In short: An EPAL Euro pallet measures 1,200 × 800 × 144 mm, weighs approximately 25 kg and has a safe working load of 1,500 kg. When loaded pallets are stacked on a solid, even surface, the bottom pallet must not carry more than 5,500 kg.
EPAL Euro pallet: technical data
The European Pallet Association (EPAL) sets these values in its technical regulations. According to the EPAL product data sheet, the Euro pallet (also called "EPAL 1") has the following specifications:
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Length × width | 1,200 × 800 mm (tolerance ±3 mm) |
| Height | 144 mm |
| Own weight | approx. 25 kg |
| Safe working load | 1,500 kg |
| Max. load on bottom pallet in a stack | 5,500 kg (solid, even surface) |
| Components | 11 boards, 9 blocks, 78 nails |
| Treatment | Heat treated (HT) to IPPC standard ISPM 15 |
For dispatchers, the key point is that the 1,500 kg applies to a single pallet. In practice the vehicle's payload is usually the tighter limit – see the worked example below.
Markings: how to recognise a genuine EPAL pallet
An exchangeable EPAL Euro pallet carries several brands and markings. According to EPAL these include:
- "EPAL" in an oval on the corner blocks,
- on the middle block, the IPPC mark with country code, the producer's registration number and "HT" for heat treatment,
- the EPAL control staple on a middle block,
- the EPAL ID with licence number plus year and month of production,
- a repair nail on repaired pallets.
EPAL says it carries out more than 25,000 independent inspections a year. Damaged pallets may only be repaired by the more than 1,000 EPAL-licensed repair operations. A pallet without the EPAL marking is not exchangeable.
Euro pallet vs industrial pallet, half pallet and others
The 1,200 × 1,000 mm footprint is usually called an industrial pallet in day-to-day transport; EPAL makes it as the EPAL 2 and EPAL 3. Loading metres are calculated with the usual formula length × width ÷ 2.4 m.
| Type (EPAL) | Dimensions L × W × H | Weight | Safe working load | Loading metres |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Euro pallet (EPAL 1) | 1,200 × 800 × 144 mm | approx. 25 kg | 1,500 kg | 0.4 |
| EPAL 2 | 1,200 × 1,000 × 162 mm | approx. 35 kg | 1,250 kg | 0.5 |
| EPAL 3 | 1,000 × 1,200 × 144 mm | n/a | 1,500 kg | 0.5 |
| Half pallet EPAL 6 | 800 × 600 × 144 mm | approx. 9.5 kg | 750 kg | 0.2 |
| Half pallet EPAL 7 | 800 × 600 × 163 mm | n/a | 500 kg | 0.2 |
EPAL describes the EPAL 6 half pallet mainly as a display pallet for the sales floor. For the EPAL 2, EPAL gives a maximum stacking load of 4,250 kg on the bottom pallet; for the EPAL 6 it is 1,500 kg.
What the dimensions mean for load planning
A Euro pallet takes up 0.4 loading metres, and a standard semi-trailer offers 13.6 loading metres. That typically gives 33 Euro pallets or 26 industrial pallets per articulated truck, as DSV states in its FAQ. Why you will sometimes see 34 is explained in How many pallets fit in a truck?. The unit itself is covered in Loading metre.
Worked example: how much cargo fits on 33 Euro pallets?
An articulated truck with 24,000 kg payload (DSV's planning figure) is to be loaded with 33 Euro pallets:
- Empty weight of the pallets: 33 × 25 kg = 825 kg
- Left for the goods: 24,000 kg − 825 kg = 23,175 kg
- Average per pallet: 23,175 kg ÷ 33 ≈ 702 kg of goods
The pallet's 1,500 kg safe working load is not reached – the truck's payload limits first. DSV makes the same point: at 1,000 kg per pallet, only 24 pallets fit on the truck. If pallets are stacked, the 5,500 kg limit on the bottom pallet also applies.
Pallet exchange: the basics
Exchanging Euro pallets is common practice in the industry but not required by law. How pallets are exchanged has to be agreed in the transport order or freight contract. Common models, as described by TIMOCOM:
- Cologne model (Kölner Palettentausch): immediate one-for-one exchange – the same number of empty, exchangeable pallets is handed back at once.
- Bonn model (Bonner Palettentausch): settlement happens later, e.g. by returning pallets or paying for them afterwards.
- Pallet slip (Palettenschein): records quantity, type and condition; open quantities are booked as a pallet debt.
Which pallets may be exchanged is defined by the EPAL quality classification (version 08/2023), with the classes New, A, B and C. Pallets are not exchangeable if, for example, boards or blocks are missing, more than two nail shanks are visible, they carry dirt that could transfer to the goods, the EPAL marking is missing or they were repaired improperly.
This section is general information, not legal advice.
FAQ
How much does a Euro pallet weigh?
An empty EPAL Euro pallet weighs approximately 25 kg according to EPAL. With 33 pallets on a semi-trailer that is about 825 kg of own weight.
How much weight can a Euro pallet hold?
The safe working load is 1,500 kg. In a stack on a solid, even surface, the bottom pallet may carry up to 5,500 kg.
What is the difference between a Euro pallet and an industrial pallet?
The Euro pallet measures 1,200 × 800 mm, the industrial pallet 1,200 × 1,000 mm. The EPAL 2 version weighs about 35 kg and has a 1,250 kg safe working load.
How tall is a Euro pallet?
144 mm. The EPAL 2 pallet is slightly taller at 162 mm.
Sources
- EPAL – EPAL Euro Pallet (technical data, markings)
- EPAL – Euro pallet product data sheet (PDF)
- EPAL – Load carriers overview
- EPAL – EPAL 2 Pallet
- EPAL – EPAL 6 Half Pallet
- EPAL – Quality classification for Euro pallets, version 08/2023 (PDF, German)
- TIMOCOM – Pallet exchange explained (German)
- Cargoboard – Calculating loading metres (German)
- DSV – How many pallets fit in a standard truck? (FAQ, Italian)
Last updated: October 2026. Check technical values with the manufacturer or EPAL before using them in binding documents.