Pallet Shipping Explained: Sizes, Weights & Optimisation
A pallet is only cheap if it's packed well. Understand the standard sizes, weight limits and how the "cube" works, and you stop paying to ship air. Here's the practical version for candy buyers.
The pallet sizes that matter
Two standards dominate, depending on where your goods move:
| Pallet | Footprint | Used in |
|---|---|---|
| Euro pallet (EPAL/EUR-1) | 1200 × 800 mm (47.2 × 31.5 in) | Europe (default) |
| EU industrial | 1200 × 1000 mm | Europe (heavier goods) |
| North American (GMA) | 48 × 40 in (1219 × 1016 mm) | US / Canada |
The Euro pallet weighs around 25 kg empty. Full specs are published by EPAL / EUR-pallet standards.
Weight limits: dynamic, static, racking
A pallet has three different load ratings — using the wrong one is how loads fail:
- Dynamic load (~1,500 kg): the safe weight while it's being moved (forklift, in transit).
- Static load (up to ~4,000 kg): the weight it can bear standing still, e.g. when stacked.
- Racking load (~1,000 kg): the safe weight when the pallet spans warehouse rack beams.
Candy rarely approaches these weight limits — you almost always "cube out" (run out of space) long before you "weigh out". That's the key insight for optimisation.
How a pallet is built
Cartons are stacked in layers (tiers) on the pallet footprint, column-stacked for strength, then shrink-wrapped and often corner-boarded. A typical freight pallet is loaded to about 1.2–2.2 m total height (including the pallet) depending on whether it can be double-stacked. The numbers that decide your cost are simple: cases per layer × number of layers = cases per pallet.
Because candy cubes out first, the goal is maximum cases in the footprint and height — not maximum kilos. A well-built candy pallet is tall and full, not heavy.
Optimising the cube
- Match carton sizes to the footprint so layers tile cleanly with little gap.
- Build to a usable height — full single pallets, or pack so two can be double-stacked.
- Mix brands on one pallet to fill it completely instead of shipping two half-empty ones.
- Plan for containers: a 20 ft container takes roughly 11 Euro pallets and a 40 ft about 23–24 (single-stacked) — so pallet build affects container cost too.
How we optimise your orders
We consolidate across dozens of brands, build mixed pallets to fill the cube, and choose the footprint that suits your destination. The result is fewer, fuller pallets and a lower cost per kilo. See when a pallet beats a parcel in our pallet vs parcel guide, or set up a wholesale account.
Good to know. Dimensions and load ratings are industry standards that can vary by pallet type, condition and carrier rules; double-stacking and height limits depend on the lane and equipment. Figures here are typical, not guarantees. This article is general logistics information, not engineering or safety advice — follow your carrier's loading rules.
Frequently asked questions
What size is a standard Euro pallet?
1200 × 800 mm (about 47.2 × 31.5 in), weighing roughly 25 kg empty. North American GMA pallets are 48 × 40 in.
How much can a pallet hold?
A Euro pallet is rated to about 1,500 kg in motion (dynamic) and up to ~4,000 kg static. Candy usually fills the space before it reaches these weights.
How many pallets fit in a shipping container?
Roughly 11 Euro pallets in a 20 ft container and 23–24 in a 40 ft, single-stacked — more if goods can be double-stacked.
