Pallet finder, which pallet do I need?
The pallet you need is set by the load, so answer six questions about the goods, size, weight, racking, destination and reuse and the pallet finder names one pallet type with the reasons.
The finder uses the sizes, grades and export rules published on this site, and each result links to the page for that pallet.
- Six questions give one pallet type
- EPAL Euro pallet carries 1,500 kg
- ISPM 15 mark for EU and Northern Ireland
Which pallet do I need?
The pallet finder takes six answers, the goods, the footprint, the load weight, racking, destination and whether the pallet comes back, and returns one pallet type, the reasons and a link to its page.
Your pallet
Answer the six questions and press Find my pallet. The result names one pallet, gives the reasons and links to its page.
How do you choose a pallet?
You choose a pallet by matching it to the goods, the footprint, the load weight, the racking, the destination and whether it is reused.
- Goods
- Food, drink and pharmaceuticals suit a hygienic plastic pallet with a closed, smooth deck. Chemicals, drums and sacks suit CP pallets, and machinery or long loads suit a bespoke pallet.
- Footprint
- The UK standard pallet, 1200 x 1000 mm, is the everyday size for UK warehouses, and the Euro pallet, 1200 x 800 mm, is the standard for European supply chains. Half pallets at 800 x 600 mm and quarter pallets at 600 x 400 mm carry display and lighter loads.
- Weight
- An EPAL Euro pallet carries 1,500 kg. A UK standard pallet carries about 1 tonne at Grade A, about 750 kg at Grade B and about 200 to 500 kg at Grade C, as typical industry guidance. A load over 1,500 kg needs a bespoke build.
- Racking
- A perimeter base pallet sits flat on racking beams because its bottom boards run on all four sides. Three-leggers have no bottom boards across the beams, so they are not used for racking.
- Destination
- Solid wood pallets need the ISPM 15 mark from Great Britain to the EU, Switzerland and Northern Ireland. Plastic pallets are not wood packaging, so the mark does not apply to them.
- One way or reuse
- A graded used pallet costs less for a one-trip load, and a sound or new pallet lasts more trips when the pallet comes back and goes out again.
Pallet types at a glance
The main pallet types are UK standard, Euro, half, quarter, CP, plastic, heat treated and bespoke pallets, and each one is sized and built for a different job.
| Pallet type | Size | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| UK standard pallets | 1200 x 1000 mm | UK warehouses, retail and distribution |
| Euro pallets | 1200 x 800 mm | European supply chains and export |
| Half pallets | 800 x 600 mm | Display and lighter loads |
| Quarter pallets | 600 x 400 mm | Display and light loads |
| CP pallets | CP1 to CP9, with CP3 and CP9 at 1140 x 1140 mm | Chemical industry, casks and bulk containers |
| Plastic pallets | Several sizes by model | Hygienic and food loads, and export without wood treatment |
| Heat treated pallets | Euro, UK standard and other wooden sizes | Export carrying the ISPM 15 mark |
| Bespoke pallets | Made to the load | Machinery, long goods and loads over 1,500 kg |
Pallet finder FAQs
What is the most common pallet type in the UK?
The UK standard pallet, 1200 x 1000 mm, is the everyday size for UK warehousing and distribution.
What is the difference between a UK standard and a Euro pallet?
A UK standard pallet is 1200 x 1000 mm and a Euro pallet is 1200 x 800 x 144 mm. The Euro pallet carries 1,500 kg under EPAL and fits 33 in one layer of a 13.6 m trailer against 26 UK standard pallets.
Do I need a heat treated pallet?
It depends on the destination. Solid wood pallets need the ISPM 15 mark from Great Britain to the EU, Switzerland and Northern Ireland, and pallets used within Great Britain sit outside those rules.
Which pallet suits racking?
A perimeter base pallet suits racking. Its bottom boards run on all four sides, so it sits flat on the beams, and three-leggers are not used for racking.
