GMA Pallet & Plastic Pallet Sizes: Spec Chart for Buyers
The buyer's spec chart for GMA and plastic pallet sizes: dimensions, load ratings, deck styles and the cost-per-cycle comparison against used wood.
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TL;DR: The GMA pallet is 48 x 40 in, the dominant North American footprint, and about 30 percent of pallets in US circulation use it. Plastic pallets are built to the same footprint in nestable, stackable and rackable deck styles, rated separately for static, dynamic and racking load. Buying on footprint alone is the most expensive pallet mistake, because racking load is the rating that governs safety.
Quick Facts
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| GMA footprint | 48 x 40 in (1219 x 1016 mm) |
| Typical plastic pallet height | 5 to 6.5 in |
| Nestable pallet weight | 12 to 22 lb |
| Rackable pallet weight | 30 to 55 lb |
| Static load (stacked on floor) | 8,000 to 30,000 lb |
| Dynamic load (moving on forklift) | 2,200 to 5,000 lb |
| Racking load (unsupported beams) | 1,500 to 3,000 lb |
| Freezer-grade service range | Down to -20 F with impact-modified HDPE |
| Test standard | ISO 8611 |
The Three Load Ratings, and Why Only One of Them Can Hurt You
Every credible pallet spec sheet publishes three numbers. Buyers routinely compare the largest one across vendors, which is the wrong number.
If your operation racks product, racking load is your specification. A pallet quoted at 30,000 lb static may be rated at 1,800 lb racking. Loading 2,500 lb into that bay is a structural failure waiting for a shift change.
Pallet Size Chart
| Footprint (in) | Common name | Primary use |
|---|---|---|
| 48 x 40 | GMA / grocery | Food and CPG, the North American default |
| 42 x 42 | Telecom / paint | Drums, cylindrical loads |
| 48 x 48 | Drum pallet | Four-drum configurations |
| 40 x 48 | Military / general | Mixed industrial |
| 48 x 42 | Automotive | Parts and components |
| 47.24 x 39.37 (1200 x 1000 mm) | ISO 1 | Export |
| 47.24 x 31.5 (1200 x 800 mm) | Euro / EUR-1 | European export |
Use the pallet load calculator to convert a footprint decision into units per pallet and per truck before it becomes a purchase order. For deeper dimensional detail, see our standard pallet sizes guide.
Deck Style Decides Your Freight and Storage Cost
| Style | Return freight | Storage | Racking |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nestable | Best — nests 8 to 10 high | Minimal footprint | Rarely rackable |
| Stackable | Moderate | Stacks flat | Some models rackable |
| Rackable (with or without steel reinforcement) | Worst — no nesting | Full footprint | Yes, by rating |
The pattern in real programs: nestable for one-way and export shipping where the empty return cost dominates, rackable for closed-loop internal fleets where racking safety and cycle life dominate. Mixing both in one fleet is normal and usually cheaper than forcing a single SKU.
New Plastic vs Used Wood: Cost Per Cycle
Used wood pallets look unbeatable at purchase. On a per-cycle basis in a controlled environment, they usually are not:
Cost per cycle = purchase price / expected cycles + repair cost per cycle + (purchase price x loss rate / cycles per year)
| Factor | Used wood | New plastic (rackable) |
|---|---|---|
| Purchase price | Low | 8 to 20x higher |
| Expected cycles | Roughly 5 to 15 before repair or scrap | Often 100+ |
| Weight | Heavier, varies with moisture | Consistent, lower |
| Repair | Frequent — nails, broken deck boards | Rare, non-repairable when it fails |
| Sanitation | Porous, absorbs moisture, harbors pathogens | Non-porous, washable |
| Product damage risk | Splinters, protruding nails | None |
| Weight consistency for freight | Varies with moisture content | Fixed |
Wood wins on one-way export and low-cycle open loops. Plastic wins in food, pharma, cold chain, automated conveyors and any closed loop with more than a few dozen cycles per year. Our returnable packaging TCO model works the arithmetic, and the plastic vs wood pallets comparison covers the sanitation case in detail.
Freezer, Food and Automation Specifications
What to Put in the RFQ
Vendors cannot quote accurately without these six items. Copy them straight into the request:
Our plastic pallet specification and RFQ guide contains the full copyable template.
> Ready to price a fleet? Send your spec and get a quote in 24 hours. Ships nationwide and to Mexico.
FAQ
What size is a GMA pallet?
48 x 40 in, roughly 1219 x 1016 mm. It is the dominant grocery and CPG footprint in North America and the base dimension most plastic pallets and IBC totes are built to match.
What is the difference between static, dynamic and racking load?
Static is weight the pallet holds while resting on the floor, dynamic is weight it holds while being moved with full support underneath, and racking is weight it holds spanning open beams. Racking is always the lowest and is the rating that governs racked storage.
Are plastic pallets cheaper than wood?
Not at purchase. They are usually cheaper per cycle in closed loops, because they last far longer, need no repair and hold consistent weight. In one-way export, wood is generally cheaper.
Can plastic pallets be used in racking?
Only models rated for racking load, and only up to that rating. Nestable pallets are usually not rackable, regardless of how high their static load figure looks.
Do plastic pallets need ISPM 15 heat treatment for export?
No. ISPM 15 applies to solid wood packaging material. Plastic pallets are exempt, which removes fumigation and stamping steps from export shipments.
What is a nestable pallet used for?
One-way and export shipping, and any program where the cost of returning empties dominates. Nesting 8 to 10 high cuts empty return freight and storage footprint dramatically.
Sources
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Part of the topic guide
Plastic Pallets, Pallet Boxes and Gaylord Boxes