palletdesign.ai

Glossary

Overall height

Also called: pallet height, height

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Definition

Overall height is the total height of a pallet from the bottom of its lowest part to the top of its top deck. For a stringer pallet it is top deck + stringer height + bottom deck: a GMA-style 48x40 is 0.625 + 3.5 + 0.625 = 4.75 in. The EPAL 1 Euro pallet is 144 mm.

How to calculate overall height

Construction Formula
Stringer pallet top deck + stringer height + bottom deck
Skid top deck + runner height
Block pallet top deck + top stringerboard + block + bottom stringerboard (if any) + bottom deck

Examples:

Pallet Overall height
GMA-style 48x40 stringer (5/8 in decks, 3-1/2 in stringers) 4.75 in
EPAL 1 Euro pallet 144 mm (about 5.7 in)

Why overall height matters

  • Fork entry: height sets the opening for tines and pallet jacks
  • Unit load height: trailers, racks and retailer programs often cap the total height, so the pallet's height eats into product height (the PDS example unit load is 50 in of boxes on a 4.75 in pallet, 54.75 in overall)
  • Truckloads of empties: shorter pallets stack more per trailer
  • Automation: conveyors and AS/RS systems have fixed clearances

Size in the Uniform Standard is stated as length x width x overall height. See pallet dimensions explained and pallet footprint.

Questions

How tall is a standard pallet?
A GMA-style 48x40 stringer pallet is about 4-3/4 in tall. Block pallets are often taller; the EPAL Euro pallet is 144 mm (about 5.7 in).

Sources