A common 48 × 40-inch wooden shipping pallet often weighs approximately 33–48 pounds (15–22 kg) when empty. However, there is no single weight for every wooden pallet. Heavy-duty designs, larger dimensions, thicker boards, and moisture can increase the weight considerably.
For comparison, an EPAL Euro pallet weighs approximately 55 pounds (25 kg). Smaller lightweight pallets may weigh less, while reinforced industrial pallets can weigh more.
If you need an accurate shipping weight, use the specification for your particular pallet—or weigh it.
Wooden Pallet Weight at a Glance
The figures below distinguish a general range from weights published for specific pallet designs.
| Pallet type | Footprint | Approximate empty weight |
|---|---|---|
| Common GMA-style stringer pallet | 48 × 40 inches | 33–48 lb / 15–22 kg |
| Uline H-1218 wood pallet | 48 × 40 inches | Listed unit weight: 44 lb / 20 kg |
| EPAL Euro pallet | 1,200 × 800 mm | 55 lb / 25 kg |
| EPAL 3 industrial pallet | 1,200 × 1,000 mm | 66 lb / 30 kg |
| Custom or reinforced wooden pallet | Varies | Check its specification or weigh it |
Pallet Nation’s size guide lists a 33–48-pound range for its standard GMA-style pallet. The EPAL Euro pallet specification gives an approximate weight of 25 kg.
These are planning figures. Two pallets with the same length and width can have different construction and different actual weights.
How Much Does a Standard 48 × 40 Wooden Pallet Weigh?
For a conventional 48 × 40-inch stringer pallet, around 40 pounds is a useful rough starting estimate, but it should not be treated as a verified weight.
This footprint is widely used in North American shipping. However, the dimensions alone do not specify board thickness, wood species, support design, or moisture content.
A lightweight shipping pallet and a heavy-duty reusable pallet can both measure 48 × 40 inches. Their empty weights and load ratings may be substantially different.
Before booking freight, check the pallet model or weigh the completed shipment.
What Makes Wooden Pallets Heavier or Lighter?
1. Pallet Dimensions
A larger pallet generally needs more material, but size is only part of the explanation.
A large pallet with widely spaced, thin deck boards may weigh less than a smaller pallet with a substantial frame and closely spaced boards.
Compare the complete design rather than assuming that the largest footprint is always the heaviest.
2. Wood Species
Wood density affects pallet weight. Denser lumber adds more weight when the dimensions and moisture content are otherwise comparable.
Manufacturers may use softwood, hardwood, or mixed species. The words “hardwood pallet” alone do not establish an exact weight because hardwood species vary in density.
3. Board Thickness and Quantity
Thicker deck boards, additional bottom boards, and reinforced supports all add material.
Closed-deck designs also generally use more material than otherwise similar pallets with gaps between the top boards.
4. Stringer or Block Construction
Stringer pallets use lengthwise supports beneath the deck. Block pallets use blocks together with connecting boards.
Many reusable block pallets have substantial construction, but block construction does not guarantee a particular weight. The component sizes and materials still matter.
5. Moisture Content
Wood absorbs and releases moisture. A wet pallet can weigh more than the same pallet after drying.
Rain exposure, freshly sawn lumber, and damp storage can all affect the result. This is one reason suppliers describe wooden pallet weights as approximate.
A weathered-looking pallet is not necessarily dry inside.
6. Repairs and Condition
Repaired pallets may contain replacement boards, extra supports, or additional fasteners. These changes can affect weight.
Conversely, missing or broken components can make a pallet lighter without making it suitable for use. Never use low weight as evidence that a damaged pallet is safe.
Empty Pallet Weight vs. Load Capacity
The weight of a pallet is not the same as the amount it can carry.
For example, a pallet weighing 44 pounds may have a load rating measured in thousands of pounds. That rating depends on its design, condition, load distribution, and how it is supported.
Common terms include:
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Empty pallet weight | Weight of the pallet without goods |
| Tare weight | Weight of the pallet and other packaging excluded from the net product weight, depending on the weighing setup |
| Net weight | Weight of the goods without the excluded packaging |
| Gross weight | Total weight of the goods, pallet, and packaging |
Load ratings may also distinguish between floor storage, handling with forks, and storage in racks. A capacity stated for one condition should not automatically be applied to another.
Check the supplier’s rating for the actual use.
How to Calculate the Weight of a Loaded Pallet
Use this formula:
Loaded pallet weight = goods + pallet + packaging and securing materials
Suppose a shipment contains:
- 20 cartons weighing 25 pounds each.
- One pallet weighing 44 pounds.
- Stretch wrap, straps, and protective materials weighing 6 pounds.
The calculation is:
20 × 25 + 44 + 6 = 550 pounds
The completed shipment weighs 550 pounds, assuming the input weights are accurate.
In this example, the carton weight already includes each carton’s packaging. Do not count that packaging a second time.
If you weigh the completed pallet directly, its gross weight already includes the pallet. Do not add the pallet weight again.
How Much Does a Stack of Empty Pallets Weigh?
Multiply the number of pallets by their individual or average measured weight:
Stack weight = number of pallets × average pallet weight
Using an illustrative average of 40 pounds per pallet:
| Number of pallets | Estimated stack weight |
|---|---|
| 5 | 200 lb / 91 kg |
| 10 | 400 lb / 181 kg |
| 20 | 800 lb / 363 kg |
| 25 | 1,000 lb / 454 kg |
These calculations exclude straps or other materials securing the stack.
For mixed pallets, calculate each type separately. Applying one average to lightweight shipping pallets and heavy industrial pallets can produce a misleading total.
How to Weigh a Wooden Pallet Accurately
Use a Suitable Scale
A pallet scale, platform scale, or properly calibrated pallet-jack scale can provide a direct measurement.
Check that the scale has adequate capacity and that the pallet is fully supported without touching surrounding surfaces.
Check the Supplier’s Specification
Look for the exact model, dimensions, construction, and listed unit weight. Do not confuse load capacity with empty weight.
A published specification is useful for planning, but actual weighing is preferable when moisture or repairs could make a meaningful difference.
Sample Similar Pallets
For a large batch of matching pallets, weighing several can provide an estimated average.
Keep wet pallets, repaired pallets, and different designs in separate groups. Use actual shipment weights when required by the carrier.
Do Heat-Treated Pallets Weigh Less?
Not necessarily.
Heat treatment is primarily a pest-control process. It does not, by itself, establish a fixed final moisture content or pallet weight.
Kiln drying can reduce moisture and therefore weight, but wood can absorb moisture again afterward. An “HT” marking is not a substitute for weighing the pallet.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Much Does a Wooden Pallet Weigh in Kilograms?
A common 48 × 40-inch stringer pallet often weighs approximately 15–22 kg. An EPAL Euro pallet weighs about 25 kg. Other designs can fall outside those figures.
How Much Does a Euro Pallet Weigh?
An EPAL Euro pallet measuring 1,200 × 800 mm weighs approximately 25 kg, or 55 pounds, when empty. Not every pallet described loosely as “Euro-sized” has identical construction.
Are Used Pallets Lighter Than New Pallets?
Sometimes, if they have dried since manufacture. However, repairs, replacement components, and moisture exposure can make used pallets heavier. Age alone does not determine weight.
Can One Person Lift a Wooden Pallet?
Weight is only one consideration. Pallets are bulky and may have splinters, projecting nails, or awkward grip points. Use appropriate handling equipment or assistance when needed rather than treating an average weight as a safe lifting limit.
Does Pallet Weight Affect Shipping Costs?
It contributes to the shipment’s gross weight. Freight charges may also depend on dimensions, density, freight class, distance, and carrier rules. Include the pallet and all packaging when preparing shipping information.