The common North American pallet footprint is 48 × 40 inches, exactly 1219.2 × 1016 mm when converted. Published nominal metric dimensions are often shown as 1219 × 1016 mm.
North American / GMA nominal footprint
Key dimensions and facts
- Nominal size
- 48 × 40 in
- Exact conversion
- 1219.2 × 1016 mm
- Footprint
- 1,920 in² · 1.239 m²
- Common label
- North American / GMA
Market, terminology and context
GMA is widely used as shorthand for the familiar grocery and consumer-goods footprint. The name is a format reference, not evidence that every 48 × 40 pallet has identical construction or certification.
Method and calculation
For area, multiply 48 by 40 to obtain 1,920 square inches. For a rectangular layout, test both 48 × 40 and 40 × 48 orientations using whole-item floor division.
A clear floor 100 inches wide can take two 48-inch sides or two 40-inch sides across. Lengthwise count must be calculated separately; multiplying those whole counts gives one simple-grid estimate.
What remains variable
Footprint does not define height, deck pattern, condition, mass or safe working load. PalletGauge does not assess axle loading, restraint, racking or carrier rules.
Primary sources and provenance
- CHEP USA — North American standard ↗Checked 26 August 2026