48x40 GMA pallet specs: dimensions, boards and what to put on a spec sheet

A GMA pallet is a 48x40-inch wood stringer pallet: three 48-inch stringers notched so forklifts can enter from the sides, seven 40-inch deck boards on top and five on the bottom. It is double-faced and non-reversible, so it has a top and a bottom. New GMA-style hardwood pallets measured in a Virginia Tech study averaged 40 pounds, but weight varies by build and moisture.

GMA pallet dimensions

Part	Typical spec	Notes
Overall size	48 x 40 in.	48 in. is the stringer length, 40 in. the deck board length
Stringers	3, about 1-1/4 to 1-3/8 x 3-1/2 x 48 in.	Two notches in each stringer
Top deck	7 boards, 40 in. long	2 end boards about 5-1/2 in. wide, 5 inner boards about 3-1/2 in. wide
Bottom deck	5 boards, 40 in. long	2 end boards plus 3 inner boards set between the notches
Deck board thickness	about 1/2 to 5/8 in.	Varies by maker and board position
Overall height	about 4-5/8 to 4-3/4 in.	Stringer height plus top and bottom deck
Entry	Partial four-way	Forklifts from all four sides, pallet jacks from the two 40-inch ends
Fasteners	Nails	The study pallets used 2-1/4 in., 11.5-gauge nails
Lumber	Hardwood, softwood or a mix	Specify it if it matters to you
Weight	Varies by build	40.0 lb average in the Virginia Tech sample

The ranges come from two places. Mallard Manufacturing publishes a nominal spec: 1-3/8 x 3-1/2 x 48-inch stringers, 5/8-inch deck boards, 5-1/2-inch end boards and 3-1/2-inch inner boards. A 2004 Virginia Tech and USDA Forest Service study measured new GMA-style pallets from one manufacturer:

• Stringers averaged 1.276 x 3.433 x 48 inches.
• End boards, top and bottom, measured 0.610 x 5.350 x 40 inches.
• Inner boards measured 0.520 x 3.360 x 40 inches.
• Notches were 8.87 inches long and 1.21 inches deep, with a 1.5-inch corner radius.
• Stringers were 45% yellow-poplar, 34% oak and 21% other medium-density hardwoods.

The height row is simple arithmetic: a 3.433-inch stringer plus two 0.610-inch end boards is about 4.65 inches, and Mallard's nominal parts add up to 4.75 inches. Measure your own pallets if height matters for racking or trailer stacking.

Mallard also describes an alternate build with six 5-1/2-inch boards on top and four on the bottom. If you need the 7-and-5 layout, write it into the spec.

Why it is 48x40, not 40x48

Wood pallet sizes are written stringer length first, then deck board length. A GMA pallet has 48-inch stringers, so it is a 48x40. A 40x48 is a different pallet with 40-inch stringers. Woodpack Global's Uniform Standard for Wood Pallets adds overall height as the third number, as in 48 x 40 x 4-3/4. Non-wood pallets are usually listed longer side first. See the pallet sizes chart for other footprints.

Notches and partial four-way entry

The two notches in each stringer let forklift tines in from the 48-inch sides. Only forklifts can use those side openings. Pallet jacks enter from the two 40-inch ends. Woodpack Global classifies a notched stringer pallet as partial four-way entry.

The standard's notch guidance is useful for a spec sheet:

• Specify notches by location (distance from the stringer end), depth and length.
• The recommended opening, notch plus bottom deck, is 2 inches deep to the top of the notch and 9 inches long.
• Corners must be rounded, with a radius of 1/2 inch to 1-1/2 inches. Square notches are not acceptable.
• Tolerance is plus or minus 1/8 inch on notch dimensions and 3/8 inch on location.

The notch is also the weak point. Pallet engineer John Clarke has written that notching cuts a stringer's strength in half, and the Virginia Tech study notes that a fracture at the notch is one of the most common kinds of damage to GMA-style pallets.

Where the GMA name came from

GMA stands for the Grocery Manufacturers Association. The U.S. grocery industry moved toward the 48x40 footprint in the 1960s and 1970s, and the association's 1992 "Recommendations on the Grocery Industry Pallet System" still appears in Woodpack Global's list of related standards.

In January 2020 the association became the Consumer Brands Association, which is why some suppliers now list the same pallet as a "CBA" or "CBA/GMA" pallet. Nothing about the pallet changed. The association does not maintain, certify or enforce a pallet spec, and Pallet Enterprise noted in 2026 that the "GMA pallet" no longer formally exists even though the term is everywhere. The practical result: a buyer who orders "GMA pallets" with no spec can end up with whatever the supplier considers standard.

The footprint still dominates. In 2016, 48x40 pallets made up about 35% of new wood pallets and 69% of the recycled pallet market, according to a national survey published in BioResources.

What to put in a spec sheet

Woodpack Global's standard says size and design details need to be specified, because every class comes in many sizes and designs. A complete GMA-style spec covers:

1. Pallet size: stringer length x top deck board length x overall height.
2. Class and style: stringer pallet, partial four-way, double-face non-reversible.
3. Stringers: count and size, written width x height x length.
4. Notches: location, depth, length and corner radius.
5. Deck boards: count top and bottom, and thickness x width x length for end boards and inner boards.
6. Board spacing: the maximum gap you will accept.
7. Fasteners: type, length and gauge. The standard's minimum is 2 fasteners per connection for boards under 5 inches wide and 3 for boards 5 to 7 inches wide.
8. Lumber: species or species class, and moisture. The standard does not limit moisture content, so if you need kiln-dried or a maximum moisture level, say so.
9. Tolerances: the standard allows new pallets plus 1/4 inch and minus 1/2 inch on length and width, and top deck diagonals within 1.5% or 1 inch of each other, whichever is greater.
10. Performance: the load the pallet must carry and how it will be supported (racked, stacked or on the floor). Woodpack Global points designers to the Pallet Design System software for this.
11. Treatment: heat treated and marked under ISPM 15 if the pallets will be exported.
12. New or recycled: and if recycled, the grade and its repair limits. See pallet grades explained.

Buying GMA pallets by the truckload

Chesapeake Pallets (our sister company) ships 616 stringer pallets on a full 53-foot truck. Plan a full load with the truckload calculator, and check current prices for recycled grades.

FAQ

What are the dimensions of a GMA pallet?

48 inches long (the stringer length) by 40 inches wide (the deck board length), and roughly 4-5/8 to 4-3/4 inches tall with typical 3-1/2-inch stringers. Board widths and thicknesses vary by maker, so put them in your spec.

How many deck boards does a GMA pallet have?

Seven on top and five on the bottom is the standard layout. Some builds use six wider boards on top and four on the bottom, so specify the count you need.

Is a CBA pallet different from a GMA pallet?

No. The Grocery Manufacturers Association became the Consumer Brands Association in January 2020, and some suppliers updated the name. It is the same 48x40 stringer pallet.

How much does a GMA pallet weigh?

It depends on wood species, board thickness and moisture. New hardwood GMA-style pallets in a Virginia Tech study averaged 40 pounds.

Can a pallet jack enter a GMA pallet from the side?

No. The side notches are for forklift tines, and pallet jacks can only enter from the two 40-inch ends. For pallet jack access on all four sides, use a block pallet.