Standards
EPAL Euro pallet specification
Reviewed
EPAL is the European Pallet Association's licensed exchange-pallet system. The EPAL 1 Euro pallet is 1200 x 800 x 144 mm, weighs about 25 kg, and is built from 11 boards, 9 blocks and 78 nails, with a published safe working load of 1,500 kg. Only EPAL-licensed producers may make and mark it.
On this page
What EPAL covers
EPAL (European Pallet Association) runs a licensed system for exchangeable wooden pallets. Its specification, which descends from the railway standard UIC 435-2, fixes every part of the pallet: board sizes, block sizes, nail type and pattern, marking and quality control. That tight definition is what lets pallets be swapped one-for-one across Europe.
The best known is the EPAL 1, the Euro pallet, on the 1200 x 800 mm footprint listed in ISO 6780. The family also includes 1200 x 1000 (EUR 2 and EUR 3) and the half-size 800 x 600 (EUR 6).
EPAL 1 construction
| Item | Specification |
|---|---|
| Footprint and height | 1200 x 800 x 144 mm |
| Weight | About 25 kg |
| Top deck | 5 boards, 1200 mm long, 22 mm thick: 3 at 145 mm wide and 2 at 100 mm |
| Stringerboards | 3 boards, 800 x 145 x 22 mm |
| Bottom deck | 3 boards: 2 at 100 mm and 1 at 145 mm, chamfered |
| Blocks | 9 blocks, 78 mm high: six at 145 x 100 mm and three at 145 x 145 mm |
| Nails | 78, EPAL-approved, with a two-letter head mark, at least 20 mm from edges |
| Safe working load | 1,500 kg |
| Treatment | ISPM 15 heat treatment since 2010 |
The 11 boards are the 5 top boards, 3 stringerboards and 3 bottom boards. Deck thickness is nominally 22 mm, with a 22 to 24 mm range. Exactly which block size sits in which position is not stated in the sources we used, so confirm it against the official drawing.
EPAL markings
An EPAL pallet carries fixed marks:
- the EPAL oval on the left block;
- producer code, year and month, and ISPM 15 information on the center block;
- the EUR oval on the right block;
- a control staple, and a repair nail on repaired pallets.
EPAL also requires dry wood, to reduce mold risk.
EPAL vs "Euro-size"
Any mill can build a 1200 x 800 block pallet. Only a licensed EPAL producer can build and mark an EPAL pallet. In the US, Oak Creek Wood Products became the first EPAL 1 licensee in 2024, and Hinton Lumber also makes EPAL 1, EPAL 3 and CP pallets. If your European customer exchanges pallets in the EPAL pool, specify "EPAL licensed" in the RFQ. If they just need the footprint, "Euro-size block pallet, heat treated" is enough and opens the job to more suppliers.
EPAL 1 vs the GMA 48 x 40
| EPAL 1 | GMA-style 48 x 40 | |
|---|---|---|
| Footprint | 1200 x 800 mm (47.2 x 31.5 in) | 48 x 40 in (1219 x 1016 mm) |
| Class | Block | Stringer |
| Entry | Full 4-way | Partial 4-way (notched stringers) |
| Height | 144 mm (5.7 in) | 4.75 in |
| Nails | 78 | 84 |
| Weight | About 25 kg (55 lb) | About 59 lb, green mixed hardwood |
| Who can build it | EPAL licensees only | Any pallet mill |
The two do not mix well in one warehouse: the footprints differ, and so do rack beam spacing and truck loading patterns. See stringer vs block pallets.
Who uses EPAL
- European shippers and retailers in the open exchange pool.
- US exporters whose European customers require EPAL-marked pallets.
- Automated warehouses designed around the EPAL 1 dimensions.
Ordering Euro pallets in the US
Decide first whether you need the EPAL mark or just the size. For EPAL-marked pallets, ask a licensed producer, confirm the type (EPAL 1, EPAL 3 and so on), and confirm ISPM 15 heat treatment and dry wood. For a Euro-size pallet, send a full drawing, since there is no licensed spec to fall back on, and state that it must not carry EPAL or EUR marks.
How it shows up on a spec or drawing
An EPAL spec is usually one line: "EPAL 1, licensed, new". A Euro-size custom pallet needs the full drawing: footprint in mm, deck and block schedule, bottom style (EPAL 1 uses three parallel bottom boards), nail count, ISPM 15 HT and moisture requirement.
How palletdesign.ai uses it
palletdesign.ai has an EUR / EPAL 1 template that builds the 1200 x 800 block pallet in metric units: 5 top boards (145, 100, 145, 100, 145 mm), 3 stringerboards, 9 blocks 78 mm high and 3 bottom boards. You get a to-scale drawing, parts list, weight and indicative cost. It is a Euro-size design for quoting and review; an actual EPAL pallet must come from a licensee. The app's capacity check is indicative and is not the EPAL 1,500 kg rating.
Questions
- What are the dimensions of an EPAL Euro pallet?
- The EPAL 1 is 1200 x 800 x 144 mm, about 47.2 x 31.5 x 5.7 in, and weighs about 25 kg.
- How many nails are in an EPAL pallet?
- 78 EPAL-approved nails, each with a two-letter head mark, placed at least 20 mm from board edges.
- Can any pallet company make EPAL pallets?
- No. Only EPAL-licensed producers may build and mark EPAL pallets. Any shop can build a Euro-size 1200 x 800 block pallet without the EPAL mark.
- What load can an EPAL 1 pallet carry?
- EPAL publishes a safe working load of 1,500 kg for the EPAL 1. Higher loads are allowed only in specific support conditions such as floor stacking.