TARE
How much does an empty pallet weigh?
A standard wood GMA pallet weighs 33 to 49 lb (15 to 22 kg) empty. A reinforced wood build runs 55 to 66 lb (25 to 30 kg).
01 Numbers by build
| Pallet | Empty weight | Source note |
|---|---|---|
| Standard wood GMA 48 x 40 | 33 to 49 lb (15 to 22 kg) | Interlake Mecalux |
| Same, typical | About 37 lb (17 kg) | Wikipedia |
| Reinforced wood GMA | 55 to 66 lb (25 to 30 kg) | Interlake Mecalux |
02 Why weight varies
Wet lumber weighs more than dry. Hardwood weighs more than softwood. A block pallet uses more lumber than a stringer pallet of the same footprint. A repaired pallet carries extra boards and metal. Pallet production accounts for 43% of hardwood and 15% of softwood usage in the US, so the species mix is as wide as it sounds.
03 Where the figure matters
- Freight: a trailer of pallets has a measurable weight before anything is on it.
- Racks: dead weight counts against the beam rating.
- Handling: heavier pallets are harder on manual labour.
- Export: ocean freight is charged by weight or volume, whichever is greater.
04 Weight of a trailer of pallets
| Case | Pallets | At 37 lb | At 60 lb |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loaded positions, 53-foot trailer | 26 | 962 lb | 1,560 lb |
| Loaded positions, 53-foot trailer | 30 | 1,110 lb | 1,800 lb |
| Stacked empties, any count | 100 | 3,700 lb | 6,000 lb |
| Stacked empties, any count | 400 | 14,800 lb | 24,000 lb |
| Stacked empties, any count | 800 | 29,600 lb | 48,000 lb |
Loaded positions are the floor spaces on a trailer that carry freight; Interlake Mecalux puts a 53-foot trailer at 26 to 30 GMA pallets depending on configuration and weight. Stacked empties are pallets piled for return or storage, so the count is yours; the weight is the count multiplied by one pallet. 37 lb is a typical figure. These are pallet weights only, with no freight.
05 Weighing a sample
- Pick five pallets at random.
- Weigh each on a floor scale.
- Note the lightest and the heaviest.
- If the spread is wide, ask why.
06 Weights across materials
| Pallet | Empty weight |
|---|---|
| Wood, 48 x 40 x 6 in | 33 to 48 lb |
| Heavy-duty IPPC, about 44 x 48 in | About 135 lb |
| Plastic, lightweight | 3 to 15 lb |
| Plastic, heavy | Up to 300 lb |
| Paper (corrugated) | About 9.9 lb (4.5 kg) |
| EUR 1 | 20 to 25 kg |
A paper pallet is exempt from ISPM 15, as are plastic and steel.
07 Pounds to kilograms, worked
| Pounds | Kilograms | Method |
|---|---|---|
| 33 | 15.0 | 33 x 0.4536 |
| 37 | 16.8 | 37 x 0.4536 |
| 49 | 22.2 | 49 x 0.4536 |
| 55 | 24.9 | 55 x 0.4536 |
| 66 | 29.9 | 66 x 0.4536 |
| 135 | 61.2 | 135 x 0.4536 |
The 135 lb row is the heavy-duty IPPC pallet PHS describes. The kilogram figures are rounded to one decimal.
Q Questions
Why do some sources say 37 lb?
It is a typical figure for a GMA pallet. The range is 33 to 49 lb.
Why does a used pallet weigh more than a new one?
Moisture and old repairs add weight.
Src Sources
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