Euro Pallet Sizes, Weight Limits and When to Use One

Euro pallets are one of the most recognisable pallet formats used in European transport and logistics. Their standard dimensions make it easier for businesses to plan storage, handling and transportation, but knowing that your goods are sitting on a Euro pallet does not automatically tell you which vehicle you need.

A standard EPAL Euro pallet measures 1,200mm by 800mm and 144mm high, weighs approximately 25kg when empty and has a safe working load of 1,500kg.

Those numbers are useful, but they can also create confusion. A pallet capable of supporting 1,500kg does not mean the courier vehicle collecting it can carry 1,500kg. Equally, goods can sit on a 1,200mm by 800mm pallet while extending beyond its edges, meaning the complete consignment takes up more space than the pallet itself.

If you are arranging a pallet delivery, you therefore need to think about the size of the pallet, the dimensions of the goods, the complete loaded weight and the vehicle carrying it.

Understanding those differences can make it much easier to choose the right transport and avoid problems when the vehicle arrives.

What is a Euro pallet?

A Euro pallet is a standardised wooden pallet designed to provide a consistent platform for storing, handling and transporting goods.

The most widely recognised version is the EPAL Euro pallet, also known as the EPAL 1. It is manufactured according to specifications established by the European Pallet Association, or EPAL.

Unlike an unbranded wooden pallet that may have been manufactured to almost any dimensions or construction standard, a genuine EPAL Euro pallet follows a controlled specification.

EPAL states that there are around 625 million EPAL pallets in circulation worldwide, with the Euro pallet used particularly widely across European logistics.

Standardisation is one of its biggest advantages. Manufacturers, warehouses and transport operators can work with a predictable pallet footprint rather than having to accommodate completely different pallet sizes from every supplier. However, there is an important difference between something being Euro pallet sized and being a genuine EPAL Euro pallet.

A wooden pallet may happen to measure 1,200mm by 800mm without being manufactured or certified as an EPAL pallet. Genuine EPAL pallets carry specified markings relating to their manufacture and treatment.

That distinction can become particularly important where a customer, warehouse or international supply chain specifically requires EPAL pallets rather than simply a pallet of similar dimensions.

What size is a Euro pallet?

A standard EPAL Euro pallet measures 1,200mm long by 800mm wide and 144mm high. Its relatively narrow 800mm width is one of the characteristics that distinguishes it from some other commonly used pallet formats.

EPAL also lists the approximate empty weight as 25kg and the safe working load as 1,500kg. These dimensions refer to the wooden pallet itself, which sounds obvious but matters when booking transport.

If boxes are stacked perfectly within the edges of the pallet, the loaded footprint may remain 1,200mm by 800mm. If the products extend 100mm over either side, however, the vehicle no longer needs to accommodate an 800mm-wide load. It needs to accommodate the actual width of the goods.

The same applies to height. The pallet itself is only 144mm high, but once products, packaging, wrapping and protection are added, the complete palletised consignment could be considerably taller. For transport purposes, it is therefore the finished loaded dimensions that matter most.

How much does a Euro pallet weigh?

An empty EPAL Euro pallet weighs approximately 25kg. That weight needs to be included when calculating the total weight of a palletised consignment.

For example, if the products loaded onto a pallet weigh 400kg, the complete palletised load will weigh approximately 425kg before allowing for any additional packaging or protection. The difference becomes more significant when multiple pallets are being transported.

If four empty Euro pallets weigh approximately 25kg each, the pallets alone account for roughly 100kg of the load before any products have been added. This is why providing only the weight of the goods can sometimes lead to an inaccurate assessment of the total load.

When arranging courier transport, use the weight of the complete loaded pallet wherever possible, rather than the weight of the products on their own.

How much weight can a Euro pallet hold?

EPAL gives its standard Euro pallet a safe working load of 1,500kg. That is a substantial amount of weight, but the figure needs to be understood correctly. It describes the safe working load of the pallet. It does not tell you how much the delivery vehicle can carry.

The vehicle has its own payload specification, and that may be considerably lower than the pallet's safe working load. Our own vans run from 450kg of payload on an SWB up to 1,000kg on the larger classes.

That means a Euro pallet carrying 1,200kg of product could theoretically remain within the pallet's 1,500kg working load while being too heavy for a vehicle with a 1,000kg payload. The pallet itself also weighs approximately 25kg, increasing the total transported weight further.

So there are always two separate questions. Can the pallet support the goods, and can the vehicle carry the complete loaded pallet? Both need to be considered before the collection is booked.

What is the difference between a Euro pallet and a UK pallet?

The biggest difference is the footprint. A Euro pallet is 1,200mm by 800mm. A common UK pallet format is 1,200mm by 1,000mm, making it 200mm wider than the Euro format. CHEP identifies 1,200mm by 1,000mm as its standard UK pallet size and 1,200mm by 800mm as its European pallet format. That difference in width affects how much floor space the pallet occupies.

It can also influence compatibility with warehouse layouts, racking, handling equipment and vehicle loading arrangements. Neither size is inherently better. If goods are moving through a European supply chain where the 1,200mm by 800mm format is expected, a Euro pallet may be the natural choice. If a business operates around the wider 1,200mm by 1,000mm UK format, that may be more appropriate.

The shape of the products themselves should also be considered. If the goods naturally require a wider base, forcing them onto an 800mm-wide pallet may create unnecessary overhang. This is another reason why telling a courier that you have "three standard pallets" can be ambiguous. It is much better to provide the actual pallet dimensions.

When should you use a Euro pallet?

Euro pallets are particularly useful when goods are moving through supply chains that already use the 1,200mm by 800mm format. That is especially relevant for businesses working with suppliers, customers or distribution operations across Europe.

Because the dimensions are standardised, manufacturers, warehouses and logistics operations can plan around a predictable pallet footprint. A genuine EPAL Euro pallet is also designed for repeated use within the wider EPAL pallet system rather than simply being treated as disposable packaging.

Euro pallets can therefore make sense when the recipient specifically requests the format, when compatible warehouse equipment is being used, or when goods will continue through a supply chain built around European pallet dimensions.

The design is also accessible from all four sides. EPAL states that its Euro pallets can be handled efficiently with industrial trucks and are compatible with conveyor technology and high-bay racking systems. That four-way access gives warehouses greater flexibility when moving pallets with suitable forklifts and pallet-handling equipment.

When might a Euro pallet not be the right choice?

A Euro pallet is widely used, but it is not automatically the best platform for every consignment. The first consideration should be what the receiving business expects. If the customer or warehouse works around the wider 1,200mm by 1,000mm UK format, using a Euro pallet may offer no particular advantage.

The products themselves matter as well. If the goods are wider than 800mm, placing them on a Euro pallet may create overhang. This not only increases the effective size of the consignment but can also make the load more vulnerable to damage. In other situations, the pallet format may be dictated by manufacturing equipment, warehouse racking or an established pallet-pooling arrangement.

Rather than choosing a Euro pallet simply because it is a recognised standard, consider where the goods are going, what is being loaded onto it and what the recipient requires.

Pallet capacity and vehicle payload are not the same thing

This is one of the most important things to understand when arranging pallet transport. A Euro pallet can have a safe working load of 1,500kg while the vehicle carrying it may have a maximum payload considerably below that figure.

Imagine one Euro pallet containing 850kg of goods. Add approximately 25kg for the pallet itself and that is already around 875kg before accounting for any substantial additional packaging. That could use most of the payload available on a van rated to carry up to 1,000kg.

Now imagine a Euro pallet carrying 1,300kg. The pallet itself may still be operating within EPAL's stated safe working load, but the loaded pallet would be far too heavy for a vehicle with a 1,000kg maximum payload. The fact that the pallet physically fits inside the van does not change the vehicle's weight limit.

This is exactly why physical capacity and payload should always be considered separately. A vehicle can run out of weight capacity long before it runs out of physical space.

How many Euro pallets can fit in a van?

How many Euro pallets fit depends on the vehicle, the loaded dimensions, whether anything overhangs the pallet and the combined weight.

As a guide, our SWB takes 1 Euro pallet, our MWB up to 3, our LWB up to 4, our XLWB up to 5, and our box and curtain-side Lutons up to 6. Those counts assume nothing overhangs the pallet base and the whole load sits inside the vehicle payload, which runs from 450kg on the SWB to 1,000kg on the larger classes.

Weight usually runs out before floor space does. Six Euro pallets at 200kg each is 1,200kg, which is more than any of our vans can legally carry. Send the loaded weight of each pallet rather than the number alone and we will tell you what fits.

Why pallet overhang matters

One of the easiest details to overlook is pallet overhang. A Euro pallet may measure 1,200mm by 800mm, but the dimensions of the wooden platform do not matter much if the goods extend beyond it.

For example, if boxes protrude 100mm beyond both sides of the pallet, the overall width of the load could become 1,000mm. That changes how much floor space it takes up inside the vehicle.

Overhang can also make the load more difficult to position alongside other pallets and may leave the products more exposed during handling. Where possible, goods should be packed within the pallet footprint.

If that is not possible, measure the complete loaded consignment at its widest and longest points and provide those figures when arranging collection. Do not simply provide the pallet size.

How should you measure a loaded Euro pallet?

Measure the pallet only after the goods have been completely packed. Start with the overall length and width, including any boxes, products or protective material extending beyond the pallet. Then measure from the floor to the highest point of the complete load. Finally, establish the total weight.

If you have several pallets, it is helpful to know the weight of each one rather than only the combined figure, particularly if the pallets vary significantly.

You should also tell the transport operator whether the goods can be stacked. Two pallets might each fit comfortably inside the vehicle but still require considerably more space if neither can have anything placed above it.

Similarly, tell the courier if there are particularly fragile, irregular or heavy items that could affect how the load needs to be positioned. Accurate information at this stage reduces the chance of the wrong vehicle arriving at collection.

How should goods be secured on a Euro pallet?

The pallet provides the base for the load, but the products still need to remain stable during handling and transportation. Goods should be positioned so their weight is distributed appropriately across the pallet and, where practical, kept within its footprint.

Depending on the type of product, stretch wrap, straps, protective corners or other suitable packaging may be used to keep the consignment stable.

The important point for transport planning is that measurements should be taken after the goods have been secured, because packaging can change the final width, length or height of the consignment.

The load should also be prepared so that it can be handled safely at both the collection and delivery locations. If it requires particular equipment to move, provide that information before booking the transport.

Why loading and unloading arrangements matter

Knowing that the pallets will fit inside the vehicle is only part of the job. You also need to know how they will get into and out of it.

If a business has suitable forklifts and loading facilities at both locations, moving palletised goods is usually simple enough. If there is no forklift at the delivery address, a different loading or unloading arrangement may be required.

Vehicle body type can matter as well. Side access can be useful for certain forklift operations, while other deliveries may need equipment that allows the load to move between vehicle-floor height and ground level.

Rather than assuming that "pallet delivery" automatically covers every loading situation, tell the courier what facilities are available at both locations. That allows the transport arrangement to be assessed before the vehicle arrives.

Do Euro pallets need to be heat treated?

This becomes particularly important when solid wood packaging is being used for international movements.

UK government guidance states that wood packaging material moving between Great Britain and other countries, including EU member states, needs to comply with the international ISPM 15 standard. Pallets are specifically included within the definition of wood packaging material, and ISPM 15 requires eligible wood packaging to be appropriately treated and marked.

For heat treatment, current UK guidance states that the wood must be heated to at least 56°C for 30 continuous minutes throughout the wood profile, including its core. EPAL states that its Euro pallets carry IPPC markings and that the heat-treatment method is identified on the pallet.

For businesses exporting goods, compliance should not be treated casually. In September 2026, the UK government reiterated that exporters are responsible for ensuring wood packaging used for exports to the EU is compliant before the goods are shipped, following increased scrutiny of non-compliant wood packaging.

France tightened its border checks from 1 September 2026 after a pine wood nematode outbreak, and non-compliant pallets found at the border can be destroyed rather than returned.

If your palletised goods are travelling internationally, check the applicable requirements for the destination rather than assuming that any wooden pallet is suitable.

Common mistakes when arranging Euro pallet transport

One common mistake is providing the number of pallets without giving their dimensions. Another is quoting the weight of the goods but forgetting that the pallet itself weighs approximately 25kg.

Pallet overhang is frequently missed as well. If the goods extend beyond the wooden base, the courier needs the dimensions of the complete consignment rather than simply the standard 1,200mm by 800mm pallet footprint.

Another mistake is assuming the pallet's 1,500kg working load tells you how much the delivery vehicle can carry. It does not. Pallet load capacity and vehicle payload are completely separate specifications.

Businesses can also concentrate so heavily on getting the goods into the vehicle that they forget to consider how they will be unloaded at the destination. Most of these issues are easy to avoid by providing the transport operator with accurate information before collection.

What information should you provide when booking a pallet delivery?

You do not need to understand every technical detail of the vehicle fleet. Instead, concentrate on describing the load accurately.

Provide the number of pallets, whether they are Euro pallets or another format, the dimensions of the complete loaded pallets and their weights. Tell the courier if the goods overhang the pallet, cannot be stacked or require particular handling.

You should also explain what loading and unloading equipment is available at the collection and delivery locations. With that information, the transport provider can assess the vehicle requirements based on the actual consignment rather than assumptions.

We run several vehicle classes with different dimensions, payloads and pallet capacities. The important thing is therefore not knowing the name of the van you think you need. It is knowing what you are sending, how big it is and how much it weighs.