Side-by-Side Comparison
Shipping, Boxes & Logistics
Standard Carrier Shipping Boxes vs. ISO Standard Pallet Sizes
Comparing 2 standards across 15 specifications. 15 key differences identified.
Comparing:
Standard Carrier Shipping Boxes
ISO Standard Pallet Sizes
Standard parcel carriers (USPS, FedEx, UPS) define standardized rigid carton tiers, flat rate boxes, and dimensional weight divisor formulas (e.g. Length × Width × Height ÷ 139) that determine billable freight charges across domestic and international logistics networks.
Standard shipping pallets are globally regulated under ISO 6780 into six standardized dimension footprints. The European EUR-1 pallet (800 × 1200 mm) and North American GMA pallet (48 × 40 inches / 1016 × 1219 mm) dominate over 80% of global automated warehousing and intermodal freight transport.
Specification Comparison Table
15 Parameters| Parameter / Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Governing Standards
|
USPS Domestic Mail Manual / FedEx Express / UPS Ground Standards | ISO 6780 / EPAL (European Pallet Association) / GMA (Grocery Manufacturers Assoc) |
|
USPS Small Flat Rate Box
|
8-11/16" × 5-7/16" × 1-3/4" (22.1 × 13.8 × 4.4 cm) | Max 70 lbs (31.8 kg) | — |
|
USPS Medium Flat Rate (Side)
|
11-1/4" × 8-3/4" × 6" (28.6 × 22.2 × 15.2 cm) | Top-loading standard carton | — |
|
USPS Medium Flat Rate (Top)
|
14" × 12" × 3-1/2" (35.6 × 30.5 × 8.9 cm) | Shallow wide footprint for clothing/books | — |
|
USPS Large Flat Rate Box
|
12-1/4" × 12-1/4" × 6" (31.1 × 31.1 × 15.2 cm) | Max 70 lbs domestic | — |
|
FedEx Small / Medium / Large Box
|
Small: 12.25×10.9×1.5" | Medium: 13.25×11.5×2.38" | Large: 17.5×12.38×3" | — |
|
Standard Dimensional Weight Divisor
|
DIM Divisor = 139 (Domestic Commercial & International) | DIM Wt (lbs) = (L × W × H in inches) ÷ 139 | — |
|
Maximum Standard Parcel Size
|
Maximum Length: 108" (274 cm) | Maximum Length + Girth: 130" (UPS/FedEx Ground) or 165" (Freight) | — |
|
North American Standard (GMA)
|
— | 48.0 × 40.0 in (1219 × 1016 mm) | Height: ~4.75 in (121 mm) | Dynamic Load: 2,800 lbs (1,270 kg) |
|
EUR-1 / EPAL 1 (Europe)
|
— | 800 × 1200 × 144 mm (31.5 × 47.2 × 5.7 in) | Dynamic Load: 1,500 kg (3,300 lbs) | Tare: ~25 kg |
|
EUR-2 / Industrial (UK/Europe)
|
— | 1200 × 1000 × 144 mm (47.2 × 39.4 in) | Compatible with ISO 48×40 racking |
|
EUR-3 / Half-Pallet
|
— | 1000 × 1200 × 144 mm (39.4 × 47.2 in) | Chemical and heavy industrial storage |
|
Australian Standard (AS 4068)
|
— | 1165 × 1165 mm (45.9 × 45.9 in) | Engineered to fit Australian railway wagons |
|
Asian Standard (Japan/Korea)
|
— | 1100 × 1100 mm (43.3 × 43.3 in) | Optimized for 20ft/40ft ISO ocean container widths |
|
Phytosanitary Standard
|
— | ISPM 15 Heat Treated (HT) to 56°C for 30 min / Debarked (DB) |
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