Flat pallet
A GMA pallet measures 48 × 40 in (1,219 × 1,016 mm) and is the standard US pallet. Weight and height depend on the maker: wood GMA pallets typically weigh 33 to 55 lb (15 to 25 kg) and stand 4.75 to 6 in (120 to 150 mm) high.
| GMA pallet | Millimetres | Metres | Inches |
|---|---|---|---|
| Length | 1,219 mm | 1.22 m | 48 in |
| Width | 1,016 mm | 1.02 m | 40 in |
Weight, height and load vary by maker, so no fixed value is listed. See the typical ranges below.
Wood GMA pallets typically weigh 33 to 55 lb (15 to 25 kg) empty. Mecalux gives 33 to 49 lb for a standard wood pallet and one maker's spec sheet lists 55 lb, so check the pallet you actually receive. Rated loads depend on the maker and on how the load sits. Published figures run from about 2,000 to 2,800 lb (900 to 1,270 kg) dynamic and from 2,500 to 6,000 lb (1,100 to 2,700 kg) static, with racking around 2,000 lb (900 kg). Ask the supplier for its spec sheet.
48 × 40 in is the standard US pallet format. GMA stands for the Grocery Manufacturers Association, which promoted it for grocery distribution. Its footprint of 1,219 × 1,016 mm differs from the European 1,200 × 1,000 mm industrial pallet, so mixed loads need checking.
These counts come from the engine that plans your loads, for the units this pallet is normally loaded into. Each row links to the page for that unit.
| Unit | One layer | Stacked two high |
|---|---|---|
| 10 ft standard container | 4 | 4 |
| 20 ft standard container | 9 | 9 |
| 40 ft standard container | 20 | 20 |
| 40 ft high cube container | 20 | 40 |
| 45 ft high cube container | 24 | 48 |
| 20 ft reefer container | 9 | 9 |
| 40 ft high cube reefer container | 20 | 40 |
| 40 ft reefer container | 20 | 20 |
| 20 ft open top container | 9 | 9 |
| 40 ft open top container | 20 | 20 |
| 53 ft dry van trailer | 30 | 38payload |
| 26 ft box truck | 11payload | 11payload |
A count marked payload stops at the unit's payload, not at its floor space.
Assumptions: each pallet is 1.22 m high including its load and weighs 525 kg. Stacked counts put two pallets on top of each other where the unit is tall enough.
Open the Container loading calculatorEnter your pallet size and see how many fit.
A GMA pallet is 48 × 40 in, which is 1,219 × 1,016 mm or 1.22 × 1.02 m. The height depends on the maker, typically 4.75 to 6 in (120 to 150 mm).
Wood GMA pallets typically weigh 33 to 55 lb (15 to 25 kg) empty. Mecalux gives 33 to 49 lb for a standard wood pallet and one maker's spec sheet lists 55 lb, so check the pallet you actually receive.
Rated loads depend on the maker and on how the load sits. Published figures run from about 2,000 to 2,800 lb (900 to 1,270 kg) dynamic and from 2,500 to 6,000 lb (1,100 to 2,700 kg) static, with racking around 2,000 lb (900 kg). Ask the supplier for its spec sheet.
In a 20 ft container, 9 one layer or 9 stacked two high. In a 40 ft container, 20 or 20. In a 53 ft dry van trailer, 30 or 38. These assume 1.22 m height including the load and 525 kg per pallet.
Sources, as of October 7, 2026:
Paste your packing list, press Calculate and see how every piece goes in.