If you are trying to work out what size a pallet is, the answer depends on the pallet type. In the UK, the most common pallet size is the standard UK pallet, which measures 1200mm x 1000mm. Across Europe, the most common pallet is the Euro pallet, which measures 1200mm x 800mm.
This guide explains the main pallet dimensions UK businesses need to know, including standard pallet size, Euro pallet dimensions, half pallet size, pallet height, and how pallet measurements relate to storage boxes, Euro containers and pallet boxes.
Quick Answer: Common UK Pallet Sizes
The table below gives a quick overview of the most common pallet sizes used in UK warehousing, logistics, manufacturing and distribution.
| Pallet Type | Length | Width | Typical Height | Common Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK Standard Pallet | 1200mm | 1000mm | 120mm- 150mm | UK warehousing, transport and distribution |
| Euro Pallet | 1200mm | 800mm | 120mm-150mm | European logistics and export |
| Half Pallet | 800mm | 600mm | Varies | Retail display and smaller loads |
| Quarter Pallet | 600mm | 400mm | Varies | Small displays and compact consignments |
What Size Is A Standard UK Pallet?
A standard UK pallet measures 1200mm x 1000mm. This is the most common UK pallet size and is widely used across warehousing, manufacturing, logistics, construction, retail distribution and industrial supply chains.
When people search for what size is a standard pallet, what size is a standard pallet UK, or what size is a pallet UK, they are usually referring to the 1200mm x 1000mm UK standard pallet footprint.
- Length: 1200mm
- Width: 1000mm
- Typical pallet height: around 150mm
- Footprint: 1.2 square metres
This pallet size is particularly common in the UK because it suits UK transport, warehouse racking, bulk storage, forklift handling and larger industrial loads. Many plastic pallet boxes are also designed around this footprint, including the 1200 x 1000mm plastic pallet boxes available from Stack Industrial.
What Are The Dimensions Of A Standard Pallet?
The dimensions of a standard pallet are usually given as length x width x height. For a standard UK pallet, the main measurements are:
| Measurement | Standard UK Pallet Dimension |
|---|---|
| Length | 1200mm |
| Width | 1000mm |
| Height | Approx. 150mm |
These standard pallet measurements refer to the pallet itself, not the total height once goods, boxes or materials are stacked on top. A loaded pallet can be much taller depending on the goods being transported and the maximum height allowed by the carrier, warehouse or delivery vehicle.
What Is The Height Of A Standard Pallet?
The height of a standard UK pallet is generally around 150mm. However, pallet height can vary depending on whether the pallet is wooden or plastic, whether it has an open or closed deck, and whether it is designed for light-duty, medium-duty or heavy-duty use.
It is also important to separate pallet height from loaded pallet height. The pallet height is the height of the empty pallet. The loaded pallet height is the total height of the pallet plus the goods stacked on top.
For example, a standard pallet may be around 150mm high, but a fully loaded pallet could be 1000mm, 1200mm, 1500mm or more depending on the product, packaging and transport restrictions.
What Size Is A Euro Pallet?
A Euro pallet measures 1200mm x 800mm. This is the standard European pallet size and is commonly used throughout Europe for transport, export, storage and distribution.
If you are searching for what size is a Euro pallet, what size are Euro pallets, or what size is a standard Euro pallet, the answer is:
- Length: 1200mm
- Width: 800mm
- Height: Approx. 150mm
- Footprint: 0.96 square metres
Euro pallets are narrower than standard UK pallets, which makes them particularly useful for European transport systems, export movements and storage layouts based around European pallet dimensions.
What Are The Dimensions Of A Euro Pallet?
The dimensions of a Euro pallet are 1200mm x 800mm x 150mm. In centimetres, the dimensions of a Euro pallet are 120cm x 80cm x 15cm.
| Measurement | Euro Pallet Dimension | In Centimetres |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 1200mm | 120cm |
| Width | 800mm | 80cm |
| Height | Approx. 150mm | Approx. 15cm |
These Euro pallet dimensions are one of the reasons Euro containers and many industrial storage boxes use modular footprints. A 600 x 400mm storage box, for example, is designed to work efficiently with a 1200 x 800mm Euro pallet footprint.
Euro Pallet vs UK Standard Pallet
The main difference between a Euro pallet and a UK standard pallet is the width. Both are 1200mm long, but a Euro pallet is 800mm wide, while a UK standard pallet is 1000mm wide.
| Feature | UK Standard Pallet | Euro Pallet |
|---|---|---|
| Size | 1200 x 1000mm | 1200 x 800mm |
| Typical Height | Approx. 150mm | Approx. 150mm |
| Footprint Area | 1.2m² | 0.96m² |
| Common Use | UK warehousing and distribution | European transport and export |
| Best For | Bulkier UK loads and larger pallet boxes | European logistics and modular Euro containers |
What Size Is A Half Pallet?
A common half pallet size is 800mm x 600mm. Half pallets are often used for retail display, supermarket distribution, smaller loads and situations where a full pallet would be too large.
Although half pallets are useful in certain retail and display environments, most industrial bulk handling, storage and transport operations still rely on either standard UK pallets, Euro pallets or full-size pallet boxes.
What Size Is A Quarter Pallet?
A common quarter pallet size is 600mm x 400mm. This footprint is often used for smaller retail displays, compact consignments and modular handling systems.
Quarter pallets are helpful to understand because the 600 x 400mm footprint is also widely used in Euro containers, tote boxes and industrial storage boxes. That means the same modular size can work across palletised transport, warehouse storage and container handling.
Why Are There Different Pallet Sizes?
There are different pallet sizes because pallets have evolved around different transport systems, industries, warehouse layouts and regional standards. A business sending goods across the UK may use a 1200 x 1000mm standard UK pallet, while a business exporting into Europe may prefer a 1200 x 800mm Euro pallet.
The right pallet size can affect:
- How efficiently goods fit into a lorry or container
- How easily pallets fit into racking
- How many boxes or containers fit per pallet layer
- How safely goods can be stacked and handled
- How much space is wasted during storage and transport
This is why pallet dimensions matter beyond the pallet itself. The size of the pallet influences the size of the storage boxes, containers and pallet boxes used with it.
How Pallet Dimensions Affect Storage Boxes And Containers
Pallet dimensions are closely linked to storage box dimensions. Many industrial storage boxes are designed around modular pallet footprints, so they can be stacked efficiently, transported safely and stored with minimal wasted space.
A good example is the 600 x 400mm Euro container footprint. This size works particularly well because it fits neatly onto a Euro pallet and also loads efficiently onto a standard UK pallet.
At Stack Industrial, this 600 x 400mm footprint is used across selected attached lid containers and tote boxes, as well as selected heavy-duty storage boxes.
How Many 600 x 400mm Storage Boxes Fit On A Euro Pallet?
A standard Euro pallet measures 1200 x 800mm. A 600 x 400mm Euro container fits perfectly onto this footprint in a 2 x 2 layout.
That means a Euro pallet can hold 4 x 600 x 400mm storage boxes per layer.
| Pallet Size | Storage Box Footprint | Layout | Boxes Per Layer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1200 x 800mm Euro pallet | 600 x 400mm | 2 boxes across x 2 boxes deep | 4 |
How Many 600 x 400mm Storage Boxes Fit On A UK Standard Pallet?
A standard UK pallet measures 1200 x 1000mm. A 600 x 400mm storage box also works well on this footprint, but the most efficient layout is slightly different.
On a UK standard pallet, you can fit 5 x 600 x 400mm storage boxes per layer:
- 3 boxes in one row using 400 + 400 + 400mm across the 1200mm pallet length
- 2 boxes rotated at 90 degrees using 600 + 600mm across the 1200mm pallet length
- The two row depths combine as 400 + 600mm, matching the 1000mm pallet width
| Pallet Size | Storage Box Footprint | Layout | Boxes Per Layer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1200 x 1000mm UK standard pallet | 600 x 400mm | 3 boxes in one row, 2 rotated boxes in the second row | 5 |
How Pallet Sizes Relate To Plastic Pallet Boxes
A plastic pallet box combines the storage capacity of a large container with the handling benefits of a pallet base. Instead of loading smaller boxes onto a separate pallet, a pallet box is designed to be moved directly by forklift or pallet truck.
At Stack Industrial, our main plastic pallet boxes use the standard UK footprint of 1200 x 1000mm. This makes them suitable for UK warehousing, bulk storage, materials handling, manufacturing, food production, engineering, events, logistics and industrial transport.
A 1200 x 1000mm plastic pallet box is particularly useful when you need one large handling unit rather than multiple smaller containers stacked on a pallet.
View our range of plastic pallet boxes.
Plastic Pallets vs Wooden Pallets: Do The Sizes Change?
Plastic pallets and wooden pallets are often available in the same common footprints, including 1200 x 1000mm UK standard pallets and 1200 x 800mm Euro pallets. The main difference is not usually the footprint, but the material, design, hygiene properties, durability and handling performance.
Wooden pallets are widely used because they are familiar, available and cost-effective. Plastic pallets, however, can offer several advantages in industrial and commercial environments:
- They are easier to clean than wooden pallets
- They do not splinter
- They are resistant to moisture
- They can be suitable for hygiene-sensitive environments
- They are consistent in size and construction
- They can offer a longer service life in repeat-use operations
For businesses that repeatedly handle, store or move goods internally, plastic pallets can be a more durable and practical long-term option than disposable or low-grade wooden pallets.
Which Pallet Size Is Right For Your Business?
The right pallet size depends on what you are storing, where goods are moving, and how they will be handled.
| Requirement | Best Pallet Size To Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| General UK warehousing and distribution | 1200 x 1000mm UK standard pallet | Common UK footprint for bulk storage and handling |
| European transport or export | 1200 x 800mm Euro pallet | Designed around European logistics networks |
| Retail display or smaller loads | 800 x 600mm half pallet | More compact and easier to position in retail settings |
| Large loose goods or bulk materials | 1200 x 1000mm plastic pallet box | Combines storage capacity with forklift handling |
| Stacking smaller containers efficiently | 600 x 400mm storage box footprint | Works efficiently on both Euro and UK standard pallets |
Summary: Standard Pallet Size UK, Euro Pallet Size And Pallet Measurements
If you only need the quick answer, the most important pallet dimensions are:
- Standard UK pallet size: 1200 x 1000mm
- Euro pallet size: 1200 x 800mm
- Half pallet size: 800 x 600mm
- Quarter pallet size: 600 x 400mm
- Standard UK pallet height: generally around 150mm
- Euro pallet height: 144mm
However, pallet sizing becomes much more useful when you think beyond the pallet itself. The right pallet footprint affects how many boxes fit per layer, how efficiently goods can be stored, how well containers stack, and how easily materials can be moved through a warehouse or transport network.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pallet Sizes
What size is a standard pallet in the UK?
A standard pallet in the UK measures 1200mm x 1000mm. This is the most common UK pallet size used in warehousing, transport and industrial distribution.
What size is a Euro pallet?
A Euro pallet measures 1200mm x 800mm. The typical height of a Euro pallet is 150mm.
What are the dimensions of a Euro pallet in cm?
The dimensions of a Euro pallet in centimetres are 120cm x 80cm, with a typical height of 15cm.
What size is a standard Euro pallet?
A standard Euro pallet is 1200mm long, 800mm wide and 150mm high.
What size is a half pallet?
A common half pallet size is 800mm x 600mm. Half pallets are often used for retail display, smaller consignments and compact handling requirements.
What is the height of a standard pallet?
The height of a standard UK pallet is generally around 150mm, although this can vary depending on pallet design, construction and material.
What are pallet dimensions usually measured as?
Pallet dimensions are usually measured as length x width x height. For example, a standard UK pallet is 1200mm x 1000mm x approximately 150mm.
How many 600 x 400mm boxes fit on a Euro pallet?
A 1200 x 800mm Euro pallet can hold four 600 x 400mm boxes per layer in a 2 x 2 layout.
How many 600 x 400mm boxes fit on a UK standard pallet?
A 1200 x 1000mm UK standard pallet can hold five 600 x 400mm boxes per layer: three boxes in one row and two boxes rotated at 90 degrees in the second row.
Are plastic pallets the same size as wooden pallets?
Plastic pallets are often available in the same common footprints as wooden pallets, including 1200 x 1000mm UK standard pallets and 1200 x 800mm Euro pallets. The main difference is the material, construction, durability and hygiene performance.
Related Products
If you are choosing pallet sizes because you need better storage, handling or transport equipment, these product ranges may be useful:
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