Let’s Talk About Pallets

Commonly seen made of wood -but can also be made of plastic or metal- pallets are an integral part of warehousing. They allow the free movement of goods within and outside of the warehouse. In the US, there are two common sizes of pallets: the 48” by 40” and the 48” by 42”. The most widely used size is the 48” by 40” pallet, also known as the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) pallet.

Why is pallet size important? Well, the pallet (and commodities that go on it) determine the rack size needed. In theory, a beam with length 83” would suffice two pallets with 1” spacing on all sides. In practice, material handlers need much more space to maneuver a pallet into and out from the racks. With the pallets being 48” deep, many believe 48” deep racking is also needed. However, 42” deep racking is the most common! The weight of the pallets are placed directly onto the beams and material handlers do not have to worry about perfect placement onto the racks.