freightcalcsTarget pallet requirements
GMA 48 × 40 · no overhang · height limit varies by distribution centre. Part of freightcalcs.com.
GMA 48 × 40 · no overhang · height limit varies by distribution centre. Part of freightcalcs.com.
Before you ship: the routing guide attached to your purchase order is the authority, and requirements vary by facility and change without much notice. Treat the figures below as the commonly published baseline for planning, then confirm against your current guide.
The thing that distinguishes Target from the other big-box retailers is that there is no single pallet height. Different Target distribution centres publish different limits, and building to the wrong one gets the load rejected at the door. Commonly cited figures put some DCs at 78 in of product plus a 6 in pallet — around 84 in total — while others cap product at 72 in for roughly 78 in total.
That means your build spec is a function of destination, not of Target as a company. If you ship to several Target DCs, either build to the lowest limit across all of them or maintain destination-specific configurations.
| Facility group | Product height | Plus pallet | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taller-limit DCs | 78 in | ~6 in | ~84 in |
| Standard-limit DCs | 72 in | ~6 in | ~78 in |
Six inches of difference sounds trivial until it costs you a layer. On a 12 in case, 78 in of product height gives six layers while 72 in gives six as well — but on a 13 in case the taller limit gives six and the standard limit gives five. Check the destination DC code on your PO before finalising the build, and see the TI-HI calculator to test the layer maths.
| Requirement | Commonly published rule |
|---|---|
| Pallet type | GMA standard 48 × 40 in |
| Maximum weight | Up to about 2,000 lb including the pallet |
| Overhang | No carton overhang permitted |
| Mixed SKUs | Not permitted unless the PO specifies otherwise |
| Stretch wrap | Required, with corner boards to protect edges and maintain compression |
| Carton strength | Minimum ECT rating specified — cases must survive stacking |
| Labels | GS1-128 case labels; SSCC-18 pallet licence plate |
Corner boards are an explicit requirement rather than a nice-to-have. They keep stretch-wrap compression on the load edges instead of crushing the top cases, which is what protects the ECT rating you are being held to.
Target splits its requirements across two documents that cover different things, and suppliers regularly read only one:
| Document | Governs |
|---|---|
| Supplier Routing Guide | Inbound shipping — carrier selection, delivery windows, pallet configuration, DC-specific limits, labelling |
| Target Brand Standards | Retail-ready packaging — how the product presents on shelf |
| EDI specifications | ASN (856) accuracy, GTIN and SSCC data — a frequent source of deductions |
Pallet and shipping compliance lives in the Routing Guide. If a chargeback references packaging rather than shipping, it is more likely a Brand Standards issue.
It depends on the destination distribution centre. Commonly cited figures put some Target DCs at 78 inches of product plus about 6 inches of pallet, roughly 84 inches total, while others cap product at 72 inches for around 78 inches total. Check the DC on your purchase order.
Because facilities differ in racking configuration, ceiling height and material-handling equipment. Target publishes limits per facility rather than one company-wide number, so the same product may need two build specs if you serve multiple DCs.
Up to approximately 2,000 lb including the pallet itself. That is lower than Walmart's commonly cited 2,100 lb and well above Amazon FBA's 1,500 lb limit.
Generally no, unless the purchase order specifically calls for it. Single-SKU pallets are the default expectation, since mixed pallets require sortation labour that the receiving process is not built for.
Yes, corner boards alongside stretch wrap are commonly specified. They maintain wrap compression on the load edges rather than transferring crush force onto the top cases, and they help the load hold its ECT rating through transit.
In the Supplier Routing Guide, which governs inbound shipping and pallet configuration. Target Brand Standards is a separate document covering retail-ready packaging, and EDI specifications govern ASN and label data.
TI-HI calculator · 3D pallet calculator · Why overhang matters · GMA pallet specs · Carton fit table
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