Box & Gaylord size chart.
Everything you need to spec a bulk box in one place — footprints, heights, wall construction, condition grades, and the reading rules that keep orders from going sideways.
Need a size we don't list?
Tell us the weight, contents and destination — we'll match you to a stock size or spec a custom Gaylord and quote it, freight included.
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Most Gaylord boxes share the standard pallet footprint of 40 by 48 inches, with heights from 24 to 60 inches and wall construction from single-wall through 5-wall. To pick one, start with the load weight and contents, then choose the wall count and height that carry it — and match a condition grade to how critical the load is.
Size chart at a glance
A snapshot of our most-requested Gaylord configurations. For the full reference — including custom sizing, height options and how to choose by weight — see the Gaylord size reference →
| Configuration | Dimensions (L × W × H) | Wall | Capacity | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard 40×48×36 | 40" × 48" × 36" | Double | ~1,200 lb | General bulk storage, WIP |
| Standard 40×48×48 | 40" × 48" × 48" | Double / Triple | ~1,500 lb | High-volume light goods |
| Heavy 40×48×36 | 40" × 48" × 36" | Triple | ~2,000 lb | Dense parts, castings, glass |
| Octagon / bin | 48" × 40" × 40" | 4-wall | ~2,000 lb | Free-flowing granules, produce |
| Half-height 40×48×24 | 40" × 48" × 24" | Single / Double | ~600 lb | Ergonomic picking, light bulk |
| Export 41×41×45 | 41" × 41" × 45" | 5-wall | ~2,500 lb | International, heavy machinery |
| Tall 40×48×60 | 40" × 48" × 60" | Triple | ~1,400 lb | Textiles, foam, insulation |
| Compact 30×30×30 | 30" × 30" × 30" | Double | ~500 lb | Small-footprint bulk, e-waste |
Dig into the details
In the yardStandard 40 × 48 Gaylords on GMA pallets — the footprint most of this reference describes.One footprint, many boxes
Nearly everything you see stacked in our warehouse shares the same 40 × 48 inch base. What changes from pallet to pallet is height (how much volume the bin holds), wall count (how much weight it carries), and grade (its condition and price). Master those three variables and you can spec almost any bulk box with confidence.
The three sub-references below break each one down in depth. This hub gives you the reading rules and the selection logic that tie them together.
- Footprint → pallet fit
- Height → volume
- Wall → weight
- Grade → condition
How to read box dimensions
Box dimensions are always written in the order Length × Width × Height (L × W × H). Length is the longer of the two horizontal sides measured at the opening, width is the shorter, and height is the vertical wall. Getting the order wrong is the single most common cause of a mis-ordered box, so we quote and label every size the same way.
Just as important is inside versus outside dimensions. Inside dimensions (ID) describe the usable space your product sits in; outside dimensions (OD) describe the box's real-world footprint for stacking, truck cube and pallet fit. On thick multi-wall board the difference can be an inch or more per side, which matters when you are fitting bins to a rack or a trailer.
When precision counts, tell us which dimension set you need. For product fit, work in inside dimensions; for storage racking, pallet patterns and freight cube, work in outside dimensions.
Pallet footprints
The reason so many Gaylords measure 40 × 48 inches is the pallet beneath them. The North American GMA pallet is 48 inches long by 40 inches wide, and a bulk bin is built to match so it neither overhangs nor wastes deck space. Overhang crushes corners in transit; underhang wastes cube — a matched footprint avoids both.
For export, the ISO/Euro footprints differ (1200 × 1000 mm and 1200 × 800 mm), which is why our export Gaylords come in dedicated sizes like 41 × 41 inches. If you ship internationally, start from the pallet standard at your destination and size the box to it.
Not sure which footprint your operation runs on? See the full Gaylord reference →
How to choose a box by weight and contents.
Sizing a bulk box is a short decision tree. Work through it in order and the answer falls out — no guesswork, no over-buying.
Weigh the load
Total the weight that goes in one bin. Dense goods (metal, glass, castings) demand more walls; light bulk (foam, textiles, plastics) does not. Weight picks the wall count.
Measure the volume
How much product per bin? Volume sets the height — 24" half-heights for light picking, 36–48" workhorses, up to 60" for bulky low-density goods. Shortest height that holds the load wins.
Match the pallet
The footprint should equal your pallet — 40 × 48 for GMA, or an export size for ISO/Euro decks. Overhang crushes corners; underhang wastes cube. Footprint follows the pallet.
Set the grade
How critical and how many cycles? Grade B covers most internal work, Grade A for customer-facing reuse, New for certified/food/export. Grade follows criticality and budget.
When weight, volume, pallet and grade all agree, you have your box. Still weighing it up? Send us the load and we'll spec it →
Wall strength and condition grades at a glance.
Footprint and height come from the Gaylord chart above. The other two levers — wall construction and condition grade — are summarized here, with links to the full deep-dives.
Wall construction & ECT
| Wall | Layers | ECT |
|---|---|---|
| Single-wall | 1 fluted layer | 32–44 ECT |
| Double-wall | 2 fluted layers | 48–61 ECT |
| Triple-wall | 3 fluted layers | 67–90 ECT |
| 4-wall | 4 fluted layers | 90–110 ECT |
| 5-wall | 5 fluted layers | 110+ ECT |
Condition grades
| Grade | Label | Best use |
|---|---|---|
| A | Like-new | Customer-facing shipping, demanding reuse |
| B | 1–2 prior uses | Internal handling, storage, most bulk |
| C | Economy | Non-critical loads, reconditioning feedstock |
| New | First-run | Food-grade, export, spec-critical loads |