GMA 48×40 Pallet Calculator
How many boxes fit on a standard GMA 48 x 40 in. (North American) pallet, with the layer pattern, number of layers and load height.
How the GMA 48 x 40 fit is worked out
The GMA pallet (also called the North American or grocery pallet) has a 48 x 40 in deck, which is 1219 x 1016 mm. This calculator places boxes flat on that deck in a single orientation, counts how many fit per layer, then stacks identical layers up to a target load height.
The per-layer count is the better of the two flat orientations:
boxes per layer = max( floor(48 / boxL) x floor(40 / boxW), floor(48 / boxW) x floor(40 / boxL) )
Layers come from the usable height above the pallet deck. A GMA pallet is about 5.6 in (143 mm) tall, so for a 60 in total load height there is roughly 54.4 in of box stack:
layers = floor(usable height / boxH) and total = boxes per layer x layers.
Worked example (page defaults)
Using the defaults of a 12 x 10 x 8 in box on the GMA 48 x 40:
- Orientation A: floor(48 / 12) x floor(40 / 10) = 4 x 4 = 16 boxes per layer
- Orientation B: floor(48 / 10) x floor(40 / 12) = 4 x 3 = 12 boxes per layer
- Best layer = 16 boxes, and they tile the deck perfectly (16 x 12 x 10 = 1,920 in2 = the full 1,920 in2 footprint, 100% floor use).
- Height: (60 - 5.6) / 8 = 54.4 / 8 = 6 layers.
- Total = 16 x 6 = 96 boxes, with a load height of 5.6 + (6 x 8) = 53.6 in.
GMA 48 x 40 spec table
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Footprint | 48 x 40 in (1219 x 1016 mm) |
| Deck height | ~5.6 in (143 mm) |
| Own weight | ~37 lb (17 kg) |
| Dynamic load | ~2,800 lb (1,270 kg) |
| Static load | ~7,500 lb |
This is a single-orientation, flat-pack estimate: it does not rotate individual boxes within a layer or interlock courses. To compare the layer pattern directly, use the TI-HI calculator; to weigh the finished stack against the 2,800 lb dynamic rating, use the pallet weight calculator. For a different footprint, see the Euro pallet calculator or the full pallet calculator.