Pallet Sizes 2026: Standard Dimensions & Height
What kinds of pallets are there? Comparison of four major materials
pallet (also known as pallet, pallet, Pallet) is a horizontal platform for carrying and transporting goods, which facilitates the operation of forklifts and pallet trucks. There are four common materials: plastic, wood, metal and paper , each with its own advantages, disadvantages and applicable scenarios. Among them, only wooden pallets are subject to ISPM15 quarantine control when exported.
plastic pallet
Export quarantine-free treatment
- Common materials: PP (high temperature resistance, good rigidity, suitable for high temperature and high load environments) and HDPE (low temperature resistance, suitable for freezing and refrigeration storage).
- Advantages: durable, easy to clean, pest-free, reusable, does not require additional quarantine treatment for export .
- Disadvantages: Customized sizes are not available, and the initial unit price is higher than wooden pallets.
wooden pallet
Regulated by ISPM15
- Advantages: The specifications have excellent load-bearing performance, can be customized to the size , and the price is cheap. It is the most popular pallet.
- Disadvantages: high damage rate, susceptible to moisture, exports must be heat treated or fumigated to prevent insects (controlled by ISPM15) .
- Applicable: General cargo, large/heavy cargo at the bottom, Taobao/1688 commonly used for shipping large furniture.
metal pallets
Export quarantine-free treatment
- Advantages: has high load-bearing capacity, is sturdy and durable, has a long lifespan, and is suitable for heavy machinery and long-term recycling.
- Disadvantages: heavy weight, the highest unit price, and attention must be paid to rust prevention in humid environments.
- Not subject to ISPM15 control, no fumigation or heat treatment required for export.
paper pallet
Export quarantine-free treatment
- Advantages: is lightweight, environmentally friendly, and recyclable , which can reduce the volume and freight of air/sea transportation.
- Disadvantages: Weak load-bearing and moisture resistance, suitable for lightweight, disposable export packaging.
- Not subject to ISPM15 control, no fumigation or heat treatment required for export.
Pallet size specifications: standards vary in different regions
There is no single global standard for pallets. Each region has its own commonly used size specifications . Before placing an order or combining containers for loading, first confirm the size of the destination and container, so as to maximize space utilization and avoid waste.
| Applicable areas | Pallet dimensions (length × width) |
|---|---|
| Asia | 1100 × 1100 mm |
| Europe/Asia | 1200 × 1000 mm |
| North America | 1219 × 1016 mm |
| Europe/Mainland China | 1200 × 800 mm |
| North America/Europe/Asia | 1067 × 1067 mm |
| Australia | 1165 × 1165 mm |
💡 Tips for loading containers : The size of the pallet must be calculated together with the inner width of the container and the module of the outer cargo box, so that each layer can be fully arranged and stacked stably. Taobao/1688 When large items are consolidated and shipped by sea, the consolidator will usually recommend the appropriate pallet size and padding method based on the cargo conditions and destination.
How tall is a pallet? Standard heights and sea freight stacking limits
Common wooden pallets are 140–150 mm high. European EPAL pallets are fixed at 144 mm, and the 1100 × 1100 mm double-faced wooden pallets commonly used in Taiwan, Japan and Korea are about 142 mm.
These roughly 14 cm matter because they are deducted from the container's internal height—every additional tier you stack costs one pallet's thickness of cargo space. Under the UIC 435-2 standard still followed by the European Pallet Association, the EPAL pallet is fixed at 800 × 1200 × 144 mm, weighs about 25 kg and has a safe working load of 1,500 kg. The 1100 × 1100 mm double-faced wooden pallets common in Taiwan, Japan and Korea are about 142 mm, and plastic pallets mostly range from 120–150 mm; always go by the manufacturer's specifications.
How to calculate sea freight stacking height (you can verify the calculations below yourself)
- The internal height of 20 ft and 40 ft standard containers is about 237 cm, and that of a 40 ft high cube (40HQ) is about 267 cm (common reference values used by forwarders; actual specifications vary slightly between shipping lines).
- Single tier: 237 − 14.4 = about 222 cm is the height actually usable for the cargo itself (based on EPAL 144 mm).
- 40HQ double stacking: 267 − 14.4 × 2 = about 238 cm; split evenly between two tiers, each tier of cargo gets only about 119 cm.
- Pallet weight also uses up payload: an EPAL weighs about 25 kg each, so 10 pallets already take up 250 kg—don't leave this out when calculating a container's payload.
What really matters about pallet height is not the pallet itself but how much it takes out of the container's internal height—every additional tier stacked eats up another pallet's thickness.
Shipping pallet weight limit (depending on material)
The load limit of pallets of different materials is different. Pay attention when loading by sea to avoid overloading, causing damage to the pallet or dumping of the cargo. Common shipping weight reference upper limits are as follows:
metal pallet : The upper limit of sea transport load is about ≤ 10,000 kg
plastic pallet : The upper limit of sea transport load is about ≤ 10,000 kg
paper pallet : The upper limit of sea transport load is about ≤ 5,000 kg
wooden pallet : The upper limit of sea transport load is about ≤ 3,000 kg
💡 Reminder : The above is the reference upper limit for general material categories. The actual load capacity is still subject to the pallet specifications, structure and supplier's instructions. When large and heavy goods are shipped in consolidated containers, it is recommended to confirm with the consolidator whether the pallet load-bearing and padding methods are sufficient.
What is ISPM15? Why do wooden pallets need to be fumigated?
ISPM15 is IPPC (International Plant Protection Convention) " International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures No. 15 " (International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures No. 15). It regulates the anti-insect treatment of wooden packaging materials whose thickness exceeds 6mm during international transportation. The purpose is to prevent long-term beetles, nematodes and other harmful organisms from spreading with the wood across borders.
ISPM15 two compliance treatments: heat treatment HT vs fumigation MB
Wooden packaging materials must comply with ISPM15 and can be treated with one of the following two pest control treatments. Both have the same purpose (killing harmful organisms in wood), but the principles and operating conditions are different:
HT · Heat Treatment
Using heating to increase the temperature of wood to kill insects without using chemicals is currently the most mainstream and environmentally friendly treatment method.
compliance conditions : The core temperature of wood is ≥ 56℃ , lasts ≥ 30 minutes .
MB · Methyl Bromide fumigation (Methyl Bromide)
Fumigating and killing insects with methyl bromide gas is a chemical treatment method; some countries/regions have gradually restricted its use due to environmental protection.
compliance conditions : temperature ≥ 10℃ , fumigation time ≥ 16 hours .
What do you think of the IPPC logo? four elements
After the wooden packaging material is processed by HT or MB, an internationally accepted IPPC mark will be printed. Seeing this logo means that the wooden packaging has completed ISPM15 compliance. A logo usually contains the following elements:
IPPC
XX-000
HT
- IPPC Wheat pattern : The official identification mark of the International Plant Protection Convention (ear symbol).
- Country code : The code of the country where the processing is located (for example, TW represents Taiwan).
- Processing agency registration number : Processing/printing agency number approved by the competent authority.
- Treatment method code : HT (heat treatment) or MB (methyl bromide fumigation), indicating which compliance treatment is used.
Official quarantine and international standard sources
Whether wood packaging material complies must be judged from the actual timber, the treatment applied, the stamp and the importing country's requirements; the IPPC mark must never be imitated or added by yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions (Pallet/ISPM15 FAQ)
Further reading on Consolidation and Customs Clearance
If you want to know more about the shipping costs, customs declaration procedures and packaging labels from China to Taiwan, please refer to:
- 🏷️ What is a shipping mark
- 🚢 Complete trial calculation of shipping costs from China to Taiwan
- 🛒 Taobao Consolidated shipping to Taiwan for teaching
- 📦 A complete guide to Taiwan Consolidation Shipping
- 🚢 Difference between small tee and big tee
- 📋 Taiwan import customs declaration lazy package
- ⏱️ How long does it take for customs clearance in Taiwan?
- 🛡️ EZWay real-name authentication teaching
This page cites primary government, judicial, and academic sources from HowBridge’s customs reference index (1,171 records). Each item links to its original source.
Reference index data version: 2026-08-16
- Official manual Quarantine procedures for wood packaging material (dedicated section on ISPM15 requirements for imported wood packaging material) aphia.gov.tw
- Official manual List of approved facilities for imported plant quarantine (packing houses, vapour heat, fumigation, heat treatment and other approved facilities) aphia.gov.tw
- Regulation Plant Protection and Quarantine Act law.moj.gov.tw
- Official manual General requirements and procedures for the quarantine of imported plants aphia.gov.tw
- Official manual Cargo Clearance Automation Declaration Manual (Volume I / Volume II) web.customs.gov.tw
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