Used Euro plastic pallets
Used Euro plastic pallets are the 1200 x 800 mm footprint, 48 x 32 in, which is often required for shipments into Europe and is the second most popular plastic pallet size worldwide. Many are lightweight one-way versions.
- Footprint
- 1200 x 800 mm (48 x 32 in)
- Worldwide
- Second most popular plastic size
- Example (STK 783)
- Dynamic 3,500 lb, static 15,000 lb
- ISO 6780 lists
- 800 x 1200 mm for Europe
Where the Euro pallet comes from
ISO 6780 lists three pallet footprints: 1016 x 1219 mm for North America, 1000 x 1200 mm for Europe and Asia, and 800 x 1200 mm for Europe. The last is the Euro pallet. A shipper sending goods into Europe is often asked for it, and a plastic Euro pallet is a way to give it without an ISPM 15 stamp.
Light for one-way, strong for loops
| Type | Typical build | Used buyer |
|---|---|---|
| Lightweight one-way | Many versions made for export, not for return | An exporter who will not see the pallet again |
| Heavier stackable | One example: dynamic 3,500 lb, static 15,000 lb | A shipper who stacks in transit |
| Multi-trip | Built for return and reuse | A closed loop with a European partner |
Used Euro pallets and what to ask
Ask for the measured footprint, the weight, and whether the pallet is a light one-way model or a stacker. A used lot of Euro pallets may mix both. Ask for a rating of each, and ask whether any has a name or tag on it.
- Measure both sides in millimetres
- Weigh a sample
- Check ratings or call them unknown
- Check for owner marks
Euro in, Euro out
A Euro pallet that travels one way is usually bought to match the receiver. Confirm that the receiver wants a Euro 1200 x 800 and not a 1200 x 1000, which is the ISO 2 footprint of both Europe and Asia. Measure three pallets in millimetres. A consignee who finds the wrong footprint may refuse the lot, and the return freight is costly.
Light models and heavy ones
Two Euro plastic pallets can look alike and behave differently. A light one-way model may weigh little, tolerate a few trips and fail under a racked load, while a heavier stacker is moulded with thicker ribs and carries a higher static rating. Weigh three pallets from a lot, compare the figures, and sort the lot into two piles before you count. Mixed together, the light ones can end up at the bottom of a stack they cannot hold.
Matching a consignee's forklifts
European warehouses commonly handle pallets from the short side or the long side depending on the rack and the truck. Ask which sides your consignee's forklifts and pallet jacks enter, then check the pocket layout of the lot against that. A mismatch means unloading by hand or re-palletising at destination, which defeats the saving that a lightweight one-way pallet offers.
Photographs worth taking
- One wide shot of each stack with a tape or a person for scale.
- The four corners of a sample pallet, close enough to show gouges.
- The underside, including the runners and the bottom of each fork pocket.
- Any plate, label, moulded number or mark, shot square on and in raking light.
- Repairs and cracks, with a coin or a ruler beside them to show size.
Comparing two lots fairly
- Use the same footprint for both, measured in the same units.
- Compare grade by wear, not by the seller's letter.
- Count makers present in each, since fewer makers means a more uniform lot.
- Compare the share of repaired pieces, and where the repairs sit.
- Set freight, timing and handling beside the wear, rather than in place of it.
Walk-around checklist
The same four stops for every lot, in order. Tick each as you go.
- 1Deck: flat, light ones flex-tested by hand
- 2Corners: corners without chips
- 3Runners: runners whole
- 4Fork pockets: pockets open on the sides the destination uses
- Measured in millimetres
Words used on this page
- Euro pallet
- 800 x 1200 mm footprint.
- Multi-trip pallet
- A pallet designed to be returned and reused many times.
- One-way pallet
- A cheaper pallet shipped with the load and not expected back.
- Fork pocket
- Opening in the pallet where the forks go.
- ISPM 15
- The international standard for treating wood packaging against pests. Plastic pallets are outside it.
What the sources say
- ISO 6780 lists 1016 x 1219 mm for North America, 1000 x 1200 mm for Europe and Asia and 800 x 1200 mm for Europe. en.wikipedia.org
- The 800 x 1200 mm Euro footprint is the second most popular plastic pallet size worldwide. blog.containerexchanger.com
- Static capacity is the highest of the three ratings; racking is often the lowest; dynamic is always lower than static. nelsoncompany.com
- That Nelson model is under 5 in tall, which the page says suits air freight, and works with automation and most roller conveyors. nelsoncompany.com
How a request works
- Pick the footprint, then the grade you can live with.
- Say what the pallets will carry and how many you need.
- Read the written lot description that comes back.
- Agree the lot before anything moves.
The four grades, in a line each
- Like new. A few trips only. Clean, no cracks, no missing parts, deck and runners flat.
- Used and clean. Many trips, scuffs and colour variation, but whole and usable for general-purpose or closed-loop work.
- Repaired. A cracked or chipped part welded or swapped. Some designs use snap-lock parts for repair.
- Mixed lot. Mixed makers, colours and sizes sold by the truckload, sorted by footprint.
Questions people ask
Is a Euro pallet 48 x 32?
It is 1200 x 800 mm, which rounds to 48 x 32 in.
Are Euro plastic pallets always light?
No. Many are light one-way versions, but a stacker example lists 15,000 lb static.
Do I need a stamp?
Not for plastic. See the ISPM 15 page.
Ask for a lot
Pick a footprint and a grade. The reply describes a matched lot in writing.