Pallet Specifications & Standards

A plain guide to pallet sizes, construction, and terms, so you can describe what you need to a partner supplier in the Jacksonville area

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Standard Pallet Sizes

Most Common

48" x 40" GMA Pallet

Named for the Grocery Manufacturers Association, this is the most familiar pallet size in North America, used well beyond grocery.

Typical Features:

  • Dimensions: 48" x 40", with the stringers usually running the 48" side
  • Construction: Stringer is common; block versions exist too
  • Entry: Commonly partial 4-way with notched stringers
  • Supply: New and used, in several grades

Often Used For:

  • Retail distribution
  • Grocery and consumer goods
  • General warehouse storage
  • Standard pallet racking

48" x 48" Square Pallet

A square format that gives round and bulky loads more even support.

Typical Features:

  • Dimensions: 48" x 48"
  • Construction: Stringer or block
  • Entry: 2-way or 4-way, depending on the design

Often Used For:

  • Drums and barrels
  • Totes and bulk bags
  • Larger square loads

42" x 42" Square Pallet

Often called a telecom pallet, this smaller square size suits compact loads.

Typical Features:

  • Dimensions: 42" x 42"
  • Construction: Stringer or block
  • Entry: Depends on the design, so confirm it

Often Used For:

  • Telecommunications equipment
  • Paint and coatings
  • Smaller square products

EUR 1200 x 800 mm Pallet

The standard European block pallet, sometimes needed for shipments to European customers.

Typical Features:

  • Dimensions: 1200 x 800 mm (about 47.2" x 31.5")
  • Construction: Block
  • Entry: 4-way

Worth Knowing:

  • Availability in Northeast Florida can be limited
  • If your customer needs a licensed EPAL pallet, say so in your request
  • Exports still need to meet destination wood packaging rules

Pallet Construction Types

Stringer Pallets

Construction: Lengthwise boards called stringers run between the top and bottom decks. This is the most common design in North America.

Entry: 2-way, or partial 4-way when the stringers are notched.

Advantages: Usually lighter and simpler than block designs, widely available, and straightforward to repair.

Block Pallets

Construction: Solid or composite blocks sit between the decks, usually at the corners, edge centers, and middle of the pallet.

Entry: True 4-way for forklifts. Pallet jack access depends on the bottom deck layout.

Advantages: Flexible handling and a design often chosen for repeated trips and heavier use.

Double-Face Pallets

Construction: Deck boards on both the top and bottom. Can be reversible or non-reversible.

Reversible: Both decks match, so either side can face up. Non-reversible pallets have different top and bottom decks.

Advantages: A bottom deck spreads the load and helps when stacking or racking.

Single-Face Pallets

Construction: Deck boards on the top only, with stringers or blocks resting on the floor.

Usage: Generally for lighter loads or one-way shipments.

Limitations: Less suitable for stacking loads or for racking, so check before you commit to them.

Wood Types & Their Properties

Hardwood Pallets

Common Species: Oak, maple, ash, hickory, beech

Properties: Dense and heavier than softwood, with good resistance to impact.

Often Chosen For: Heavier products and multiple trips

Softwood Pallets

Common Species: Pine, spruce, fir

Properties: Lighter and easier to work with than hardwood, with less density.

Often Chosen For: Light to medium loads and one-way shipments

Mixed Hardwood

Composition: A combination of hardwood species

Properties: Varies by mix. Commonly seen in used and recycled pallets.

Often Chosen For: General purpose shipping

Load Capacity Terms

Understanding Load Ratings

Ratings depend on the design, wood, condition, and how the load sits on the pallet, and used pallets vary from one to the next. Ask the supplier for the rating of the specific pallet you are buying.

Static Load

The weight a pallet can hold while sitting still on a flat, solid surface. This is usually the highest of the three ratings.

Dynamic Load

The weight a pallet can safely carry while being moved by a forklift or pallet jack. It is lower than the static load because movement adds stress.

Racking Load

The weight a pallet can hold in warehouse racking, supported only along its edges. This is usually the lowest of the three.

Pallet Entry Types Explained

2-Way Entry

Forklifts and pallet jacks enter from the two open ends only. Stringers run the full length with no notches.

Advantages: Simple construction, adequate for many uses

Limitations: Less flexible in tight spaces, since the pallet must be oriented correctly

Partial 4-Way Entry

Notches cut into the stringers let forklift tines enter from the sides as well. Pallet jacks generally still enter from the two open ends only.

Advantages: More flexible than 2-way for forklift work

Limitations: Notches remove some wood from the stringers

True 4-Way Entry

Found on block pallets, with forklift access from all four sides. Pallet jack access depends on the bottom deck.

Advantages: Flexible handling, useful in tight spaces

Considerations: Often a heavier pallet, so check the fit for your use

Moisture and Treatment Terms

Moisture affects a pallet's weight and how likely it is to warp or grow mold, which matters in humid Northeast Florida storage. These terms are often confused, and they do not mean the same thing.

Kiln Dried (KD)

Wood dried in a kiln to lower its moisture. It tends to be lighter and more stable than green wood, and less prone to mold while it stays dry.

Worth Knowing: Kiln drying on its own is not the same as an ISPM-15 mark. If you need a moisture target, give it in your request.

Heat Treated (HT)

Core Temperature: At least 56 °C for at least 30 continuous minutes

The ISPM-15 pest treatment for wood packaging. It may not significantly lower moisture, so it does not replace kiln drying.

Marking: Carries an IPPC mark with a country code, producer code, and HT. See the heat treatment guide.

Green / Air Dried

Green wood is freshly cut, and air-dried wood has been left to dry naturally. Higher moisture makes pallets heavier and more prone to warping and mold.

Often Chosen For: Domestic shipping and short-term use

Fastener Types

Nails

Types: Helical (screw) shank, annular (ring) shank, smooth shank

The most common pallet fastener. Threaded shanks resist withdrawal better than smooth ones.

Screws

Use: Less common than nails, and generally a slower assembly method

Screws can be specified for heavier designs or where parts may need to come apart for repair.

Staples

Use: Applied with pneumatic tools

Seen on lighter pallets and in some repair work. If fastener type matters to you, include it in your spec.

Custom Specifications

Need something not listed here? Include these details in your request, and a partner supplier can tell you whether it can be built or sourced:

  • Non-standard dimensions
  • Load weight and how the load sits on the pallet
  • Preferred wood species
  • Deck board layout
  • Treatment or marking needs
  • Fastener requirements
  • Handling features such as notches or reinforcements

Use the form on this page to send your spec. See custom pallets for more.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do static, dynamic, and racking loads mean?

Static is the load at rest, dynamic is the load while being lifted or moved, and racking is the load when the pallet is stored in racks. Confirm the rating for your pallet with the supplier.

Which pallet dimensions are most common?

48x40 GMA is the most familiar size in North America. 42x42 and 48x48 are common square sizes, and EUR pallets measure 1200 x 800 mm.

How do board thickness and spacing affect performance?

In general, thicker boards and tighter spacing reduce deflection and give smaller cartons more support, which can help with conveyors and other automation.

Can I request block pallets as well as stringer pallets?

Yes. Say which you want, or describe your handling equipment and storage. We pass the request to a partner supplier, and availability depends on them.

Can I get ISPM-15 heat-treated pallets?

You can request them. Any treatment and marking is done by a partner supplier or its treatment provider, not by this site. Confirm the mark with the supplier and check your destination rules.

Are there pallets suited to automated systems?

Automated lines tend to need consistent dimensions and sound boards, which can rule out some used pallets. Give your equipment requirements in your request so the supplier can tell you what fits.

Which wood species are used?

That varies by supplier and by stock. Mixed hardwoods and softwoods such as pine are common. If you need a particular species, include it in your request.

Can a pallet be designed for heavy or uneven loads?

Pallets can usually be strengthened with more boards, heavier components, or a different design. A partner supplier can tell you what is possible for your load.

Are kiln-dried pallets available?

Some partner suppliers may offer them. Ask in your request, and include a moisture target if you have one. Kiln drying and ISPM-15 heat treatment are not the same thing.

Can someone help me pick the right spec for my product?

Yes. Share your product dimensions, weight, and handling method on the form, and we will pass it to a partner supplier who can suggest an option and quote it.