Custom Pallets in Jacksonville, FL
What to specify for a non-standard pallet, and how to request one through partner suppliers
Send Your Spec to a Partner Supplier
Reuse Before NewJacksonville Pallets is a referral service. Tell us your size, load and quantity, and we pass your request to a partner supplier, who follows up to discuss the design and quote. The request is free and carries no obligation.
- Free, No-Obligation Quote Request
- Grade A, B and C Used Pallets
- Pickup and Delivery Through Partners
- Reusing a Pallet Avoids Building a New One
Request a Custom Pallet Quote
When a Custom Pallet Makes Sense
The 48 x 40 inch GMA pallet suits a lot of freight, and it is usually the easiest size to source. A custom pallet is worth considering when a standard size overhangs, sits poorly under the product, or does not suit your racking, trailer or equipment. A clear spec helps a supplier quote accurately, and the sections below cover what to include.
Product Overhang
Cartons or machinery that hang past the pallet edge are exposed to forks, straps and neighbouring loads. A pallet sized to the footprint keeps the load supported.
Uneven Weight
A product with a high or off-center center of gravity, or weight resting on small feet, may need extra boards or stringers placed under those points.
Rack or Equipment Fit
Some racking, conveyors and automated lines expect a specific footprint or bottom deck. Non-standard equipment can call for a non-standard pallet.
Trailer and Container Fit
Trailers and ocean containers have different inside widths. Sizing a pallet around the space you ship in can reduce gaps and load shift.
One-Way or Reuse
A pallet that makes a single trip can be built differently from one that will circulate for years. Tell the supplier which you need so the design suits the job.
Export Shipments
Solid wood pallets moving internationally, including freight through JAXPORT, generally need ISPM 15 treatment and marking. Say so in your request, and check the current rules for the destination country.
What to Specify: Dimensions
Before going custom, check whether a common alternative such as 42 x 42, 48 x 48 or 36 x 36 inches already fits. If not, these are the measurements a supplier will ask for.
Length and Width
Give the stringer or block length first, then the deck board length. In pallet terms, the first number in 48 x 40 is usually the stringer length, which also tells the supplier the direction the boards run.
Measure These:
- Product footprint, including any packaging
- Any overhang you can or cannot accept
- Length and width limits set by your racking
- Clearance around the pallet in aisles and doors
Height
Overall pallet height matters when dock, rack or trailer clearance is tight. Lower pallets save height, but check that forks and jacks still fit in the entry openings.
Measure These:
- Fork or jack height needed at entry
- Total load height with the pallet included
- Rack opening or trailer door height
- Stacking height, if loads are stacked
Shipping Space
If the aim is a better fit in a trailer or container, measure the actual equipment you use. Inside dimensions vary, so a worked-out layout is safer than a nominal figure.
Include These:
- Trailer or container type
- Inside width and door opening
- Pallets per row you hope to fit
- Whether pallets load straight or turned
What to Specify: Load
Describe the Load, Not Just the Weight
Static, Dynamic and Racked
A pallet can carry more sitting on the floor than it can moving on forks or spanning a rack. Tell the supplier the weight and which of these situations applies, and they can advise on a design for your load.
Include: Weight per pallet, how it is moved, whether it is racked, whether loads are stacked
Weight Distribution
A load spread evenly across the deck behaves very differently from one sitting to one side. Note where the weight sits so that a supplier can place stringers, blocks and boards to suit.
Include: A simple sketch, center of gravity if known, photos of the product
Concentrated Points
Machinery feet, drums and equipment bases press on small areas of the deck. Extra boards or support beneath those points can help spread the load.
Include: Contact point positions and size, the number of points, and the product weight
What to Specify: Entry and Deck
Stringer or Block
Stringer pallets use long boards running the length of the pallet. Block pallets use posts at the corners and between them. Block designs give true four-way entry, while stringer designs are often simpler to build.
- Stringer: common and straightforward
- Block: entry from all four sides
- Ask which suits your load and equipment
2-Way or 4-Way Entry
A two-way pallet takes forks from two opposite ends. Notched stringers add forklift entry from the sides, though pallet jacks still enter only from the ends. Block pallets accept both from any side.
- List the equipment that will handle it
- Note tight turning or aisle limits
- Give fork width and thickness if unusual
Top Deck Coverage
Small cartons and bags need closer boards so nothing sags or slips through gaps. Larger rigid items can sit on a more open deck, which uses less lumber.
- Open deck with spaced boards
- Closer boards for small packages
- Solid deck where the load needs it
Bottom Deck
The bottom deck affects how a pallet sits on the floor, racks and conveyors. Tell the supplier what the pallet will rest on so the bottom boards suit it.
- Floor stacking, rack or conveyor use
- Pallet jack wheels need room to drop
- Fuller bottom decks spread weight more
Reversible or Single-Sided
A reversible pallet has matching top and bottom decks and can be used either way up. A single-sided design has one load surface, which suits many one-way shipments.
- Reversible for flexible use
- Single-sided for simple loads
- Note which face carries the product
Add-Ons to Ask About
Some designs add features for a particular product. Availability depends on the partner supplier, so list what you need and ask what they can build.
- Edge cleats to stop product sliding
- Notches or slots for strapping
- Blocks to hold a product in position
- Wider openings for special forks
What to Specify: Material
Softwood
Softwoods such as pine are lighter and easier to handle by hand, and they are widely used for pallets. They suit many general loads and export shipments.
- Lighter pallet weight
- Easier to nail and repair
- Softer, so edges can dent more easily
Hardwood
Hardwoods such as oak are denser and stiffer, which helps with heavier loads and repeated use. They also add weight to every pallet you lift or ship.
- Denser and harder wearing
- Heavier to handle and ship
- Ask whether your load needs it
New or Recycled Lumber
Some custom sizes can be cut from reclaimed boards, while others need new lumber. If appearance or consistency matters, say so in your request.
- New lumber for consistent boards
- Recycled lumber where the load allows
- Reusing boards avoids cutting new ones
Plastic or Metal
Non-wood pallets are an option for some closed-loop uses, and some partner suppliers may be able to source them. Tell them why you want one, so they can advise on whether wood would also work.
- Availability varies by supplier
- Molded sizes are less flexible than wood
- Ask about load limits for your use
Fasteners
Fasteners affect how a pallet holds up and how easily it can be repaired. If the pallet will be reused many times, ask the supplier what they recommend for your load.
- Nails are the usual choice
- Ring-shank nails resist pulling out
- Screws or staples suit some designs
Heat Treatment and Drying
ISPM 15 heat treatment raises the wood core to 56 °C for 30 minutes. It targets pests and does not by itself stop mold, so storing pallets dry still matters in a humid climate like Jacksonville.
- State if the pallets are for export
- Ask for the marking you need
- Keep pallets dry and off wet ground
How to Request a Custom Pallet
Partner suppliers carry out the design and build. Our part is taking your request and passing it on, so the clearer the request, the more useful the first reply will be.
Step 1: Gather the Details
Pull together what you already know. A rough spec is enough to begin, and anything missing can be worked out with the supplier.
Helpful to Have:
- Dimensions and height limits
- Weight per pallet and how it is spread
- Handling equipment
- Racked, floor stacked or shipped
- Quantity, one-off or repeat
- Whether it will be exported
Step 2: Send Your Request
Fill in the form on this page. We pass the details to a partner supplier for requests from the Jacksonville area; availability depends on partner suppliers.
In the Form:
- Describe the size and load
- Give your approximate quantity
- Say where the pallets are needed
- Add anything unusual about the product
Step 3: Review With the Supplier
A partner supplier follows up with questions and a quote. Pricing, schedule, delivery and any warranty are set by that supplier, so agree them directly.
Worth Asking:
- Can you build a sample first?
- Is there a minimum order?
- Will you supply a drawing?
- What load is the design suited to?
- How is delivery arranged?
Checking a Design Before You Order
Simple Checks on Your Side
Check the Drawing
If the supplier provides a drawing or written spec, compare it against your measurements and confirm board direction, entry sides and overall height.
Try a Sample
Where a supplier can build one, a sample lets you test the pallet with your own product, forklifts, racking and strapping before a larger order.
Keep the Spec on File
A written spec makes repeat orders easier, and it gives any supplier the same starting point if you later request more of the same pallet.
Common Reasons for a Custom Pallet
Oversized Equipment
Machinery and long or wide items often go beyond standard pallet sizes. Give the footprint, the weight and the lifting points when you make your request.
Tight Storage
Where rack bays or aisles are narrow, a pallet sized to the space may fit better. Include the rack and aisle measurements so a supplier can review them.
International Export
Export pallets can be sized for the container and treated to ISPM 15. Check the current regulations for your destination, then tell the supplier what you need.
Ready to Request a Custom Pallet?
Send your dimensions, load and quantity, and we will pass your request to a partner supplier. We take requests from the Jacksonville area, including Duval, St. Johns, Clay and Nassau counties; availability depends on partner suppliers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who designs and builds a custom pallet?
Partner suppliers do. Jacksonville Pallets is a referral service: we take your request and pass it to a partner supplier, who handles the design, build and quote.
What should I include in a custom pallet request?
Give the dimensions, weight per pallet, how the weight is spread, entry type, deck coverage, material preference, quantity and how the pallet will be stored and moved.
Can I get a sample before a full order?
That depends on the partner supplier. Ask about a sample when they follow up, particularly if the pallet has to work with racking or automated equipment.
How long does a custom order take?
Timing depends on the partner supplier, the design and the quantity. Tell them when you need the pallets, and agree a schedule with them directly.
Can custom pallets be heat-treated for export?
Many suppliers can arrange ISPM 15 treatment, which brings the wood core to 56 °C for 30 minutes. State this in your request and check the current rules for your destination.
Will a custom pallet work with my automated line?
Share the specification from your equipment maker with the partner supplier. They can tell you whether they can build to those tolerances.
What materials are used for custom pallets?
Softwoods such as pine and hardwoods such as oak are common. Softwood is lighter, and hardwood is denser. A supplier can advise on what suits your load.
Is there a minimum order for custom pallets?
Minimums vary by partner supplier. Include your quantity in the request, even if it is small, and the supplier can tell you what is possible.
What will custom pallets cost?
Pricing is by quote from partner suppliers, because it depends on size, material, quantity and delivery. Sending a request is free and carries no obligation.
How do I know what load a design can carry?
Ask the partner supplier to advise for your specific load, and tell them how the pallet will be used: on the floor, on forks or in a rack.