48x40 Pallet Dimensions, Weight & Load Capacity (GMA Standard)
The 48x40-inch pallet — the GMA (Grocery Manufacturers Association) pallet — is the most common wooden pallet in North America, accounting for the large majority of new pallets produced. Here are its exact specs.
Exact dimensions
A standard 48x40 pallet is 48 inches long by 40 inches wide (1219 mm × 1016 mm). Overall height is typically around 5–6 inches (about 4.5–6.5"), depending on deck board and stringer thickness.
The 48" dimension is the stringer length (the direction of fork entry on a 2-way pallet); the 40" dimension is the deck board length.
Weight and load capacity
An empty 48x40 wood pallet weighs roughly 30–70 lbs depending on grade, wood species, and moisture. New hardwood pallets sit at the heavier end.
Typical load ratings are about 1,500 lbs dynamic (while being moved), up to ~2,800 lbs static (stationary on the floor), and around 2,800–4,600 lbs when properly racked — always confirm the exact rating for your specific pallet before racking.
Why 48x40 dominates — and other sizes
It’s the standard because it fits efficiently in trucks, containers, and grocery/retail supply chains. Two 48x40 pallets sit side by side across the width of a standard 53-foot trailer.
Other common sizes include 42x42 (telecom/paint), 48x48 (drums), 40x48 in some industries, and the 1200×800 mm Euro pallet (EUR/EPAL) for European supply chains.