A pallet footprint is its top-down length × width rectangle. Orientation describes which side runs along or across a measured space. Height and cargo overhang are separate dimensions.
Key dimensions and facts
- Footprint
- Top-down length × width
- Orientation
- Which pallet side aligns with each space side
- Nominal size
- Named reference, not an exact measurement
- Overhang
- Cargo extending beyond the pallet structure
Market, terminology and context
Names such as GMA, Euro, EPAL 1, UK standard and CP identify markets or systems. They are not interchangeable solely because two products share an outline.
Method and calculation
PalletGauge stores a canonical footprint, shows both units, then tests length × width and width × length. It keeps named product facts separate from pure rectangle arithmetic.
EPAL 2 and EPAL 3 each cover 1.2 m², but their names are not made identical by rotating the rectangle.
What remains variable
Terminology can vary by publisher and equipment context. Use the actual named specification where direction, entry or construction matters.