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Pallets are a fundamental part of modern shipping, warehousing, manufacturing, and distribution. They make it easier to move large quantities of products with forklifts, pallet jacks, conveyors, and other material handling equipment while helping protect goods during storage and transportation.
At Standard Pallet Company, we work with businesses that need dependable pallet solutions for a wide range of applications. This pallet guide explains common pallet types, sizes, construction methods, terminology, shipping requirements, and service options so companies can make more informed decisions about their pallet programs.
A pallet is a flat platform used to support products during storage, handling, and transportation. Products are typically stacked, boxed, wrapped, strapped, or otherwise secured to the pallet before being moved.
Wood pallets are commonly used because they are strong, repairable, reusable, and adaptable to many different products and industries.
Businesses can choose from standard pallets, recycled pallets, custom-built pallets, specialty designs, and pallets intended for particular industries or shipping requirements.
You can explore our complete selection of pallets to see the different pallet options available through Standard Pallet Company.
Pallets are produced in many different sizes.
The right pallet dimensions depend on the products being shipped, warehouse equipment, trailer configuration, racking systems, and industry requirements.
One of the most commonly used pallet footprints in North America is 48 inches by 40 inches. However, other industries and products may require different dimensions.
Companies that regularly ship oversized, unusually shaped, or specialized products may benefit from custom pallet dimensions.
Our Pallet Sizes & Specifications page provides a more detailed look at pallet dimensions, construction, load requirements, and other important specifications.
The 48×40 pallet is widely used throughout grocery, retail, manufacturing, food distribution, warehousing, and general freight applications.
These pallets are often referred to as GMA-style pallets because of their long-standing use throughout consumer goods supply chains.
Businesses can purchase 48×40 pallets in different grades, construction styles, and conditions depending on the intended application.
Learn more about 48×40 GMA pallets if your operation relies on this common pallet footprint.
Businesses often choose between new and recycled pallets based on their products, budget, appearance requirements, and intended use.
New pallets can be manufactured to very specific dimensions and construction requirements. This makes them useful for custom products, automation systems, specialized loads, and operations requiring consistent specifications.
Recycled pallets can provide a cost-effective alternative for many domestic shipping and warehouse applications.
Recycled pallets may be inspected, sorted, repaired, and returned to service, helping businesses extend the useful life of pallet materials.
Different pallet designs provide different handling characteristics, load support, and shipping advantages.
Some of the most common pallet types include:
Stringer pallets, which use long structural boards to support the top and bottom deck boards.
Block pallets, which use blocks to provide support and often allow four-way forklift entry.
Single faced pallets, which use a single primary deck surface.
Double wing pallets, which have deck boards extending beyond the support structure.
Expendable pallets designed for one-way or limited-use shipping.
CP pallets commonly used in chemical and industrial supply chains.
Custom pallets designed around specific product dimensions and load requirements.
The best pallet style depends on how the product will be stored, transported, and handled.
Stringer pallets are constructed using structural boards that run between the top and bottom portions of the pallet.
These stringers help support the load and provide the basic framework of the pallet.
Depending on the construction, stringer pallets may provide two-way or partial four-way forklift entry.
They are commonly used in manufacturing, domestic shipping, warehousing, and general distribution.
Block pallets use blocks positioned between the top and bottom deck boards.
One advantage of this design is that it can provide four-way forklift or pallet jack access, allowing the pallet to be approached from multiple directions.
This can make block pallets convenient in busy warehouse and distribution environments.
Block pallet specifications can vary based on product weight, pallet dimensions, and expected reuse.
Standard pallet dimensions do not work for every product.
Industrial equipment, machinery, automotive components, building materials, oversized products, and unusually shaped goods may require pallets designed specifically around the load.
Custom pallets can be manufactured based on product dimensions, load weight, forklift requirements, racking conditions, and transportation needs.
Custom sizing can improve product support while helping reduce unnecessary pallet material and wasted shipping space.
A custom pallet should be designed around how the product actually moves through the supply chain.
Our custom pallet design services consider product size, load distribution, pallet dimensions, deck board spacing, forklift entry, warehouse storage, and transportation conditions.
The goal is to create a pallet that provides appropriate support without unnecessarily overbuilding the design.
For businesses that purchase large quantities of pallets, even relatively small improvements in pallet design may create meaningful efficiencies over time.
The Pallet Design System can help evaluate pallet performance based on actual load and handling requirements.
PDS can be used to analyze factors such as product weight, load distribution, pallet dimensions, support conditions, and lumber components.
This can help businesses develop pallet specifications based on how the pallet will actually perform rather than relying only on standard dimensions.
PDS may be particularly useful when designing custom pallets for recurring or high-volume applications.
Deck boards form the top and sometimes bottom surface of a pallet.
Their thickness, width, quantity, and spacing influence pallet strength and product support.
Products with small contact points may require closer deck board spacing, while large cartons may distribute weight across a broader area.
Deck board configuration can also affect how easily products are wrapped, strapped, stacked, or secured to the pallet.
Stringers and blocks are major structural components of wooden pallets.
Stringers run lengthwise through certain pallet designs and help support the deck boards.
Blocks are used in block pallets to connect the upper and lower portions of the pallet while creating spaces for forklift entry.
The size, number, and placement of these components can influence pallet strength, handling characteristics, and load capacity.
Forklift access is an important part of pallet design.
Two-way entry pallets are primarily designed for forklift entry from two opposite sides.
Four-way pallets allow forklifts or pallet jacks to access the pallet from multiple directions.
Four-way access can improve flexibility in warehouses where pallets need to be handled from different orientations.
The best design depends on warehouse layout, equipment, storage systems, and transportation requirements.
Pallet load capacity is not always a single simple number.
How much weight a pallet can support depends on the pallet construction, lumber components, load distribution, and how the pallet is supported.
A pallet sitting flat on a warehouse floor may support weight differently than a pallet resting across warehouse rack beams.
Businesses should consider actual operating conditions when selecting pallet specifications.
Heavy or unusually distributed loads may require custom pallet engineering.
A static load generally refers to a loaded pallet that is resting on a flat, stable surface.
The full pallet base may be supported under these conditions.
Static load performance can differ from how the same pallet performs while being moved or stored in racking.
For this reason, businesses should avoid assuming that one general weight rating applies to every situation.
Dynamic conditions occur when a loaded pallet is being moved.
Forklifts, pallet jacks, conveyors, and transportation can all place additional stress on a pallet.
Acceleration, turning, vibration, uneven surfaces, and lifting can affect how the pallet performs.
Businesses that regularly move heavy products should consider these conditions when establishing pallet specifications.
Warehouse racking systems can create different structural demands.
When a pallet rests across rack beams, parts of the pallet may be unsupported.
The pallet needs sufficient strength and stiffness to span the opening while carrying the product.
Rack dimensions, pallet orientation, load weight, and load distribution should all be considered when selecting pallets for warehouse racking.
Automated warehouse systems often require more consistent pallet dimensions and construction.
Conveyor systems, robotic equipment, automated storage systems, and scanning equipment may not tolerate damaged or inconsistent pallets as well as conventional forklift handling.
Warped boards, missing components, excessive variation in height, or irregular pallet dimensions can create handling problems.
Companies using automation may benefit from tighter pallet specifications and more consistent pallet quality.
Wood pallets used for international shipping may need to meet specific treatment requirements.
Heat-treated pallets are processed to help reduce the risk of pests being transported through wood packaging materials.
Companies that regularly export goods should account for heat-treatment requirements when planning pallet inventory.
Maintaining an appropriate supply of export-ready pallets can help avoid delays when international shipments are ready to leave the facility.
International shipping can involve different pallet requirements than domestic transportation.
In addition to heat treatment, companies should consider product weight, shipping container dimensions, destination requirements, and how the pallet will be handled throughout its journey.
Custom pallet sizing may be useful when companies want to make more efficient use of container space.
Working pallet requirements into export planning early can help avoid unnecessary changes at the shipping dock.
Some pallets are designed to return through the supply chain and be used many times.
Others are intended for one-way shipping.
Expendable pallets can be designed to provide the necessary support for a specific shipment without including additional material intended for long-term reuse.
This can be a practical option when products are shipped to customers who are unlikely to return the pallet.
Maintaining a dependable pallet supply is critical for businesses that ship products every day.
Running out of pallets can slow production, create congestion in staging areas, and delay outbound shipments.
Standard Pallet Company provides pallet delivery based on customer volume, pallet specifications, and delivery requirements.
Regular delivery schedules can help businesses maintain appropriate pallet inventory.
Storing too many pallets can consume valuable warehouse space.
Just-in-time pallet delivery can help companies receive pallets closer to the time they are needed.
This approach may be useful for high-volume manufacturing facilities and warehouses with predictable pallet usage.
Coordinated delivery can help balance pallet availability with available storage space.
Companies with several facilities may need pallet supply across multiple markets.
Pallet distribution can help businesses coordinate pallet purchasing and delivery across warehouses, plants, and distribution centers.
Standardizing specifications across multiple locations may also simplify purchasing and improve consistency.
Standard Pallet Company supports customers throughout the Midwest and across broader national markets.
Damaged pallets do not always need to be discarded.
Many pallets can be repaired by replacing damaged deck boards, stringers, or other components.
Pallet repair can help extend the useful life of pallet inventory while reducing unnecessary replacement.
For high-volume pallet users, developing a repair program can also help prevent large quantities of damaged pallets from accumulating around the facility.
Eventually, pallets reach a point where repair is no longer practical.
A structured pallet recycling program can help businesses manage damaged, unwanted, and end-of-life pallets.
Reusable pallets may return to circulation, repairable pallets may be restored, and unusable material can be directed toward appropriate recycling or recovery options.
This can help companies reduce clutter while supporting waste reduction efforts.
Surplus pallets can take up significant warehouse, yard, and loading dock space.
Standard Pallet Company offers pallet removal and pickup services for businesses that regularly accumulate unwanted pallets.
Pickup schedules can be developed around pallet volume and facility needs.
Creating a consistent removal process can keep work areas organized while helping reusable and recyclable pallets move into the appropriate recovery channels.
Companies that use large numbers of pallets can benefit from reviewing how pallets move through their operation.
A pallet usage analysis can evaluate purchasing volume, delivery frequency, pallet specifications, damaged pallet rates, repair opportunities, recycling, and inventory levels.
These reviews can help identify areas where a pallet program may be simplified or improved.
Small changes may become significant when applied across thousands of pallets.
Wood pallets are well suited for reuse.
A quality pallet may complete multiple trips through a supply chain before repairs are needed. Damaged components can often be replaced, allowing the pallet to return to service.
When pallets can no longer be repaired, wood materials may still be recoverable.
Businesses interested in reducing waste can learn more about sustainable pallets and how pallet reuse, repair, and recycling can work together.
Pallet management involves more than purchasing pallets.
Businesses may need supply, custom design, delivery, repair, recycling, pickup, and inventory planning.
Standard Pallet Company provides comprehensive pallet services for manufacturers, warehouses, distributors, retailers, and other commercial operations.
A coordinated pallet program can help reduce the number of vendors involved while creating a more consistent approach to pallet management.
The right pallet depends on the entire application.
Start with the product dimensions and weight. Then consider how the pallet will be moved, where it will be stored, whether it will sit in racking, how far it will travel, and whether it needs to return for reuse.
The lowest-cost pallet is not always the most economical choice if it creates product damage, handling issues, or frequent replacement.
Likewise, an unnecessarily heavy pallet may add material costs without providing meaningful additional performance.
The goal is to match pallet construction to actual operating requirements.
Pallet needs can change as a business grows.
New products, warehouse automation, different customers, additional facilities, and changing shipping volumes can all affect which pallets make the most sense.
Reviewing your pallet program periodically can help identify opportunities to improve specifications, consolidate pallet types, adjust delivery schedules, expand recycling, or reduce unnecessary inventory.
Standard Pallet Company can help evaluate these requirements and develop a pallet strategy around your operation.
If your company needs pallets or wants to improve an existing pallet program, Standard Pallet Company can help.
We provide standard and custom pallets along with pallet distribution, delivery, repair, recycling, pickup, design, and other pallet management services for businesses throughout the Midwest and nationwide.
Visit our Request a Quote page and tell us about your pallet sizes, quantities, products, facility requirements, and delivery needs. Our team can help develop a dependable pallet solution designed around the way your business operates.
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