A 48 by 40 inch pallet, the GMA pallet, is the standard North American size at 1,219 by 1,016 millimetres, and it covers about 13.3 square feet. It is the pallet most South Bay docks buy, sell and clear.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 48 x 40 inches (1,219 x 1,016 mm) |
| Usable surface | About 13.3 square feet (1.23 square metres) |
| Typical height | 5.5 to 6 inches |
| Weight, standard wood | 33 to 48 pounds |
| Weight, reinforced | 55 to 66 pounds |
| Dynamic load | 2,000 to 2,800 pounds |
| Static load | 2,500 to 4,600 pounds |
| Boxes per layer | Nine 16 x 12 inch cartons |
The standard GMA pallet of the 1960s was a 48-inch by 40-inch wooden platform that permitted four-way entry. The GMA organization no longer governs specifications, but ISO accepts the CBA's 48 by 40 specification as the North American standard, and about 30 percent of all new wood pallets produced in the United States are this size.
That share is why it dominates used stock. A dock that receives from many suppliers sees 48x40s in most of its pile, and a buyer can fill an outbound trailer from a pile of them without checking each footprint.
Used 48x40s come as Grade A, Grade B or Grade C, as combo from remanufacture, and as new, built to a spec sheet. Heat-treated versions carry the ISPM 15 mark. The Grade A vs Grade B guide shows how to tell the grades at the dock. For buying, start at used pallets; for selling, at surplus 48x40s.
100 48x40 empties stacked 10 high are 10 stacks covering about 133 square feet. Stack height is roughly 5 feet at 6 inches a pallet. See the footprint guide for the method.
Yes. GMA pallet means the 48 by 40 inch pallet, although the GMA organization no longer governs the specification.
Standard wood pallets handle 2,000 to 2,800 pounds under dynamic loading. Specific pallets vary, and a repaired one may carry less.
Sources, last reviewed 12 November 2026