As the basic load-bearing equipment in the logistics and warehousing field, the standardization of the size specifications of standard plastic pallets is the key to improving logistics efficiency and reducing circulation costs. At the international level, in order to avoid confusion in logistics systems caused by complex pallet specifications, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has standardized and integrated pallet dimensions. At present, there are four mainstream international standard sizes that have obtained ISO certification, namely 1200 × 800mm, 1200 × 1000mm, 1219 × 1016mm, and 1100 × 1100mm. These sizes are widely used in different regions around the world, adapting to local transportation vehicles, shelving facilities, and container specifications, and have become the universal foundation for international logistics intermodal transportation.
Different countries and regions have formed their own mainstream pallet sizes based on their own logistics system characteristics. In countries such as Germany and France on the European continent, 1200 × 800mm is the universal standard size, which can perfectly adapt to the internal space of local truck carriages and containers, greatly improving the efficiency of cargo loading; Countries such as the UK, Finland, and the Netherlands tend to use 1200 × 1000mm pallets, which have strong universality in international logistics and are easy to connect with logistics systems in other countries. In North America, the standard size is 1219 × 1016mm (48 inches × 40 inches), which is in line with the specifications of local transportation vehicles and storage facilities. In Asian countries such as Japan and South Korea, 1100 × 1100mm square pallets account for a higher proportion and are suitable for local cargo storage and handling needs.
After years of practice and standardization, the standard size of plastic pallets in our country is mainly determined as 1200 × 1000mm and 1100 × 1100mm, with 1200 × 1000mm being listed as the preferred recommended specification. The 1200 × 1000mm rectangular pallet is compatible with over 90% of the fork spacing of domestic internal combustion forklifts, and can perfectly match the internal space of standard shelves and box trucks. It is widely used in industries such as machinery manufacturing, auto parts, and chemical engineering. Enterprises using this size pallet can increase space utilization by 20% compared to using non-standard sizes. The 1100 × 1100mm square tray, with its four-way fork design advantage, is compatible with AGV robots and automated sorting lines, becoming a standard configuration for e-commerce logistics companies such as JD.com and Debang. It can improve sorting efficiency by 30% and meet the international logistics "modularization" requirements. It can adapt to 20 foot containers and is suitable for high-frequency turnover of light and small goods.
In addition to universal standard sizes, plastic pallets have also evolved a series of specific sizes for specific industries and scenarios. For example, narrow aisle shelves in automobile companies can be customized with 1300 × 900mm pallets to improve space utilization, which can increase space utilization by 25%; In the cold chain industry, in a -30 ℃ cold storage environment, a 1200 × 1000mm thick design tray is used to avoid dimensional accuracy issues caused by low-temperature shrinkage by increasing the wall thickness by 2mm. In addition, double-sided mesh plastic trays come in various specifications such as 1200 × 1200mm, 1300 × 1100mm, 1400 × 1100mm, etc., to meet the special load-bearing and turnover needs of different industries. The emergence of these special sized pallets further enriches the application scenarios of standard plastic pallets and promotes the development of logistics systems towards finer and more personalized directions.
2026-03-06
