How much does a pallet weigh?
An empty standard 48 × 40 in wood pallet weighs about 30 to 48 lb (14 to 22 kg), with 37 lb a typical average. A Euro pallet weighs about 25 kg (55 lb), and CHEP's blue 48 × 40 block pallet averages 29 kg (64 lb). Here are the weights by size and type, what each pallet can carry, and how to work out a loaded pallet's weight for shipping.
Wood pallet weight by size
Average weights and safe maximum loads of new wood pallets, from the Kamps Pallets sizing chart:
| Size (in) | Avg. weight | In kg | Safe max load |
|---|---|---|---|
| 48 × 40 (GMA) | 37 lb | 16.8 kg | 4,592 lb |
| 40 × 48 | 42 lb | 19.1 kg | 3,696 lb |
| 42 × 42 | 36 lb | 16.3 kg | 4,445 lb |
| 48 × 48 | 37 lb | 16.8 kg | 4,673 lb |
| 48 × 42 | 35 lb | 15.9 kg | 4,333 lb |
| 48 × 36 | 31 lb | 14.1 kg | 5,261 lb |
| 42 × 31 | 33 lb | 15.0 kg | 6,585 lb |
| 36 × 36 | 32 lb | 14.5 kg | 3,544 lb |
| 40 × 40 | 29 lb | 13.2 kg | 3,544 lb |
A single pallet can land well away from the average. PalletOne gives 30 to 48 lb for the 48 × 40, because wood type, board thickness and how dry the lumber is all change the weight. Damp wood weighs more than kiln-dried wood, so a pallet stored outside in the rain can be heavier than the chart.
Blue and red pallets: CHEP and PECO
The painted pallets you see at big retailers are rented block pallets, built heavier than a standard stringer pallet. CHEP's blue 48 × 40 block pallet averages 29 kg (about 64 lb) in its data sheet. It stands 141 mm tall, is rated for 2,800 lb spread evenly, and can be block-stacked five loads high up to 10,000 lb. PECO's red 48 × 40 is the same 141 mm (5.56 in) height, uses 26 boards and 138 fasteners, and is also rated at 2,800 lb; its 48 × 20 half pallet weighs 28 lb.
Euro pallet weight
EPAL lists its 1,200 × 800 × 144 mm Euro pallet at about 25 kg, with a safe working load of 1,500 kg. It is a block pallet with 11 boards, 9 blocks and 78 nails, which is why it weighs more than a US stringer pallet of a similar footprint.
Loaded pallet weight for freight
For shipping, what counts is the whole unit: goods, packaging, wrap and the pallet itself. Carriers include the pallet when they work out density, so leaving it out makes your freight class look better than it is.
Example: 40 cartons of 22 lb on a 37 lb pallet weigh 917 lb. Stacked to 50 inches high on a 48 × 40 footprint, the unit is 55.6 cubic feet, so its density is 16.5 lb/ft³: freight class 70. Without the pallet the same goods would show 15.8 lb/ft³, still class 70 here, but near a class line the pallet can decide the class.
Check a loaded pallet's freight classTo work out how many cartons fit on the pallet in the first place, use the pallet calculator. For pallet sizes and what each one is used for, see standard pallet sizes.
Frequently asked questions
What is the standard weight of a pallet?
About 37 lb (17 kg) for a new 48 × 40 wood pallet, the average in Kamps Pallets' chart. PalletOne gives a range of 30 to 48 lb, depending on the wood and how it is built.
How much does a 40 × 48 wooden pallet weigh?
Most people mean the standard GMA pallet, usually written 48 × 40, which weighs 30 to 48 lb (37 lb on average). A true 40 × 48, with 40-inch stringers, averages 42 lb in Kamps Pallets' chart.
How much does a pallet weigh in kg?
A standard 48 × 40 wood pallet weighs about 14 to 22 kg (30 to 48 lb). A Euro pallet is about 25 kg, and CHEP's blue 48 × 40 block pallet averages 29 kg.
How much does a CHEP pallet weigh?
CHEP's data sheet for its 48 × 40 block pallet (B4840A) gives an average weight of 29 kg, about 64 lb. Block pallets use more wood than a standard stringer pallet, so they weigh more.
How much weight can a pallet hold?
Kamps Pallets lists a safe maximum of 4,592 lb for a new 48 × 40 wood pallet. CHEP and PECO rate their 48 × 40 block pallets at 2,800 lb spread evenly, and EPAL rates the Euro pallet at a 1,500 kg safe working load.
Does the pallet's weight count for freight class?
Yes. The pallet is part of the shipping unit, so its weight and height count when the carrier works out density. XPO's rules tariff, for example, says so directly. Weigh the loaded pallet, not just the goods.