Standard Pallet Sizes (ISO 6780): Complete Dimension Reference for Importers

Standard wooden pallet sizes under ISO 6780:2003 cover 6 internationally recognised footprints, ranging from 800 x 1,200 mm to 1,219 x 1,016 mm. In Vietnam, the two most common sizes used in manufacturing and export are 1,200 x 1,000 mm (shared by the EU and most of Asia) and 1,100 x 1,100 mm (Japan, South Korea and Southeast Asia). Choosing the wrong size not only wastes container floor space but can also lead to your shipment being rejected at the destination if a strict EPAL standard applies.

Across 15 years of supplying wooden pallets to importers and exporters in Vietnam, we have found that the most common mistake is not the choice of timber or load rating. It is choosing a footprint that does not match the requirement of the destination market. A consignment on 1,100 x 1,100 mm pallets shipped to Germany will be turned away at the warehouse gate, because the EU accepts only 800 x 1,200 mm (EPAL). The cost of handling the held shipment and re-palletising is often several times the price difference between the two sizes.

This guide brings together the full ISO 6780 size reference, broken down clearly by export market and product sector, so your purchasing and logistics teams can specify the correct pallet from the very first order. All footprints below are produced to specification by ICD Vietnam for export buyers worldwide.

What Does ISO 6780:2003 Specify for Pallet Dimensions?

ISO 6780:2003 is the international standard issued by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). It defines 6 standard flat pallet footprints accepted worldwide. The standard is not legally binding, but it is the basis on which major markets (EU, US, Japan) build their own rules. Its core purpose is to optimise how pallets stack into standard 20-foot and 40-foot containers without wasting floor area.

Size (mm)	Size (inch)	Container waste (%)	Main market
1,016 x 1,219	40 x 48	3.7%	North America (US, Canada)
1,000 x 1,200	39.37 x 47.24	6.7%	EU, Asia, Vietnam
1,067 x 1,067	42 x 42	11.5%	North America, EU (chemicals, oil and gas)
1,100 x 1,100	43.3 x 43.3	14%	Japan, South Korea, Southeast Asia
1,165 x 1,165	45.9 x 45.9	16.7%	Australia, New Zealand
800 x 1,200	31.5 x 47.24	6.7%	EU (EPAL Euro pallet)

The "container waste" column is the share of 20-foot container floor area that cannot be filled with pallets because of leftover gaps. This figure directly affects logistics cost: at 100 containers per year, a 10% difference in waste is equivalent to paying for 10 containers of space you cannot use. For buyers comparing footprints, this is often the single largest hidden cost in a pallet decision.

Common Wooden Pallet Sizes Produced in Vietnam

Vietnamese manufacturers run several sizes in parallel depending on the product sector and trading partner. There is no single "Vietnam standard size". This is exactly where many buyers go wrong when they ask only for the "standard size" without stating the product sector or destination market. The table below shows the footprints we produce most frequently and their typical applications, with prices quoted FOB Vietnam and USD pricing available on request.

Size (mm)	Common use	Dynamic load (kg)	Notes
1,200 x 1,000	EU export, agriculture, seafood	1,000 - 1,500	Most common in Vietnam
1,100 x 1,100	Japan and Korea export, electronics	1,000 - 1,200	Common in electronics
800 x 1,200	Euro pallet, EU export (EPAL)	1,500	Mandatory for some EU retailers
1,200 x 1,200	Chemicals, raw materials	1,200 - 2,000	IBC tanks, drums
1,000 x 1,000	Domestic warehousing, retail	800 - 1,000	Non-ISO size
Made to order	Oversized goods, equipment	Per design	Custom build

For export teams: pallet size by destination market

For export teams, the pallet footprint must match the requirement of the destination market, not the size that is "most convenient" or "cheapest" at home. The hard rules by major market are: EU requires 800 x 1,200 mm (EPAL) or 1,000 x 1,200 mm; the US uses 1,016 x 1,219 mm (40 x 48 inch) as the dominant standard, accounting for roughly 35% of the North American pallet market; Japan and South Korea use 1,100 x 1,100 mm; Australia uses 1,165 x 1,165 mm. Before placing a pallet order, the first step is always to confirm the footprint with your buyer or the terms of the Letter of Credit. For a fuller breakdown, see our guide to pallet standards by market and the EPAL Euro pallet requirements.

For warehouse managers: pallet size and forklift fork entry

Warehouse managers should check two figures before choosing a pallet footprint: rack beam opening and forklift fork entry height. A standard forklift has a 150 mm fork tine. A wooden pallet under 120 mm in height may not allow the forks in cleanly. Standard wooden pallet height is 120-150 mm (measured from the floor to the top deckboard), with some specialised pallets reaching 180 mm. In addition, the length and width must be at least 50 mm smaller than the rack beam opening on each side for safe handling.

Construction Detail and Technical Specifications of a Standard Wooden Pallet

Length and width are only two of several technical specifications to check when buying industrial wooden pallets. Below are the full specifications to know for a standard 1,200 x 1,000 mm wooden pallet, the most common size in Vietnam and a reliable default for buyers shipping to the EU or across Asia.

Specification	Standard value	Why it matters
Footprint	1,200 x 1,000 mm	Fits a 20ft container - 2 rows x 5 = 10 pallets per layer
Overall height	120 - 150 mm	Standard forklift fork entry of 150 mm
Timber moisture content	< 18%	Above 18% is prone to mould and can fail quarantine
Top deckboards	5 - 7 boards	Gap ≤ 100 mm to prevent goods slipping through
Stringers	3 stringers	2-way entry (4-way when notched)
Static load	4,000 - 8,000 kg	Depends on timber and design
Dynamic load (forklift)	1,000 - 1,500 kg	Standard for B2B logistics
Pallet weight	18 - 28 kg	Depends on timber (pine is lighter than acacia)

For a deeper look at how these figures change with timber species, see our comparison of pine vs acacia pallets.

Wooden Pallet Sizes by Product Sector

The product sector determines the most efficient pallet footprint more reliably than any "general standard". The mapping below reflects real practice from supplying pallets to export factories in Vietnam, and it is a useful starting point for importers specifying packaging requirements to their Vietnamese suppliers.

Product sector	Recommended size	Reason
Seafood and agriculture for EU export	800 x 1,200 mm	EU supermarkets require EPAL, 80 cm wide racking
Electronics and components for Japan export	1,100 x 1,100 mm	JIS Z 0601 Japanese standard
Textiles and footwear for US export	1,016 x 1,219 mm (40x48")	Walmart warehouse and Amazon FBA standard
Chemicals, raw plastics	1,200 x 1,200 mm	A 1,000L IBC fits 1,200 x 1,200 mm
Furniture, heavy goods	1,200 x 1,000 mm (double-deck)	High load, 4-way entry
Domestic warehousing only	1,000 x 1,200 mm or 1,000 x 1,000 mm	Flexible, cheaper than export grade

Double-Deck vs Single-Deck Pallets: How Does Size Change?

The footprint (length x width) of a wooden pallet does not change between single-deck and double-deck construction, but the height changes significantly. This is something few suppliers explain clearly, which leads buyers to receive pallets that will not accept fork entry or that exceed a cold-storage height limit.

Pallet type	Typical height	Typical weight	Advantage
Single-deck stringer pallet	120 - 130 mm	18 - 22 kg	Low cost, light, single-use export
Double-deck stringer pallet	145 - 155 mm	25 - 35 kg	Multi-use, higher load capacity
Block pallet	130 - 150 mm	25 - 30 kg	4-way entry, Euro pallet standard
Pressed wood / LVL pallet	120 - 140 mm	20 - 28 kg	Stable moisture, no fumigation needed

If your supply chain reuses pallets in a closed loop, the double-deck and block options usually deliver lower total cost despite the higher unit price. The pressed wood (LVL) pallet is worth noting for buyers who want to avoid the ISPM 15 fumigation step entirely.

5 Common Mistakes When Choosing Pallet Size

Below are the 5 mistakes we see most often when advising new buyers. Each one can cause real losses, from a few hundred to several thousand US dollars per order, before the shipment even reaches its destination.

• Mistake 1 - Using a domestic size for export: Pallets of 1,000 x 1,000 mm or 1,200 x 1,200 mm are not ISO 6780 sizes. Many markets reject them or charge handling penalties. Always confirm the footprint with your buyer before production.
• Mistake 2 - Confusing 1,200 x 1,000 mm with 800 x 1,200 mm for EU export: Both sizes are "usable in the EU", but a true Euro pallet (EPAL) must be 800 x 1,200 mm. Some contracts state "Euro pallet" yet the exporter ships 1,200 x 1,000 mm, which is then penalised or refused.
• Mistake 3 - Not counting pallet height in total cargo height: A 150 mm pallet adds to the total stack height inside the container. In a reefer container with 2,200 mm internal height, a 150 mm pallet plus 2,100 mm of goods equals 2,250 mm and will not fit.
• Mistake 4 - Ordering a non-ISO custom size then wanting to re-export: A custom footprint (for example 900 x 1,100 mm) will not fit the standard pallet racking of a partner warehouse and will not stack efficiently in a container.
• Mistake 5 - Buying domestic-grade pallets for export: Domestic warehouse pallets usually carry no ISPM 15 fumigation mark and will be held at the importing country's customs even when the size is correct.

Checklist: Get the Pallet Size Right the First Time

Use this checklist before sending a pallet RFQ to any supplier. With these 5 pieces of information, order confirmation time drops from 3-5 days to a single day.

• ☐ Export market: Domestic / EU / US / Japan / Australia / Other, then identify the matching footprint from the table above.
• ☐ Fork entry: 2-way (stringer) or 4-way (block / notched stringer), which affects the pallet base design.
• ☐ Maximum load: the heaviest weight (kg) you will place on a single pallet.
• ☐ Deck configuration: single-deck (single-use export) or double-deck (reusable), which affects height and price.
• ☐ Fumigation requirement: whether an ISPM 15 mark is needed, and if so, whether the method is HT or MB.

For purchasing teams: real cost by pallet size

For purchasing teams, pallet size affects unit price but not in a linear way. A 1,200 x 1,000 mm wooden pallet (1.2 m² footprint) is a reference point of around VND 85,000-130,000 per piece at the Vietnamese factory gate depending on timber, with USD pricing on request; this is an FOB Vietnam reference, not a delivered price. A 1,100 x 1,100 mm pallet (1.21 m²) is priced similarly but typically carries a lower load rating due to its different stringer layout. An 800 x 1,200 mm pallet (Euro pallet) costs 20-30% more because it must meet the EPAL standard with high-grade oak or pine, moisture content below 18%, and certified inspection. When comparing prices, always convert to cost per m² of load capacity rather than price per piece. See our full wooden pallet prices guide for a detailed breakdown.

Frequently Asked Questions About Pallet Sizes

What is the standard wooden pallet size in Vietnam?

Vietnam does not have a single "national standard" wooden pallet size. The two most common sizes in practice are 1,200 x 1,000 mm (suited to containers and EU/Asia export) and 1,100 x 1,100 mm (Japan and South Korea export). Buyers should choose the footprint based on the requirement of the destination market or the design of the warehouse and forklift in use, rather than by habit or because a size was used before.

How much does a wooden pallet weigh?

A standard 1,200 x 1,000 mm wooden pallet weighs 18-28 kg depending on timber and design. Pine pallets are lighter (18-22 kg), acacia pallets are heavier (22-28 kg), and pressed wood (LVL) pallets are typically 20-25 kg. Pallet weight adds to the total shipment weight, which matters when calculating freight charges and vehicle load limits.

How much weight can a wooden pallet hold?

Standard wooden pallet capacity is a static load (fixed on racking) of 4,000-8,000 kg and a dynamic load (moved by forklift) of 1,000-1,500 kg. The two figures differ because, when moving, force concentrates at the contact points with the forklift tines. Do not use a cheap single-deck pallet (designed for 500-800 kg) to carry 1,200 kg of goods, as the pallet will break when lifted. See our full guide to wooden pallet load capacity.

What size is a Euro pallet?

A Euro pallet (EPAL) has a fixed size of 800 x 1,200 x 144 mm (length x width x height). This is a mandatory specification of the European Pallet Association (EPAL): the pallet must be made of quality oak or pine, with 9 blocks, 78 special nails, a dynamic load of 1,500 kg, and it must pass EPAL inspection before the logo can be applied. A Vietnamese pallet built to the exact 800 x 1,200 mm size but without EPAL inspection cannot be called a "Euro pallet", only a "Euro-size pallet".

What is the difference between single-deck and double-deck pallets?

A single-deck pallet has deckboards only on the top, so goods can be placed one way up and the pallet cannot be turned over. A double-deck pallet has deckboards on both top and bottom, so goods can sit on either face, it can be reused more times, and it is more stable when stacked. Double-deck pallets are 30-50% heavier and 40-60% more expensive than single-deck pallets of the same size, making them suited to reusable goods within a closed-loop logistics chain.

Conclusion

The standard wooden pallet size is not a single number. It is a set of 6 ISO 6780 footprints allocated by market and product sector. The simple rule is: EU export → 800 x 1,200 mm or 1,000 x 1,200 mm; US export → 1,016 x 1,219 mm; Japan export → 1,100 x 1,100 mm; domestic → flexible to suit the warehouse and forklift. The most important step is to confirm the footprint with your buyer before placing production. It takes 5 minutes by email and removes the risk of losing an entire shipment.

ICD Vietnam manufactures wooden pallets to your exact specified size, from standard ISO footprints to fully custom builds. All export pallets meet the ISPM 15 heat treatment (HT) standard, with full documentation and worldwide shipping. Explore the full range of wooden pallet types, or request a quote and our team will help you confirm the right size at no cost.