The 48x40 GMA pallet is the most common US pallet footprint, named for the Grocery Manufacturers Association, which popularized it for grocery and consumer goods.
Detailed Definition
A 48x40 GMA-style pallet measures 48 inches along the stringers and 40 inches along the deck boards. It is commonly built as a three-stringer design with notched stringers, giving partial four-way entry, with seven top deck boards and five bottom deck boards often cited as the typical layout. The GMA, now part of the Consumer Brands Association, popularized the footprint for grocery and consumer goods. Exact board counts, thicknesses and lumber vary between suppliers, so buyers should confirm a written spec.
Why 48x40 became the US default
The 48 by 40 inch footprint, equal to 1219 by 1016 mm, is one of the six pallet sizes listed in ISO 6780. It fits common US trailer, rack and conveyor dimensions, and grocery and consumer goods companies built their networks around it. Because so many pallets share the size, used 48x40 pallets are easy to buy, sell, repair and recycle.
What "GMA" does and does not guarantee
The GMA label tells you the footprint and the general style. It does not by itself guarantee a load rating, wood species, moisture content or condition. Recycled 48x40 pallets are sold as Grade A or Grade B, or #1 and #2, but these are trade terms whose meaning varies by supplier.
When ordering, specify:
- new or recycled, and the condition grade definition
- deck board count and thickness, stringer size and notching
- species or softwood or hardwood
- heat treatment if the pallets may be exported
- required load capacity for your support conditions
Related footprints
Other North American sizes such as 42x42 and 48x48 serve paint, drums and bulk goods, while export customers may require the 1200x800 mm EUR pallet or 1200x1000 mm. Mixing footprints in one rack or trailer usually wastes space.
Authoritative Sources
- Consumer Brands Association (formerly GMA) (CBA): the trade association whose 48x40 inch pallet standard (the "GMA pallet") became the dominant US pallet specification.
- National Wooden Pallet & Container Association (NWPCA): the US trade association representing wood pallet manufacturers, recyclers, and component producers, founded in 1947.
Related Glossary Terms
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a 48x40 GMA pallet four-way entry?
Most are partial four-way. Forks can enter freely from the two 40 inch ends, between the stringers. From the 48 inch sides, forks enter through notches cut in the stringers, which works for forklifts but not for most pallet jacks, because the bottom deck boards block the wheels. Block pallets of the same footprint give true four-way entry.
How much weight can a 48x40 GMA pallet hold?
There is no single number. Capacity depends on the lumber species and grade, board and stringer sizes, fastening, the pallet's condition, and how it is supported, such as on the floor, on forks or across rack beams. Racked capacity is usually the lowest. Ask the supplier for a rating for your support condition, or have the design analyzed with pallet design software.