Short answer: a standard 48×40 wood pallet weighs about 35 to 50 pounds. A heavy-duty hardwood block pallet can hit 65 to 70. A plastic pallet runs 30 to 50 depending on design. The rest of this post explains where in that range yours falls, and why the number matters more than most people think.
Standard 48×40 wood pallet weight
| Type | Typical empty weight |
|---|---|
| New hardwood GMA (stringer) | 40 to 50 lb |
| New softwood or mixed GMA | 30 to 40 lb |
| Recycled GMA (dried out) | 30 to 45 lb |
| Heavy-duty block 48×40 | 60 to 70 lb |
| Presswood / molded fiber | 25 to 35 lb |
| Plastic 48×40 | 30 to 50 lb (rackable designs heavier) |
The spread comes down to four things:
- Species. Oak and other hardwoods are heavier than pine. Most “hardwood” pallets are actually mixed hardwoods, which is why the range is wide.
- Moisture. Green lumber can be 30 percent water by weight or more. A pallet built last week weighs more than the same pallet a year later. Kiln-dried and heat-treated pallets lose some of that water in the process.
- Board count and thickness. A 7-board top deck with 5/8 in boards is standard; heavier duty builds use more boards or thicker boards.
- Construction. Block pallets have nine solid wood blocks plus stringer boards and weigh considerably more than three-stringer designs.
Why pallet weight matters
Freight cost. LTL and parcel-freight carriers bill on total weight, and the pallet is part of the shipment. Fifty pounds times 26 pallets on a truck is 1,300 pounds of wood you’re paying to move. Over a year of shipments that is real money, and it’s one reason lighter recycled or softwood pallets are popular for one-way freight.
Weight limits. Trailer and container gross weight limits include the pallets. If you’re bumping up against a 45,000 lb payload, pallet weight is a lever.
Handling. Warehouse staff lift, drag, and stack empty pallets constantly. A 40 lb pallet versus a 65 lb pallet is the difference between one person and two.
Export. Air freight is billed on weight or volume, whichever is greater, so an extra 15 lb per pallet is expensive. This is one place plastic or lightweight presswood pallets make sense, provided they meet ISPM-15 if wood is involved. Heat-treated pallets satisfy the export rule and shed some moisture weight in the process.
Pallet weight vs. pallet load capacity
Don’t confuse how much a pallet weighs with how much it holds. A 45 lb GMA pallet can carry around 2,500 lb dynamically. Those are different questions, and load capacity is covered in Stringer vs. Block Pallets.
Getting the exact number
If pallet weight matters to your freight math, weigh a sample of what you actually use. Ten pallets on a floor scale, divided by ten, beats any published table because it accounts for your supplier’s species, moisture, and build. If you order custom pallets, ask for the target weight up front; deck board count and species can be specified to hit it.
Frequently asked questions
A 48×40 wood pallet weighs roughly 35 to 50 lb. Hardwood and green lumber push toward the high end, softwood and dried recycled units toward the low end.
Usually 30 to 50 lb for a 48×40, with heavy-duty rackable designs at the top of that range or above.
Yes. Carriers bill on gross shipment weight, which includes the pallet.
Presswood or molded fiber pallets at 25 to 35 lb, or softwood stringer pallets. Both trade some durability for weight.
Need pallets built to a spec in DFW?
A&A Pallets supplies new and recycled 48x40s across Dallas–Fort Worth and builds custom pallets to size, species, and board count. Call (214) 398-3555.
Related services: New & Recycled Pallets · Custom Pallets · Heat-Treated Pallets · All services
Photo: W.carter via Wikimedia Commons, CC0 (source)