UK pallet vs Euro pallet: 1200×1000 against 1200×800
A 13.6 m European trailer takes 34 EUR1 pallets but only 26 UK 1200×1000 pallets, because the larger pallet cannot stand three abreast. In a 40ft container the gap closes to 25 against 22, and the UK pallet covers more of the floor: 93.4% against 84.9%.
By Oliver Bennett · Published · Data as of 27 October 2026, from spec sheets retrieved that day
Walk into a British warehouse and most of the pallets measure 1200×1000 mm. Cross the Channel and the 1200×800 mm EUR1 takes over. The two share their long side, so the whole difference is 200 mm on the short side, a quarter more footprint for the UK pallet: 1.20 m² against 0.96 m². How much that matters depends on the floor.
Same footprint, three pallets
The 1200×1000 footprint is not only British. EPAL builds it twice, as the EUR2 and the EUR3, and the ISO 6780 list includes it for Europe and Asia. They differ in build, not in size: EPAL gives the EUR2 as 162 mm high and 35 kg with 17 boards, and the EUR3 as 144 mm and 30 kg with 13 boards. CHEP's 1200×1000 is 162 mm high and 33 kg. The EUR1 is the lightest at 25 kg. On the floor all three 1200×1000 pallets behave identically, so the counts below apply to each of them.
On a European trailer: 34 against 26
On a 13.6 m curtainsider the EUR1 reaches 34 positions turned across, or 33 lengthwise three abreast; with 20 mm of handling room the count is 33. The 1200×1000 cannot go three abreast at all, since three 1,000 mm sides need 3 m. Two abreast with the 1,200 mm side across the trailer, 13,620 mm of length takes 13 rows: 26 pallets. Placed the other way, two abreast lengthwise, it manages only 22.
26 1200×1000 pallets, best layout · 92.4% of the floor
Top view · doors on the right
Door end
Per pallet that is 0.5 loading metres against 0.4. Measured by footprint actually carried, the trailer holds 32.6 m² of EUR1 pallets but 31.2 m² of 1200×1000 pallets, so the European pallet uses the European trailer better (96.6% of the floor against 92.4%).
In containers the UK pallet catches up
Containers reverse the picture. A 40ft box takes 25 EUR1 pallets but only 22 of the larger pallet, yet the 1200×1000 covers 93.4% of the floor against 84.9%. The reason is the 2,350 mm width: one 1200×1000 lengthwise beside one turned across uses 1,000 + 1,200 = 2,200 mm, while the EUR1's best combination across leaves 350 mm empty.
22 1200×1000 pallets, best layout · 93.4% of the floor
Top view · doors on the right
Door end
Put in footprint, the 40ft container carries 26.4 m² of goods on 1200×1000 pallets and 24.0 m² on EUR1. The 20ft gives 9 against 11 pallets, which is 10.8 against 10.56 m². The 45ft pallet-wide container, built for European pallets, swings back: 33 EUR1 against 26 UK pallets.
Every unit side by side
| Container or trailer | EUR1 | 1200×1000 | More footprint |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20ft container | 1176.2% | 977.9% | 1200×1000 |
| 40ft container | 2584.9% | 2293.4% | 1200×1000 |
| 40ft high cube | 2584.9% | 2293.4% | 1200×1000 |
| 45ft high cube | 2781.4% | 2490.4% | 1200×1000 |
| 45ft pallet-wide container | 3395.8% | 2694.3% | EUR1 |
| 20ft reefer container | 1077.1% | 986.8% | 1200×1000 |
| 40ft high cube reefer | 2383.6% | 2090.9% | 1200×1000 |
| 20ft open top | 1176.2% | 977.9% | 1200×1000 |
| 40ft open top | 2585.0% | 2293.4% | 1200×1000 |
| 40ft high cube open top | 2584.9% | 2293.4% | 1200×1000 |
| 13.6 m curtainsider | 3496.6% | 2692.4% | EUR1 |
| mega trailer | 3496.6% | 2692.4% | EUR1 |
| EU reefer trailer | 3396.0% | 2694.5% | EUR1 |
| EU box trailer | 3497.4% | 2693.1% | EUR1 |
| 53 ft dry van | 3992.3% | 3088.7% | EUR1 |
| 48 ft dry van | 3693.2% | 2890.6% | EUR1 |
| 53 ft flatbed | 4091.7% | 3291.7% | same |
| 48 ft flatbed | 3691.2% | 2888.6% | EUR1 |
| 48 ft step deck | 3691.2% | 2888.6% | EUR1 |
| 26 ft box truck | 1993.7% | 1486.3% | EUR1 |
The 1200×1000 puts more footprint on the floor in 9 of the 20 units and the EUR1 in 10, with one level. The EUR1 wins on every European trailer it was designed around and in the pallet-wide container; the larger pallet wins in every other container.
Which one to use
If the goods already sit on one size, the counts above are what you will get. If you can choose, the useful question is where the load goes. For a European trailer the EUR1 carries more goods per trip; for most containers the 1200×1000 does. The comparison with the North American 48×40 is in a separate guide, and every pairing can be checked in the load planner.
Sources
- European Pallet Association (EPAL) – load carrier specification pages. European Pallet Association e.V.
- CHEP – Standard pallet sizes & product pages. CHEP (Brambles).
- Wikipedia – Pallet (ISO 6780:2003 six standard footprints; North American sizes). Wikipedia contributors.
- Ocean Network Express (ONE) – Container Information. Ocean Network Express Pte. Ltd.
- SeaCube Containers – product spec sheets (PDF). SeaCube Containers LLC (container lessor).
- DSV – Shipping container dimensions / Trailer sizes pages. DSV A/S (freight forwarder).
- DP World – 45 ft high cube pallet wide container (Europe equipment). DP World.
- DP World – Euroliner curtainsider trailers (Europe equipment). DP World.
- Load calculations: PalletSpec, exact guillotine packing over the smallest published floor sizes (see sources and method).
More guides: EUR1 vs 48×40 pallets: which fits more? · Pallet sizes by region · Half and quarter pallets: how many fit, and why they beat full pallets · Square pallets in containers and trailers · How many pallets fit: every pallet in every container and trailer · 20ft vs 40ft vs 40ft high cube containers · Why some pallet and container pairs waste floor space · All guides