02 Catalog line · 42x42
42x42 plastic pallets
42x42 plastic pallets are a 42 in square (1067 x 1067 mm), the size the telecom and paint trades standardized on and one of the ISO 6780 footprints. We quote stackable, nestable and rackable 42x42 models, new or used; send your load, deck, racking, quantity and delivery ZIP.
- Dynamic load
- Paint and cable loads are dense; ask for the model's forklift figure
- Static load
- Check the floor rating if cases of cans are stacked pallet on pallet
- Racked load
- Few 42x42s are rack-rated; ask for the racked load and its beam span
The 42 in square
A 42x42 measures 42 in each way, or 1067 x 1067 mm. That metric figure appears in ISO 6780, the international table of pallet footprints, so the size is recognized well beyond the US. Because both sides match, there is no long or short side to orient, and a forklift driver can pick it up from any face of a four-way model.
| Item | Figure | Arithmetic |
|---|---|---|
| Footprint | 42 x 42 in | 1067 x 1067 mm |
| 53-ft van | about 30 | 2 across (84 in of 100), 630 / 42 = 15 rows |
| 20-ft container | about 10 | 2 across (84 in of 92.4), 231.6 / 42 = 5.5, so 5 rows |
| 40-ft container | about 22 | 2 across, 474 / 42 = 11.3, so 11 rows |
Telecom and paint: the two trades behind 42x42
Telecommunications equipment makers and distributors ship cabinets, enclosures, batteries and boxed gear on 42x42. A square base that is narrower than a 48x40 suits a tall, compact load that would leave a wide deck half empty.
Paint and coatings plants use the same square for gallon and five-gallon containers. Cans are dense, so a 42x42 of paint is heavy for its size, and a plastic deck that can be wiped down after a leak is easier to keep clean than wood that soaks it up. Outside those two trades, the 42x42 also turns up for compact industrial loads where a full 48x40 would overhang a narrow aisle or a small dock plate.
Typical telecom loads include backup battery strings, fiber cable reels, rack-mount servers and outdoor cabinets bound for a central office or a tower site.
Pallet types made in this size
Expect fewer models in 42x42 than in 48x40, and a lean toward stackable designs. Each model's three ratings come from its maker's sheet, so two 42x42s that look alike can carry very different loads.
- Stackable pallets with runners, for loaded floor stacks of cans and boxed equipment
- Nestable pallets for lighter loads and return trips where empties should take little room
- Solid-deck models that keep small cartons and cans from tipping into an open grid
- Rackable 42x42s, which are less common; confirm a published racked load before racking
- Used 42x42s, usually in smaller lots than used 48x40s
- Low-profile models for freight elevators and tight central-office doorways
- Antistatic or cleanroom-friendly decks for sensitive electronics, on request
Why 42x42 ships well
Two 42 in pallets need 84 in of width, which fits both a 100 in van and a 92.4 in container with room for the walls. That is not true of 48x48, which only fits one across a container. In a 53-foot van, 630 / 42 = 15 rows of 2 give about 30 floor spots, the same count as a turned 48x40 load.
Containers come out evenly as well: about 10 in a 20-foot box and about 22 in a 40-foot box, one high. For a shipper choosing between square sizes for an overseas lane, that container fit is often the deciding point.
Square pallets also block-stack neatly in a container's corners, with no odd gaps to fill with airbags, foam or lumber bracing.
Racking a 42x42
Most US selective racking uses 42 in deep frames, so a 48 in pallet overhangs the front and rear beams by about 3 in each. A 42x42 sits flush with the outer beam faces instead, with no overhang at all. That works when the driver sets it square, but there is no margin for a pallet placed off center, so some sites add pallet supports or wire decking under it.
Either way, the racked load is the figure to check. It is usually the lowest of the three, and it is published at a stated beam span. Ask for it before any 42x42 goes up a level.
Molding, color and used supply
Most 42x42s are injection molded, which gives a consistent part with ribs placed where the maker wants stiffness. Some are thermoformed from twin sheets of HDPE, lighter and smooth on top, and a few are structural foam, thick-walled and heavy. Each process changes the tare weight, the feel of the deck and how the pallet survives a fork strike.
Paint makers often run a colored fleet so their own pallets are easy to spot on a customer's dock and come home. Color and hot-stamped logos are common options on new models; ask about both when you quote.
Used 42x42s come mostly from paint, coatings and electronics distribution. Lots are smaller than for 48x40, so a mixed lot may hold several makers' models sorted only by footprint. Check each model's sheet before loading a mixed lot to full weight.
What to send for a 42x42 quote
List the load, its weight per pallet, whether pallets stack loaded or go into racks, the deck you want, the quantity and the delivery ZIP. We email the matching models or used grades with a delivered price, shipping a full order by 53-foot van and a short one by LTL.
Mention any customer requirements on height, color or branding as well.
Questions buyers ask
Who uses 42x42 pallets?
Mainly telecom equipment and paint and coatings shippers. The square suits compact, dense loads.
Is 42x42 an international pallet size?
Yes. Its metric equivalent, 1067 x 1067 mm, is one of the footprints in ISO 6780.
How many 42x42 pallets fit in a 40-foot container?
About 22 one high: 2 across the 92.4 in width and 11 rows down the 474 in length.
Can a 42x42 go in a standard 48 in deep rack?
On 42 in deep frames it sits flush with the beams and has no margin for an off-center drop, so some sites add supports. The model still needs a published racked load.
Are 42x42 plastic pallets available in color?
Many new models come in several colors and with hot-stamped logos. Ask when you quote; a marked fleet is easier to recover from customers.
Sources
Last reviewed November 8, 2026.