How Big Is A Wooden Pallet Supposed To Be?
Business leaders often have many questions when they’re in the process of investing in wood pallets, and one common concern is how big is a wooden pallet and how pallet sizes may impact several logistics factors.
There are actually many different standard pallet sizes that companies need to be aware of, and each size offers its pros and cons that could play a vital role in deciphering a company’s business success. It’s also crucial for businesses to understand how standard pallet sizes often differ between industries and countries.
Although plenty of supply chain specialists and manufacturers will take standard pallet sizes for granted, there’s a lot to be said about pallet sizes in terms of warehouse automation optimization and logistics savings. Below is a comprehensive overview detailing everything you need to know about standard wooden pallet sizes!
Standard Pallet Sizes In The United States
The standard pallet size in the USA is typically 48” x 40”, and this is a standard that was originally established to support the grocery industry by the Consumer Brand Association (CBA).
The CBA first started way back in 1908, and they helped increase the efficiency of the grocery industry by switching from wooden boxes and crates to pallets. As decades went by, wooden pallets became even more of a staple within just about every company’s shipping strategies, and the 48×40 pallet size has consistently remained the top option among American businesses.
Today, about 30% of all wooden pallets in North America are 48×40, which makes it the most standard pallet size in this part of the world. However, this doesn’t mean that businesses aren’t using other pallet sizes. Some of the other most common pallet sizes in the United States include:
- 40×40
- 36×36
- 48×20
- 48×42
- 44×44
- 48×48
Why Are Pallet Sizes So Important For Businesses?
It may seem like regulatory agencies are butting their heads into private business affairs when it comes to how standard pallet sizes are decided, but the truth is that standard pallet sizes are actually meant to help companies when it comes to increasing their overall supply chain efficiency.
Standard pallet sizes help companies to optimize their handling equipment to support the same wooden pallets again and again, and this can also help when it comes to transportation and warehouse storage concerns as well. If a company relies upon automation in any way, standard pallet sizes make any adjustments more seamless.
Standard pallet sizes also make it easier to incorporate recycled pallets into your company’s supply. When your business is utilizing the same sized wooden pallets, it’ll encourage you to recover damaged pallets and reuse them when they’re functional again.
Why Standard Pallet Sizes Aren’t Universally Applicable
It’s crucial for business leaders to remember that their standard pallets aren’t going to useful for every product and/or shipment. There are plenty of businesses that require custom pallets for some or all of their shipments, and these extra steps are often required to avoid potential damages and product losses.
Making pallet size determinations for your company will often depend upon factors like your product’s weight and size. Some things to keep in mind when considering your best pallet size solution include:
- How you’ll be transporting your products
- Where you’ll be storing your pallets
- If you’ll be re-using your pallets
- The overall costs of your packaging and shipping solutions
The good news is that when you partner up with a pallet management business, they’ll help you weight out all of these factors as they point you in the right direction towards a pallet size that’s best suited for your company’s unique needs!
Contact The Pallet Guys To Learn More About Pallet Sizes!
There’s a lot that business leaders need to consider when they’re thinking about their preferred wooden pallet sizes, and The Pallet Guys are some of the best pallet specialists in the country when it comes to helping business leaders better understand their unique logistics requirements.
You can learn more about standard pallet sizes by going through the link at the top of the page and speaking directly with The Pallet Guys today!
