<P> Heavy duty pallets are a form of reusable packaging and are designed to be used multiple times . Light weight pallets are designed for a single use . In the UK, government legislation relating to the Waste Framework Directive requires the reuse of packaging items above recycling and disposal . </P> <P> Wooden pallets typically consist of three or four stringers that support several deckboards, on top of which goods are placed . In a pallet measurement, the first number is the stringer length and the second is the deckboard length . Square or nearly square pallets help a load resist tipping . </P> <P> Two - way pallets are designed to be lifted by the deckboards . The standard 48x40 North American pallet, or GMA pallet, has stringers of 48 inches and deckboards of 40 inches, and was standardized by the Grocery Manufacturers Association . A standard wooden pallet (48 in × 40 in × 6 in or 122 cm × 102 cm × 15 cm) with a static load bearing capacity of 3 short tons (2.7 long tons; 2.7 t) and a 1 - short - ton (0.89 - long - ton; 0.91 t) dynamic capacity, will weigh approximately 33 to 48 lb (15 to 22 kg) Lightweight plastic pallets can weigh as little as 3 to 15 pounds (1.4 to 6.8 kg), while heavier models may weight up to 30 pounds (14 kg). Standard GMA pallets can hold up to 4,600 pounds (2,100 kg). GMA pallets typically weighs 37 pounds (17 kg), and are 6 ⁄ inches (170 mm) tall . Their deck boards measure 3 ⁄ inches (83 mm) wide and are ⁄ inch (7.9 mm) thick each . Other dimensions of pallets have different weight capacities . </P> <P> Heavy duty IPPC two - way entry wooden pallets from Germany (DE) are approximately 44 inches (1,118 mm) wide by 48 inches (1,219 mm) long, have three wood stringers that are a nominal 4 inches (102 mm) high by 3 inches (76 mm) wide timber, and weigh about 80 pounds (36 kg). Their deck is fully covered by 30 mm (1.18 in) plywood, and has a heavy metal "Z" clip at the middle edge of each side . </P>

What is the dimension of a standard pallet