EPAL reference specification
EPAL 1: the numbers, and what they apply to
These are the published reference figures for the EPAL 1 Euro pallet. They describe EPAL 1 — they are not a blanket specification for every pallet built to the 1200 x 800 footprint.
Reference figures
| Deck dimensions | 1200 x 800 mm |
|---|---|
| Overall height | 144 mm |
| Deck boards | 11 boards |
| Blocks | 9 blocks |
| Nails | 78 nails |
| Weight | Approximately 25 kg |
| Safe working load | 1500 kg |
| Maximum load, bottom pallet | Up to 5500 kg as the bottom pallet in a laden stack, on a solid, level floor |
Read the load figures carefully
The 1500 kg safe working load and the 5500 kg bottom-pallet figure are reference values with conditions attached: an evenly distributed load, a solid and level floor, and sound pallets. They are not a promise about your goods, your packing, your racking or a damaged pallet.
What the figures mean in practice
Nine blocks, eleven boards, four-way entry
EPAL 1 is a block pallet: nine blocks carry the load between the top deck and the bottom boards, which is what allows entry from all four sides and gives the pallet its stiffness. Eleven deck boards — five on top with the wider boards at the edges and centre, and the bottom boards beneath — spread the load into those blocks. The 78 nails are specified in pattern and position, not just in number; that is part of why a licensed pallet behaves predictably.
144 mm is the number that breaks racking plans
Height is the figure people forget when they calculate stack heights inside a trailer or a container. At 144 mm per pallet, four pallets of dunnage-free height is well over half a metre before any goods are loaded. If you are planning storage or trailer loading, read Euro sizes and warehouse compatibility.
Approximately 25 kg is a real handling issue
A dry new pallet sits around 25 kg; a wet used pallet can be appreciably heavier, because timber absorbs water. If your team handles pallets manually all day, that variance matters more than the headline figure, and it is one reason people ask about lightweight pallets.
Why we insist on the attribution
An unbranded pallet may look identical and be built to a quite different standard: thinner boards, fewer or differently placed nails, softer timber. It is still Euro-format, because that is a footprint. It is not EPAL 1, and none of the figures above can be assumed for it. Anyone quoting 1500 kg for an unmarked pallet is guessing.
Attribution
Figures on this page are the EPAL reference specification for EPAL 1, reproduced for information. EPAL is a registered trademark of European Pallet Association e.V. and publishes the authoritative specification.
Not a licence claim
Only EPAL licensees may produce or repair pallets bearing EPAL marks. We are an independent supplier and make no claim to be licensed, approved or endorsed.