Choosing the Right Wooden Pallet: EPAL/Euro-Pallet Format Explained
A practical explainer on EUR/EPAL pallet standards, ISPM 15 export requirements and what buyers should specify when ordering wooden pallets.
Most palletised freight moving around Europe sits on one of a small number of standard pallet formats. Getting this right matters — the wrong footprint or construction can mean a pallet that doesn't fit your racking, your customer's handling equipment, or a pallet-exchange pool.
What Is a EUR/EPAL Pallet?
The EUR pallet (also called the Euro-pallet) is the standard 1200 x 800 mm European pallet footprint, available in block or stringer construction from sawn timber boards. EPAL is a registered mark administered by the European Pallet Association, licensed to approved manufacturers who produce pallets to its technical specification — pallets stamped EPAL are intended to be part of an open, standardised exchange pool recognised across European logistics networks. If a specific licensed-EPAL status matters for your contract, confirm this directly with your supplier at quotation stage rather than assuming from stamping alone.
New vs Reconditioned Pallets
New pallets offer consistent, unblemished timber and full load-rating confidence; reconditioned (re-used, repaired) pallets cost less and support a circular-use case, but board condition and load capacity can vary more. Which makes sense depends on your product weight, handling environment and budget.
ISPM 15 and Export Shipments
Wood packaging material — including pallets — moving in most international trade outside the EU typically needs to carry ISPM 15 heat-treatment (HT) marking to meet phytosanitary import requirements. If you're exporting outside the EU, confirm this requirement with your supplier and check it's reflected in your order and documentation before shipment.
What to Specify in Your RFQ
- Pallet format and dimensions (EUR/EPAL 1200 x 800 mm, or another format)
- Required load capacity
- New or reconditioned
- Whether ISPM 15 heat-treatment marking is required
- Quantity and delivery location
Sourcing Wooden Pallets From Sertifikuoti miškai VšĮ
See our Wooden Pallets product page for specification details, or go straight to our Request a Quote form with your required format and quantity.
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