (approx. 35 kg), and has a lower load rating of 1,250 kg. Chinese pallets of the same dimensions vary in construction and quality, so we verify their weight and load capacity directly with the supplier rather than using reference tables.

ISO 6780 defines six standard sizes. Among the others, shipments from Asia most commonly use the American 1219 × 1016 mm (48 × 40 in) and the Asian 1100 × 1100 mm standard widely adopted in Japan and Korea.

Data sources: EPAL — technical specifications for EPAL 1 and EPAL 2; ISO 6780 — flat pallets for intercontinental materials handling; GB/T 37106-2018 — 1200 × 1000 mm pallet standard in China; ISPM 15 and EAEU Unified Phytosanitary Requirements (EEC Council Decision No. 157 of Nov 30, 2016, amended by Decision No. 102 of Sep 9, 2026); Stowing layouts — calculated from internal container and truck dimensions

How Many Pallets Fit in a Container and Truck

On the floor of the same 20-foot container, you can fit 11 Euro-pallets, but only 9 pallets sized 1200 × 1000 mm.

Many reference charts list 10 Finnish or 10 American pallets for a 20-foot container. However, we analyzed various layout options on a 5,898 × 2,350 mm floor, and a tenth pallet cannot fit in a single tier under any arrangement. We calculate for 9 units; packing lists with 10 pallets require double-stacking or a 40-foot container.

A 40-foot container accommodates 23–25 Euro-pallets or 20–21 pallets sized 1200 × 1000, 20 American pallets, or 20 Asian 1100 × 1100 pallets. The variance comes from different layouts on a 12,032 × 2,350 mm floor. Diagram layouts can show up to 25 Euro-pallets, but practically 23–24 fit. A Euro-truck holds 33 Euro-pallets in three rows or 26 Finnish pallets in two rows. How to calculate Euro-truck height and payload capacity is detailed in our article on Euro-trucks.

Pallet Payload, Door Clearance, and Cargo Weight

Floor space is not the only factor. Container loading is restricted by maximum pallet load capacity, door opening height, and the gross vehicle weight rating.

Payload:

up to 1,500 kg for a Euro-pallet, up to 1,250 kg for EPAL 2, and per supplier specifications for Chinese 1200 × 1000 pallets. Cargo must be evenly distributed across the entire surface without overhang.

Height:

standard container door opening is 2,280 mm. Two pallets can be double-stacked if each loaded pallet does not exceed approx. 1.1 m, or about 1.25 m in a 40HC high-cube container.

Truck payload:

a Euro-truck carries 20–24 t of cargo. For 33 Euro-pallets, that averages 600–730 kg per pallet, and heavy cargo hits the weight limit long before filling the floor space.

What to Ask Your Supplier Before Dispatch

A pallet line item on a packing list gives no details about size. Before quoting, we request four specifics. Your supplier knows them, so ask before shipping:

1. Pallet dimensions — 1200 × 800, 1200 × 1000, or other, in millimeters.
2. Height with cargo — for each pallet and whether they can be stacked.
3. Weight per unit — gross weight including the pallet, not just the total shipment weight.
4. IPPC stamp — photo of the markings on wooden pallets with the HT or MB treatment code.

The stamp is required because wooden packaging undergoes phytosanitary inspection upon entering the EAEU. From October 28, 2026, packaging with this marking does not require a phytosanitary certificate. Plastic pallets and presswood pallets are exempt from these regulations.

900 kg of Auto Parts and Recalculation After Repacking

An online auto parts retailer ordered filters, brake pads, and sensors from multiple suppliers in China, totaling 900 kg. The suppliers delivered the goods to our consolidation warehouse and provided their own package counts and weights.

We palletized and re-measured everything, finding that the actual package counts and weights differed from those declared. The supplier data was fine for an initial estimate, but the final calculation was based on our verified figures. Booking a dedicated truck for 900 kg would have been inefficient, so the pallets were sent as LCL consolidation via Kazakhstan to Moscow in 12–14 days. Learn more in our auto parts case study.