Pallet
A Pallet is a flat, portable platform — typically wooden, plastic or metal — onto which goods are stacked, secured (often shrink-wrapped or strapped) and handled as a single unit load. Its feet or blocks let a forklift or pallet jack lift and move it, making the pallet the basic building block of unit-load handling in warehouses, trucks and containers.
Standard sizes vary by region — the ISO, Euro (EUR/EPAL) and North American (GMA) pallets are the most common — and the choice affects how efficiently goods fit a container or truck. Wooden pallets in international trade must meet the ISPM 15 phytosanitary standard (heat-treated and stamped) to control pests. Palletisation speeds loading, protects goods, and enables mechanised handling and pooling systems, making it fundamental to modern warehousing and distribution.
The humble pallet is what makes mechanised logistics possible — it turns loose cartons into a single forkliftable unit, speeding every load, store and move. Pallet size drives how well goods cube out a container, and international rules (ISPM 15) govern the wood. It is the quiet standard underneath warehousing and distribution.
What are the common pallet sizes?
The ISO sizes, the Euro (EUR/EPAL) pallet in Europe and the GMA pallet in North America are the most widely used.
Do wooden pallets need treatment for export?
Yes — wooden pallets in international trade must meet ISPM 15 (heat-treated and stamped) to prevent spreading pests.