About pallet.design

pallet.design is two things: a free pallet design tool that runs in your browser, and a quote service that turns a design into a price.

#What pallet.design does

The designer. Anyone can model a pallet, without an account and at no cost. Wood stringer and block pallets are modeled board by board at actual size; plastic, metal, presswood, paper pallets and slip sheets are specified by their own properties. The designer produces an ANSI B engineering drawing, a parts list with board feet, an estimated weight and fastener counts, and checks the design against common construction rules. You can print the drawing or share it with a link that carries the whole design, so nothing is stored on our servers. See Getting started.

The quote service. When you want pricing, you request a quote from the designer. Every request comes to pallet.design. We price it with vetted partner shops, add our margin, and reply within 2 business days with one price. You deal only with us: you never have to contact manufacturers, and the shops never see your name or contact details. See Requesting a quote and Custom pallets.

This is how the free tool is paid for. We earn a margin on the pallets we supply.

#Who it is for

The designer is built for people who buy and specify pallets: packaging engineers, procurement and purchasing teams, warehouse and operations managers, and small businesses ordering their first custom pallet. It is not a replacement for engineering analysis software used by pallet manufacturers. Pallet design software compared explains the difference.

#The reference library

Alongside the designer we publish reference pages on pallet sizes, types, standards, components, materials, loading and buying. They are written to answer a specific question accurately and quickly.

#Where the information comes from

• Standards and their publishers: ISPM 15 (IPPC), the Uniform Standard for Wood Pallets, ISO, ASTM and ANSI standards, and EPAL technical rules. Where a number comes from a standard, the page names it.
• Manufacturer and industry data: published specifications, load ratings and catalogs from pallet and material manufacturers, and industry association material.
• Retailer documents: vendor and pallet guides published by the retailer itself.
• Research: university and government research, such as work from Virginia Tech and the USDA Forest Products Laboratory.

We link to primary sources where we can, and list them at the end of a page.

#How numbers are presented

• Values that vary, such as weights, load capacities, prices and how many items fit on a pallet, are given as typical ranges with the factors that drive them, not as single figures.
• Estimates are labelled as estimates. Prices are US estimates for the year stated and move with lumber and freight markets.
• We say who is authoritative. For a load rating that is the manufacturer; for a retailer requirement it is the retailer's current vendor guide; for an export rule it is the standard and the importing country's authority.
• Dimensions are given in both inches and millimetres.

#Review and corrections

Every page shows the date it was last updated. Pages that depend on third-party rules, such as retailer requirements, are re-checked against the source document periodically. When we find or are told about an error, we correct the page and update its date.

#Disclaimers

• Estimates. Weights, board feet, fastener counts and any price or budget figures on this site are estimates for design and comparison. The manufacturer's figures for the pallet you buy take precedence.
• Load ratings. pallet.design does not calculate or certify load capacity. Ratings are provided by the manufacturer that builds the pallet, based on its own analysis or testing. If you need a certified rating, such as a PDS report or a load test, it can be included in your quote. Passing the designer's checks does not mean a pallet will carry a particular load.
• Standards and requirements. Summaries of standards and retailer programs are for orientation. Check the current official document before relying on it.
• Trademarks. PDS and Pallet Design System are trademarks of Woodpack Global. EPAL is a trademark of the European Pallet Association. CHEP, PECO and iGPS are trademarks of their respective owners. Other product and company names belong to their owners. pallet.design uses these names only to identify products and is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, any of these companies.