Euro pallets, measured and explained for North America
Containers from Europe leave euro pallets on docks across the US and Canada. This is an independent reference for what they are, what their marks mean, what condition they are in and what to do with them, built from EPAL's published specifications, ISPM 15 and our own load calculations.
What do you need to do?
Get rid of surplus pallets
Sort them, grade them and sell what is sound. Pooled pallets go back to their owner.
Importer's guideSell surplus palletsDeal with broken ones
Not-fit-for-use EPAL pallets can only be repaired by a licensee. Otherwise, recycle.
Defects indexArrange recyclingShip on EPAL to Europe
Match the type and class your customer accepts, with an HT mark.
Exporter's guideSource EPAL palletsReference sheets
| Pallet types | 19 | Dimensions, weights and ratings for every EPAL type, CP pallets and comparison footprints. |
| Markings | 16 | The IPPC mark, treatment codes, control staple, repair nail and licence numbers. |
| Grades | 6 | EPAL's classes from new to not fit for use. |
| Defects | 22 | Each fault in the classification and the class it leads to. |
| Load tables | 110 | Computed floor positions in ten containers and trailers, drawn. |
| Countries | 60 | ISPM 15 marks and US trade by country of treatment. |
| Glossary | 35 | Terms from EPAL rules and ISPM 15, defined. |
Guides
- Euro pallets in 48 × 40 rackingWhat happens when 800 × 1200 mm and 1200 × 1000 mm pallets go into racking, trailers and conveyors laid out for 48 × 40 in loads, with the arithmetic.
- Euro pallets in reefer containersWhy refrigerated containers fit fewer euro pallets than dry boxes, with computed counts for 20 ft and 40 ft high cube reefers and the 53 ft domestic reefer.
- Heat-treated vs methyl bromide palletsHT against MB on pallet stamps. What each treatment requires under ISPM 15, why EPAL bans methyl bromide on its pallets, and what US and Canadian rules accept.
- How to check a pallet stampA field method for reading the ISPM 15 mark and EPAL markings on a euro pallet's centre block, with the faults that matter for import and resale.
- How to sell surplus euro palletsWhat a buyer needs from you to quote on used EPAL and 1200 × 800 pallets, how to present a lot, and mistakes that cost sellers money.
- Recycling euro pallets in the US and CanadaWhen a euro pallet should be recycled rather than sold or repaired, what the EPAL rules allow, and what to tell a recycler.
Independent, and sourced
This site is not part of EPAL and holds no licence. Every figure links to the document it came from, each sheet shows when we last reviewed it, and load counts come from our own engine, with the method published. Where we could not verify something, we left it out.