The two UK pallet sizes you will meet most are the UK standard pallet, 1,200 by 1,000 mm, and the Euro pallet, 1,200 by 800 mm. Loaded height and weight decide whether it ships as a full, half or quarter pallet. First Choice Transportation Ltd covers each pallet size, the weights and how many fit in a van.
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The standard pallet size UK businesses use is 1,200 by 1,000 mm (about 4 feet by 3 feet 3 inches). It is the pallet of British manufacturing, building supplies and warehousing, and the size most UK pallet racking is built around.
| Pallet | Length | Width | Floor area |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK standard pallet | 1,200 mm | 1,000 mm | 1.2 m² |
| Euro pallet (EUR 1) | 1,200 mm | 800 mm | 0.96 m² |
If someone quotes “120 by 120” for a UK pallet, check: 1,200 by 1,200 mm is a larger, less common size, and it takes more floor space than either pallet above.
The Euro pallet size is 1,200 by 800 mm, the same length as a UK pallet but 200 mm narrower, so it has about 20% less floor area. Euro pallets are the norm in European trade and common in UK retail distribution, because more of them fit side by side in a lorry or a van.
Always tell a carrier which pallet you have: a load priced for Euro pallets that turns up on UK standard pallets may not fit.
Pallet dimensions are more than the footprint: loaded height and weight decide how a pallet is classed. Typical UK pallet-network limits:
| Class | Max height (incl. base) | Max weight |
|---|---|---|
| Full pallet | about 2.2 m | about 1,000 to 1,200 kg |
| Half pallet | about 1.2 m | about 500 kg |
| Quarter pallet | about 0.8 m | about 250 kg |
Each network sets its own exact limits, so check before booking. In a dedicated van, the classes do not apply: what matters is that the pallets fit and the total stays within the van’s payload.
A half pallet size and a quarter pallet size usually describe the height and weight of the load, not a smaller base. Most use the same 1,200 by 1,000 mm footprint:
Some retailers also use smaller display pallets (for example 800 by 600 mm or 600 by 400 mm), so confirm both the footprint and the height when you ask for a price.
How much does a pallet weigh? An empty wooden pallet usually weighs about 15 to 30 kg, depending on the timber and how heavily it is built; plastic pallets are often lighter. The pallet weight counts towards every limit, so a “1,000 kg” pallet means goods plus pallet.
When you book, give the weight of each loaded pallet. If you do not know it, the product data sheets or delivery notes for the goods usually do.
| Vehicle | UK standard pallets | Euro pallets | Payload (ours) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Long wheelbase van | up to 3 to 4 | up to 4 to 5 | about 1,100 to 1,300 kg |
| Luton van | up to 6 | up to 8 | about 1,000 kg |
| Lorry | Quoted per job | ||
Pallets need a forklift or pallet truck at both ends unless the goods can be carried by hand. Same day pallets, priced per van: pallet delivery. All vehicles: van sizes and our fleet.
In the UK, a standard pallet is 1,200 by 1,000 mm, about 4 feet by 3 feet 3 inches, and a Euro pallet is 1,200 by 800 mm. The wooden base itself is usually about 15 cm high. A loaded full pallet can stand up to about 2.2 metres high including the base, depending on the carrier.
No. Both are 1,200 mm long, but a Euro pallet is 800 mm wide and a UK standard pallet is 1,000 mm wide, so the Euro pallet has about 20% less floor area. Euro pallets are common in retail and across Europe; UK standard pallets dominate British manufacturing, building supplies and warehousing.
A standard 13.6-metre articulated trailer takes 26 UK standard pallets or 33 Euro pallets on the floor, single stacked. Smaller rigid lorries take fewer. In a van, our long wheelbase vans take up to 3 to 4 UK pallets and our Luton vans up to 6 UK pallets, within their weight limits.
Pallet networks usually cap a full pallet at about 1,000 to 1,200 kg including the pallet, a half pallet at about 500 kg and a quarter pallet at about 250 kg. The pallet itself must also be rated for the load. In a van, the van’s payload is the real limit, so tell us each pallet’s weight.
Through a pallet network, one pallet going a long way with no deadline is often the cheapest option. In a dedicated van with us, the price is per vehicle: £60 for the first 10 miles then £1.80 a mile, plus VAT, however many pallets fit. That suits same day delivery and several pallets to one address.
Measure the footprint of the loaded pallet, including any overhang, then the height from the floor to the top of the load, including the pallet base. Weigh it if you can. Carriers price and plan on those three figures, and goods that overhang the base or exceed the height limit can be refused.
First Choice Transportation Ltd is a registered UK company (No. 15276847) based in Southgate, North London, founded by Allam, who has 15 years’ experience in courier and transport work, with 30 drivers across the UK.
Collected within the hour and driven direct: no hub, no overnight trunking.
£60 for the first 10 miles, then £1.80 a mile, plus VAT.
Both fit our long wheelbase and Luton vans.
Signature and photo on handover, texted to you.
