The 600 × 400 mm packaging module
The 600 × 400 mm module under ISO 3394 is the footprint from which packaging and unit loads are built. Four modules fill a Euro pallet (1200 × 800 mm) exactly. Smaller boxes are fractions of it, such as 400 × 300 or 300 × 200 mm.
Contents of this page
The principle
The idea is the same as with ISO paper sizes: one large base size is divided so that all the parts fit together without gaps. Instead of halving, as with A4, the system comes from dividing the pallet area. A 400 × 300 mm box fills exactly half a module, and eight of them sit side by side on a Euro pallet.
Common module sizes
| Footprint | Share of the module | Per layer on a Euro pallet |
|---|---|---|
| 1200 × 800 mm | 4 modules | 1 |
| 800 × 600 mm | 2 modules | 2 |
| 600 × 400 mm | 1 module | 4 |
| 400 × 300 mm | 1/2 module | 8 |
| 300 × 200 mm | 1/4 module | 16 |
| 200 × 150 mm | 1/8 module | 32 |
These are external dimensions. For the internal dimensions of a box, subtract the wall thickness, usually 3 to 5 mm per wall for single-wall corrugated board. Plastic crates in the so-called Euro container system use the same footprints, so they can share a layer with boxes.
Which module for paper sizes?
| Contents | Suitable external size | Note |
|---|---|---|
| A4 lying flat | 400 × 300 mm | about 390 × 290 mm inside, so A4 (297 × 210) has room for padding |
| two A4 stacks side by side | 600 × 400 mm | room inside for 2 × 210 mm next to each other |
| A3 lying flat | 600 × 400 mm | A3 (420 × 297) has about 70 mm to spare |
| A5 lying flat | 300 × 200 mm | tight, only without padding |
Postal limits are a different matter from pallet planning. A Royal Mail Large Letter may be no larger than 353 × 250 mm, and the same applies to a Deutsche Post Maxibrief. A 400 × 300 box is too big for either and goes as a parcel.
Why the module pays off
A box only 2 cm too wide can mean a whole row is missing on every pallet layer. Across a full lorry load, that soon adds up to several pallets. Retailers, logistics firms and display makers therefore nearly always plan on the 600 × 400 grid. If you have your own packaging made, give the manufacturer this requirement from the start.
Frequently asked questions
What is the 600 × 400 module?
The base size for packaging under ISO 3394. Four modules make up exactly the area of a Euro pallet.
Which box fits A4?
A box with external dimensions of 400 × 300 mm takes A4 lying flat with a little room to spare.
How many 400 × 300 boxes fit on a Euro pallet?
Eight per layer.