The Euro pallet, officially the EPAL 1 or EUR 1, is a four-way block pallet measuring 1200 × 800 × 144 mm (47.2 × 31.5 × 5.7 in) that weighs about 25 kg and is rated for a safe working load of 1,500 kg. It is built from 11 boards, 9 blocks and 78 nails, and it is the core of the open European pallet exchange pool. Only pallets branded and produced or repaired by licensees of the European Pallet Association (EPAL) count as genuine Euro pallets.
Specifications at a glance
| Feature | EPAL 1 (EUR 1) |
|---|---|
| Length × width × height | 1200 × 800 × 144 mm (47.2 × 31.5 × 5.7 in) |
| Weight | about 25 kg (55 lb) |
| Construction | 11 boards, 9 blocks, 78 nails |
| Dimensional tolerance | ±3 mm on length, width and height |
| Block size | 100 mm height (±3 mm) |
| Board thickness | 22–24 mm for bottom and stringer boards (stringers up to 25 mm) |
| Safe working load | 1,500 kg (3,300 lb) |
| Stacking | up to 5,500 kg on the bottom pallet, on a solid, even floor |
| Entry | four-way, with chamfered bottom boards for pallet trucks |
| Standard | EPAL technical regulations; ISPM 15 heat treatment |
Poplar is not permitted for stringer boards, and wane (remaining bark edge) on stringer boards is not allowed. The bottom boards must be chamfered on the upper edges of both long sides so that pallet-truck wheels roll in easily. Nails must be of EPAL-approved types, each marked on the head with two letters that identify the manufacturer. The 78-nail pattern is part of what makes the pallet recognizable, and it is one of the checks used when looking for counterfeit Euro pallets.
Why 1200 × 800 mm?
The footprint was designed around rail wagons, doors and trucks. Three 800 mm sides fit across the roughly 2.4 m interior width of a standard European trailer, which is why a 13.6 m semi-trailer takes 33 Euro pallets in a single layer (eleven rows of three). The pallet also passes through many standard doorways, a point repeatedly made in descriptions of its design. The size is one of the six formats listed in ISO 6780; see ISO 6780: the six international pallet sizes and, for loading patterns, pallets in trucks.
History
According to the commonly cited history, European railway companies, working through the International Union of Railways (UIC), standardized the pallet in 1961 to make exchange between national railways possible. For decades the rail administrations ran an exchange pool based on the "EUR" mark.
As railways stepped back from pallet logistics, the system needed an owner. The European Pallet Association e.V. (EPAL) was founded in 1991, with headquarters in Düsseldorf, to protect quality standards and manage the trademark, and its "EPAL in oval" mark gradually replaced the older rail marks. Since 1 January 2010, EPAL states, all newly produced EPAL Euro pallets are heat treated in accordance with ISPM 15, so that they can move across borders without further treatment. EPAL reports more than 650 million EPAL pallets in circulation worldwide. The wider story, including early skid pallets, is told in the history of the pallet.
Markings
A genuine pallet carries up to ten branded or stamped marking elements. Since August 2013 the "EPAL in oval" brand sits on both outer corner blocks of the long side, and the central block carries the ISPM 15 (IPPC) mark with country code, plant-protection registration number and treatment code, as well as the licensee number plus year and month of manufacture. Further marks are:
- a control staple that shows the pallet was produced under EPAL's quality control;
- a repair nail with EPAL's mark and the repairer's licence number, present only after a licensed repair;
- the model designation shown on the block.
Reading these marks one by one is explained in how to read EPAL pallet markings.
The exchange pool
The Euro pallet is the best-known open pool pallet. In an open exchange, a sender delivers loaded pallets and the receiver hands back the same number of empty pallets of comparable quality, so no one owns individual pallets and no rental fees are due. This only works when everyone accepts the same quality standard.
EPAL provides one through its quality classification of used pallets, in which new pallets are class A and used exchangeable pallets are class B or C, as described in used EPAL pallet quality classes. Pallets that are broken, contaminated, unmarked or carry twisted blocks are not exchangeable and must be repaired by a licensed repair company before they return to circulation. Closed rental pools work differently; compare the pallet exchange system with pooled formats.
Licensing and who may produce Euro pallets
The EPAL trademark is protected, and only licensed companies may produce, repair or trade EPAL load carriers under the brand. Applicants apply to EPAL or a national committee, must meet equipment and technical requirements, produce test pallets, and are inspected by EPAL's appointed inspection company. EPAL's own materials say the procedure should not exceed three months. Sanctions for non-compliance range from fines to suspension of trademark use or withdrawal of the licence. The process is covered in how to get an EPAL licence.
The practical consequence for buyers is simple. A pallet that looks like a Euro pallet but lacks the correct markings, staple or dimensions is not an EPAL pallet and may be refused by receivers or in exchange transactions.
Other EPAL formats
The Euro pallet is the EPAL 1. The family also includes the EPAL 2 and EPAL 3 (both 1200 × 1000 mm or 1000 × 1200 mm), the EPAL 6 and 7 half pallets (800 × 600 mm), the EPAL box pallet and, for the chemical industry, the CP series. They are compared in EPAL pallet types.
Frequently asked questions
What are the exact dimensions of a Euro pallet?
1200 × 800 mm with a height of 144 mm (47.2 × 31.5 × 5.7 in), with a tolerance of ±3 mm. The pallet has 11 boards, 9 blocks and 78 nails.
How much weight can a Euro pallet carry?
EPAL specifies a safe working load of 1,500 kg and a maximum of 5,500 kg on the bottom pallet when laden pallets are stacked on a solid, even surface. Racking capacity is a separate rating that depends on the rack.
Are all 1200 × 800 mm pallets Euro pallets?
No. Many pallets share the size, but only pallets produced or repaired by EPAL licensees and carrying the EPAL marks, control staple and approved nails qualify for the exchange pool.
Do Euro pallets meet ISPM 15?
Yes. EPAL states that all newly produced Euro pallets have been heat treated in accordance with ISPM 15 since 1 January 2010, and the IPPC mark is on the central blocks.
Sources
- EPAL Euro Pallet (EPAL 1) technical data — European Pallet Association
- EPAL Euro pallet (EPAL 1) data sheet — EPAL data sheet hosted by Qimarox
- EPAL licensing FAQ — European Pallet Association
- EPAL licensing stipulations (27 May 2021) — European Pallet Association
- EPAL Quality and Exchange guide — European Pallet Association
- EUR-pallet — Wikipedia
- Pallet — Wikipedia