Pallet types in European road freight are standardised across dimensions, load capacity, and material to ensure compatibility between warehouses, carrier vehicles, and racking systems across the EU.
6 pallet types form the foundation of European B2B freight. Each has defined dimensions, a specific loading metre value, and a set of cargo applications that determine when it is used. The difference between a Euro pallet at 0.4 LDM and an industrial pallet at 0.5 LDM determines whether 33 pallets fit in a standard curtainsider or 26. Specifying the wrong pallet type at the point of booking produces LDM recalculations, surcharges, and loading failures at the collection address.
2 bodies govern European pallet standards. The EPAL (European Pallet Association) manages certification, quality control, and the exchange system for the EUR pallet range. The UIC (International Union of Railways) established the 1,200 × 800 mm dimension standard under UIC 435-2 — adopted for road freight and now the dominant format across the EU. ISO 6780 defines the 6 principal international pallet sizes recognised in global trade. These frameworks ensure that a pallet built in Belgium loads onto a rack in Poland, a truck in Germany, or a carrier in any of the 29 European countries Go Trans operates across without specification changes.
A loading metre (LDM) is one linear metre of trailer floor space across the full 2.4 m trailer width — the standard pricing unit for LTL freight in Europe. Every pallet type occupies a specific LDM value, recorded in each section below.
The Go Trans logistics glossary covers all vehicle, freight, and logistics document terms used in European cross-border operations.
The 6 pallet types in this cluster share the same governing frameworks but differ in dimensions, construction, and cargo application — the most widely used format in Europe comes first.
Euro Pallet
The Euro pallet is a 1,200 × 800 mm wooden platform certified by the EPAL and the dominant pallet standard in European road freight — approximately 80% of palletised LTL shipments in the EU move on this format.
The Euro pallet measures 1,200 × 800 × 144 mm and carries a dynamic load of 1,500 kg on a moving vehicle. Static stacking capacity reaches 5,500 kg. Each Euro pallet occupies 0.4 LDM on a curtainsider, and a standard 13.6 m semi-trailer carries 33 Euro pallets in a single layer. EPAL certification requires every Euro pallet to be manufactured under UIC 435-2 and heat-treated under ISPM-15 — making it compliant for international export without additional phytosanitary treatment.
The EPAL exchange system operates on a 1:1 basis. The carrier delivers goods on EPAL-certified pallets; the recipient returns an equal number of EPAL-certified pallets at the point of delivery. Both parties must use pallets carrying a valid and current EPAL certification mark — pallets without valid stamps are not accepted in the exchange.
The Euro pallet is the reference format for pallet racking, road transport, and automated warehouses across European supply chains, with its exchange certification governed separately from its dimensional standard.
Industrial Pallet
The industrial pallet is a 1,200 × 1,000 mm platform — wider than the Euro pallet — used for heavy unit loads in automotive, chemical, and manufacturing supply chains across Europe.
Also designated as the EUR 2 pallet within the EPAL range, the industrial pallet occupies 0.5 LDM per unit on a curtainsider. A standard 13.6 m semi-trailer carries 26–27 industrial pallets in a single layer compared to 33 Euro pallets — the wider footprint reduces trailer utilisation and increases LDM cost per consignment. Industrial pallets cannot load in 2 parallel columns inside a standard 2.4 m wide trailer without overlap; they run in a single column, losing the loading efficiency of the Euro pallet format.
The British pallet shares the 1,200 × 1,000 mm footprint with the industrial pallet but differs in construction standards and certification. Post-Brexit, UK-bound pallet freight frequently moves on this format — the receiver's pallet specification is confirmed at the booking stage before the transport order is issued to the carrier.
The industrial pallet is the second most widely used pallet format in European road freight and the standard for heavy manufacturing supply chains where the wider base provides greater load stability than the 1,200 × 800 mm Euro format.
Block Pallet
A block pallet is a pallet with solid wooden block feet at each corner and in the centre, making it accessible from all 4 sides by forklift or pallet truck.
The 4-way entry design is the defining structural characteristic. A stringer pallet uses 2 or 3 parallel boards running the length of the pallet, restricting forklift entry to 2 sides. The block pallet's 9-block arrangement distributes the load across the base more evenly and provides a more stable racking interface than stringer construction. Block pallets are produced in both Euro (1,200 × 800 mm) and industrial (1,200 × 1,000 mm) footprints — the footprint determines the LDM value (0.4 or 0.5 respectively).
Heavy industrial goods, beverages, and unit loads requiring multi-directional handling move on block pallets where warehouse layout or automated handling systems require 4-way forklift access. The block pallet construction is standard in North American freight and increasingly specified in EU automated warehouse environments where full 4-way pallet truck access reduces aisle-width requirements.
Lightweight Pallet
A lightweight pallet is made from materials including plastic, compressed wood, or paper honeycomb — designed to reduce the tare weight of the loaded consignment where dimensional or gross weight pricing applies.
A standard wooden EUR pallet weighs approximately 25 kg. Lightweight variants range from 4 kg (paper honeycomb) to 12 kg (plastic or compressed wood). Pallet tare weight directly affects the freight invoice for air freight and express road shipments where the carrier charges by gross weight or dimensional weight — whichever is higher — making the 13–21 kg weight saving per pallet commercially significant at volume.
Lightweight pallets maintain the standard EUR footprint (1,200 × 800 mm) and are compatible with standard racking and forklift equipment. Plastic and paper composite pallets are exempt from ISPM-15 heat treatment requirements — an operational advantage for international export where solid wood pallets require phytosanitary certification before crossing non-EU borders.
The lightweight pallet occupies the same 0.4 LDM as a standard EUR pallet but contributes less to the gross weight of the consignment — the freight pricing impact depends on the carrier's weight-to-LDM ratio applied at the point of booking.
Wire Mesh Pallet
A wire mesh pallet is a metal frame platform with a wire mesh base used for industrial goods, loose-packed items, or cargo requiring ventilation during storage and transport.
The steel wire mesh construction makes the wire mesh pallet heavier than wooden alternatives but significantly more durable and reusable across a longer service life. The mesh base provides continuous air circulation around the load — relevant for automotive parts, chemicals, produce, and goods requiring ventilation during transit or warehouse storage. Most wire mesh pallet designs provide 4-way forklift entry and stack on the same footprint, making them efficient for high-volume industrial logistics chains where reusable unit load carriers reduce packaging waste across repeat deliveries.
The wire mesh pallet carries goods that require airflow inspection during transit without unpacking, or that would be damaged or contaminated in a sealed wooden pallet base — making it the standard unit load carrier in automotive and chemical supply chains across Europe.
Sandwich Pallet
A sandwich pallet is a pallet constructed from two deck boards enclosing a core layer — providing a flat, rigid, and smooth bearing surface with lower tare weight than a solid wooden block pallet.
The core material — wood fibre, corrugated board, or foam — is sandwiched between a top and bottom deck board, producing a uniform flat surface with no gaps between boards. This surface consistency is the primary reason the sandwich pallet is selected — food, pharmaceutical, and precision manufacturing logistics require a clean, even bearing surface where goods cannot rest on a gapped or uneven platform without risk of contamination, marking, or instability. The sandwich construction reduces weight relative to solid wood pallets of the same footprint without sacrificing surface flatness.
Sandwich pallets are produced in EUR and industrial footprints and are compatible with standard racking and handling equipment. The sandwich pallet is selected where the bearing surface specification drives the pallet choice rather than the structural entry design — the correct format for precision and regulated-goods supply chains where surface flatness and cleanliness are part of the cargo specification.
Pallet Delivery Across Europe
All 6 pallet types in this cluster move on European road freight — and the pallet dimensions, weight, and LDM value are the first data points a carrier uses to price and plan a consignment. Go Trans arranges pallet delivery across Europe through carrier partners DSV, DHL, DPD, UPS, and FedEx across 29 European countries. Pallet type, dimensions, quantity, and weight are confirmed at the booking stage — accurate data at that point prevents LDM surcharges and loading failures at the collection address.
Get a Freight Quote
To arrange pallet delivery across 29 European countries, request a shipping quote through Go Trans.