Size library
The 48″ × 45″ automotive pallet: written into the supplier manual, and nowhere else.
Ask about 48" × 45" pallets
Give the quantity, the size and the ZIP code. We pass your request to a partner supplier, who follows up.
- Buy, sell, recycle or remove: tell us which way it flows
- Add the size, grade and quantity if you know them
- A partner supplier follows up
- Availability depends on partner suppliers
Past repair
Broken pallet wood headed for a grinder, where it can become mulch, bedding or fuel.
Drawn to scale
48" × 45" — 1219 × 1143 mm
6,500 lb
Typical static load
3,200 lb
Typical dynamic load
2,200 lb
Typical racked load
50 lb
Typical unit weight
5.5″
Overall height
7/4
Deck boards, top / bottom
48" × 45" · 7 top boards · 3 stringers
The supply problem
Why this size is harder to buy than it should be
Liquidity in the used pallet market comes from circulation. A 48×40 GMA circulates through every industry in the country, so cores turn up everywhere. A 48×45 circulates inside a closed automotive network, which means the only place used ones appear is when a tier supplier changes a line or closes a plant.
The practical effect is that recycled 48×45 stock turns up in batches, not in a steady stream. When none is available, the answer is a wait or a new build.
If your packaging specification allows any flexibility on footprint, this is the one size where switching to a GMA saves real money and real waiting. If the supplier manual says 48×45, it says 48×45.
Questions
48 × 45 questions
Why four bottom boards instead of three?
Automotive parts are dense and often concentrated — castings, gearsets, brake components. The fourth bottom board spreads the load across a rack beam and reduces deflection under a concentrated centre load.
Can I substitute a 48×48?
Physically it will hold the load, but three extra inches of width can foul a rack bay or a conveyor guide designed for 45. Check the receiving end before assuming.
Can these be built new?
Yes, through partner suppliers, with heat treatment if the parts are going abroad. Minimum runs vary by supplier. See custom builds.
Why four bottom boards
The construction difference, and what it buys
| Element | GMA 48×40 | Automotive 48×45 | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bottom deck boards | 3 | 4 | Better beam contact, less deflection |
| Bottom deck coverage | ≈ 35% | ≈ 45% | Higher racked capacity |
| Top deck boards | 7 | 7 | Similar top coverage |
| Footprint | 48″ × 40″ | 48″ × 45″ | Five inches more width |
| Racked capacity | ≈ 2,100 lb | ≈ 2,200 lb | Concentrated automotive loads |
| Unit weight | 45 – 55 lb | 48 – 56 lb | The extra bottom board |
| Core availability | Excellent | Batch only | Circulates inside a closed network |
Sourcing reality
Why this footprint is hard to buy and easy to inherit
Liquidity in the used pallet market comes from circulation. A 48×40 moves through every industry in the country, so cores surface everywhere. A 48×45 circulates inside a closed automotive network, so the only time used ones appear in volume is when a tier supplier changes a line or a plant closes.
The practical effect is batch availability. When none is available, the answer is a wait or a new build.
If your packaging specification has any flexibility on footprint, this is the one size where switching to a GMA saves real money and real waiting. If the supplier manual says 48×45, it says 48×45, but it is worth confirming that the requirement is current rather than inherited.
Questions
More 48 × 45 questions
Can I substitute a 48×48?
It will hold the load. Three extra inches of width can foul a rack bay or a conveyor guide designed for 45, so check the receiving end before assuming.
Can these be built new?
Yes, through partner suppliers, with heat treatment if the parts are going abroad. Minimum runs and timing vary by supplier, so give both the quantity and the date you need.
Why do automotive loads need more bottom coverage?
Automotive parts are dense and concentrated — castings, gearsets, brake components. The fourth bottom board spreads that across a rack beam and reduces deflection under a centre load.
Does this footprint suit a returnable loop?
Yes. Repair matters more on this size than most, precisely because replacement stock is hard to buy at short notice.
Trailer maths
How many of these fit where.
53′ dry van
28
on the floor
≈ 56 stacked two high
48′ dry van
24
on the floor
≈ 48 stacked two high
40′ container
18
on the floor
≈ 36 stacked two high
20′ container
8
on the floor
≈ 16 stacked two high
Questions
48" × 45" pallets, answered.
What are the exact dimensions of a 48" × 45" pallet?
48" × 45" (1219 × 1143 mm), standing about 5.5″ tall. A recycled unit weighs roughly 50 lb, built on 3 stringers with 7 top and 4 bottom deck boards.
How much weight can a 48" × 45" pallet carry?
Around 6,500 lb static, 3,200 lb dynamic and 2,200 lb racked. Racked capacity is the number that matters if the pallet is going into beam storage unsupported, and it is always the lowest of the three.
What is a 48" × 45" pallet typically used for?
Tier-1 and Tier-2 automotive suppliers. Written into a lot of automotive supplier manuals. Rarely seen outside that supply chain, which makes cores scarce.
Can I ask for 48" × 45" in recycled as well as new?
Yes. Choose the size and the condition on the form, and a partner supplier follows up. Recycled Grade A usually costs less than new; see pallet grades for what the letters mean before you ask.