An empty pallet looks light until you grab it wrong and it twists like a stubborn door. Then you realize it’s not just “some wood.” It’s a tool built to carry serious weight, and that means the pallet itself has weight too.
Most of the time, a standard empty pallet weighs somewhere around 30 to 70 pounds. A lot of common 48″ x 40″ wooden pallets fall in the 32 to 44 pound range, and many land around 35 to 40 pounds. Euro pallets are usually heavier, often about 25 kg (roughly 55 pounds). Plastic pallets can be lighter, but heavy-duty ones can weigh as much as wood or more.
If you handle pallets often, these high-end Amazon picks (over $2,000) can make life easier. These are Amazon search links with my affiliate tag (ff42-20).
Electric pallet jacks over $2,000 (Amazon search)
5,000 lb pallet floor scales over $2,000 (Amazon search)
Electric pallet stackers over $2,000 (Amazon search)
The fast answer most people need
If you need one simple planning number for everyday situations, use this:
Typical empty pallet weight: about 35–45 lb for a standard 48″ x 40″ wood pallet.
That number keeps you in the safe zone for freight quotes, truck payload planning, and rough jobsite math. If you need an exact weight, you’ll want to confirm pallet type and size or weigh it.
Empty pallet weights by type
Not all pallets are made the same. Even two wood pallets can feel wildly different. One is light and dry. Another is heavy, damp, and built with thicker boards. This table gives you the most common ranges people run into.
| Pallet type | Common empty weight | What that feels like in real life |
|---|---|---|
| 48″ x 40″ wood pallet (GMA style) | About 32–44 lb (often ~35–40 lb) | Most common in North America; easy for one person to drag, awkward to carry |
| Euro pallet (EPAL 1200 x 800) | About 25 kg (~55 lb) | Heavier and sturdier; you notice it when you lift a corner |
| Light-duty plastic pallet | About 13–32 lb | Easy to move; common for export or light warehouse work |
| Heavy-duty plastic pallet (rackable/reinforced) | Often 40–55 lb (sometimes more) | Built for racking and repeat use; can match wood weight |
| Metal pallet (steel/aluminum) | Often 50–70 lb, but heavy-duty can be far higher | Used where durability matters; weight depends a lot on design and thickness |
That last row matters. “Metal pallet” is a wide category. Some are designed to be reasonably light for repeated handling. Some are built like industrial armor for high loads and harsh environments. The weight can jump fast.
Why pallet weight varies so much
Asking “how much does a pallet weigh?” is like asking “how much does a chair weigh?” A folding chair and a leather recliner are both chairs, but they live in different worlds.
Pallet weight changes mainly because of these factors.
Material. Wood, plastic, and metal have very different densities. Plastic can be light, but a reinforced plastic pallet can carry extra ribs and supports that add weight.
Design. A block pallet (with blocks) and a stringer pallet (with long runners) can weigh differently even at the same size. Thicker stringers and more deck boards add weight quickly.
Deck board thickness. A pallet with thicker deck boards feels “stiffer” and usually weighs more.
Moisture. Wood soaks up water. A pallet that sat in rain can weigh more than a dry one. It can also feel heavier because it sticks to the ground and drags poorly.
Repairs and add-ons. Some pallets get extra boards nailed on during repair. That can turn a light pallet into a heavier one over time.
Common pallet sizes and what they usually weigh
Size matters because more wood, plastic, or metal usually means more weight. Here are the common sizes people ask about most.
| Common pallet size | Where you see it | Typical empty weight range |
|---|---|---|
| 48″ x 40″ (GMA) | Retail, grocery, general shipping | About 32–44 lb (often ~35–40 lb) |
| 48″ x 48″ | Drums, chemicals, oversized loads | Often heavier than 48″ x 40″ because of extra material |
| Euro pallet 1200 x 800 | Europe, import/export | About 25 kg (~55 lb) |
| Half pallet (often 48″ x 20″ or similar) | Retail displays, smaller shipments | Lighter than full size; varies a lot by build |
Half pallets are the hardest to “guess” because the build style changes a lot. Some are sturdy retail display pallets. Some are thin, disposable shipping skids.
How much does a pallet weigh with product on it?
This is where people get burned. They plan for the product weight and forget the pallet, stretch wrap, corner boards, boxes, and straps. Then a shipment comes in heavier than expected and the freight cost jumps.
Use this simple formula:
Gross pallet weight = pallet + product + packaging
If you need a simple buffer, a common “packaging add” for a wrapped pallet can be around 10–30 lb, depending on how much wrap, cardboard, and strapping is used. Some loads are far more, but this is a decent everyday estimate.
Here are a few quick examples to make it feel real.
| Example load | Product weight | Pallet + packaging estimate | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boxes of hardware | 900 lb | 40 lb pallet + 15 lb wrap | ~955 lb |
| Mulch bags (bulk pallet) | 1,200 lb | 45 lb pallet + 20 lb wrap | ~1,265 lb |
| Concrete bags (full pallet) | 3,360 lb | 50 lb pallet + 20 lb wrap | ~3,430 lb |
You can see why freight carriers ask for total weight, not just product weight. A pallet is not “free weight.” It counts.
How to find the exact pallet weight without guessing
If you need an exact number for freight paperwork or safe lifting limits, you have a few options.
Use a floor scale or pallet scale. This is the cleanest method. You roll the pallet onto the scale, read the number, and you’re done.
Use a forklift scale attachment. Some forklifts have built-in weighing systems. This works well in warehouses.
Ask your supplier. If you buy pallets from a pallet supplier, they often know the typical weight of the pallet style they sell. It still can vary with moisture, but it gets you close.
Use a rough “corner lift” test only for feel. People sometimes lift one corner and guess. This is not an accurate method, but it can tell you if a pallet is light and dry or heavy and damp. Use gloves, and watch for nails.
Wood pallets: the most common weights people deal with
Wood pallets are everywhere because they’re strong, repairable, and cheap compared with many alternatives. A standard 48″ x 40″ wood pallet often lands around that 32–44 lb range.
Still, wood pallets can shift weight more than plastic. A dry pallet is lighter. A wet pallet is heavier. A repaired pallet can be heavier. A hardwood pallet can weigh more than a softwood pallet.
If your pallets sit outside, assume the higher end of the range. Rain and humidity are quiet weight gainers.
Plastic pallets: lighter on average, but not always
Plastic pallets are popular for clean environments and export situations. Many are lighter than wood, often in the 13–32 lb range for lighter styles. They also avoid the “wet wood” issue.
Heavy-duty plastic pallets are different. Rackable pallets built to sit in warehouse racking often add reinforcement, ribs, and stronger structure. Those can land around 40–55 lb or more.
If your goal is saving freight weight, you want a light-duty design. If your goal is durability and racking strength, weight is not the first priority.
Euro pallets: predictable and heavier
Euro pallets are usually more standardized in weight than many random domestic pallets. A common EPAL Euro pallet is often listed around 25 kg (about 55 lb). That weight is part of why they feel sturdy and consistent in handling.
If you’re importing goods from Europe, this is a helpful planning number. Many people are surprised the first time they try to move one by hand.
Metal pallets: tough, often heavier, and built for special jobs
Metal pallets show up where heat, chemicals, or long service life matter. Some 48″ x 40″ steel pallets are described in the 50–70 lb range. Others, especially heavy-duty stainless designs meant for harsh industrial environments, can weigh far more.
Metal pallets can be a smart choice when you need long-term durability and consistent dimensions. They are not usually chosen to save weight.
A simple “safe planning” method for your own situation
If you need a fast estimate and you know your pallet type, use this approach:
For a standard 48″ x 40″ wood pallet, plan 40 lb.
For a Euro pallet, plan 55 lb.
For a light plastic pallet, plan 25 lb.
For a heavy-duty plastic pallet, plan 50 lb.
Then add your product weight and a small packaging number. If it’s an LTL freight shipment, a slightly high estimate is better than a low one.
What a pallet weighs matters more than people expect
Pallet weight affects more than freight price. It affects how many pallets your truck can legally carry. It affects forklift capacity. It affects how many pallets you can stack safely in a warehouse. It even affects how tired your crew gets if they handle pallets by hand.
If you’re ordering a lot of pallets, small differences add up. A 10-pound difference per pallet becomes 1,000 pounds across 100 pallets. That can change a truck plan.
Bottom line
Most empty pallets weigh in the 30–70 lb range. A standard 48″ x 40″ wooden pallet commonly weighs about 32–44 lb (often around 35–40 lb). A Euro pallet is commonly about 25 kg (around 55 lb). Plastic pallets can be 13–32 lb for lighter styles, and heavy-duty plastic pallets can reach 40–55 lb or more. Metal pallets vary a lot and often start around 50–70 lb, with heavier industrial designs above that.
If you tell me the pallet type (wood, plastic, Euro, metal) and the size (48×40, 48×48, 1200×800), I can give you a tighter estimate for that exact style and a realistic “gross weight” number for shipping.