Plastic, metal, presswood, paper and slip sheets
Besides wood, the designer covers molded plastic (by requirements and archetype), metal, presswood (by load grade), paper and honeycomb, slip sheets (material, caliper, tabs) and an Anything else type. Plastic, presswood and Anything else are drawn as representative geometry.
Non-wood pallets are specified differently from wood. Some are fabricated to your dimensions and can be drawn exactly. Others are sold from catalogs, so you describe what you need and the supplier proposes a model. The designer handles both, and says which applies.
| Type | How you specify it | Drawing |
|---|---|---|
| Plastic (molded) | Requirements and an archetype | Representative |
| Metal | Fabricated to order | Exact |
| Presswood | Footprint and load grade from a catalog | Representative |
| Paper / honeycomb | Made to your load footprint | Exact |
| Slip sheet | Material, caliper and pull tabs | Exact |
| Anything else | Free-text description | Representative |
Representative drawings carry the note "REPRESENTATIVE GEOMETRY. SUPPLIER TO SUBMIT MODEL DRAWING MEETING REQUIREMENTS." For all non-wood types, weight is not estimated and no fastener count is given.
Plastic (molded)
What kind of plastic pallet: choose a Style: Rackable, Stackable, Nestable, Nestable with runners, Hygienic / cleanroom, Export / one-way, Display (half / quarter), Drum / IBC or Spill containment. Then set Max height, Deck (Open or Closed), Base (3 runners, 6 runners, Perimeter, Cruciform, 9 feet, 6 feet, Reversible or No preference), Perimeter lip and Anti-slip (None, Rubber inserts, Full surface).
Material & options: Resin (No preference, HDPE, PP, PP copolymer), Virgin / recycled, Reinforcement (If needed, None, Steel, Fiberglass), Color, RFID (None, UHF, HF), Reference model and Or equal is fine.
Ratings you need: minimum Static (floor), Dynamic (forks) and Racking ratings in lb. Suppliers use these to pick a model whose manufacturer ratings meet them. If you set Racking in Load & handling but leave the racking rating empty, the designer asks for it.
Checks specific to plastic: nestable and export styles are generally not rackable; food contact usually needs virgin resin with an FDA letter; unlisted plastic in racking can raise sprinkler requirements (see UL 2335); homopolymer PP gets brittle in freezers. See Design checks and the plastic pallet buying guide.
Metal
Set Metal (Carbon steel, Stainless 304, Stainless 316, Aluminum), Build (Welded, Seal-welded, Bolted / knock-down), Deck (Solid plate, Corrugated, Checker plate, Perforated, Expanded metal, Wire mesh, Grating), Base (Channel runners, Cruciform, Perimeter frame, Legs), Height, Gauge / thickness as free text, Finish (Hot-dip galvanized, Powder coat, Paint, None / mill), Color and Features (Stacking cups, Removable posts, Sides, Lifting lugs, Drain holes). Start from the galvanized steel or aluminum template. See Steel pallet and Aluminum pallet.
Presswood
Presswood pallets are molded from wood fiber, nest, and use no nails. They come in fixed catalog sizes, so set the footprint to the nearest size and choose a Load grade (dynamic) of 750, 1,000, 1,500, 2,000 or 2,500 lb, plus Height. The designer blocks racking for presswood and warns when the load exceeds the chosen grade.
Paper and honeycomb
Set Construction (Honeycomb, Corrugated, Hybrid), Board (Single-, Double- or Triple-wall), Deck thickness, Height, Feet (9 honeycomb blocks, 9 fiber tubes, 3 runners for 2-way, or 3 notched runners for 4-way) and Moisture resistance (None, Coated, Waxed). The designer warns for freezer, outdoor or washdown use and for loads above about 1,650 lb (750 kg). See Paper pallet.
Slip sheet
For a slip sheet, the footprint is the load area, labelled Load length and Load width. Set Material (Solid fiber, Corrugated, HDPE plastic, PP plastic), Caliper in inches, and the four tab depths: Tab A and Tab C on the long edges, Tab B and Tab D on the short edges. A tab depth of 0 means no tab on that side. Tabs are added outside the load area for the push-pull attachment to grip. Options: Scored fold lines and Coating (None, Moisture resistant, High friction).
The designer requires at least one tab, warns about tabs under 3 in, and suggests a 0.060 to 0.125 in caliper for loads over 2,500 lb. The drawing shows a top view and a front view only.
Anything else
For cages, spill pallets, bin bases and one-offs, choose Anything else. Fill in What is it?, Approx. height and a Description of size, material and use. The designer warns until the description is at least 10 characters, because the pricing team quotes from it. Put anything the description can't hold in the notes when you request a quote.
Frequently asked questions
Why is the plastic pallet drawing marked representative?
Molded plastic pallets are catalog products made in existing tools, so you specify requirements and suppliers propose a matching model. The drawing shows the envelope and base style, and the supplier submits the model drawing.
Can I name a specific plastic pallet model?
Yes. Enter it in Reference model and tick Or equal is fine if an equivalent model is acceptable.
Do these pallets need ISPM 15 heat treatment?
No. Plastic, metal, presswood, paper and slip sheets are exempt, and the Checks tab confirms it when you set Export (ISPM-15) to heat treated.
Related
- TypesPlastic pallets: types, materials, load ratings and how to buy themA plastic pallet is a molded or fabricated pallet made from HDPE or polypropylene. Types range from light nestable pallets (about 14–30 lb) to reinforced rackable pallets (about 35–70 lb). They are washable, ISPM 15 exempt and long-lived, cost several times more than wood, and carry three separate load ratings.
- TypesSteel pallet: welded, galvanized and built for heavy loopsA steel pallet is fabricated from carbon or stainless steel sheet, channel and tube, usually welded and hot-dip galvanized or powder coated. It carries heavy loads, lasts for years outdoors and in hot processes, does not burn and is ISPM 15 exempt. Steel pallets weigh roughly 50–150 lb (23–68 kg).
- TypesPresswood pallet: molded wood-fibre, nestable and ISPM 15 exemptA presswood pallet is a one-piece pallet molded from wood fibre and resin under heat and pressure. It has no nails, nests about 2.5:1 to 4:1, weighs roughly 25–35 lb (11–16 kg) in 48 × 40 class sizes and is ISPM 15 exempt as processed wood. It comes in fixed sizes and is not rackable.
- TypesPaper pallet: corrugated and honeycomb pallets explainedA paper pallet is made entirely from paper products: a corrugated or honeycomb paperboard deck on feet of paper tubes, honeycomb blocks or folded board. It is very light (from about 4 kg, 9 lb), recyclable and ISPM 15 exempt. Ratings reach about 750–1,000 kg, and humidity reduces strength.
- TypesSlip sheet: the thin pallet alternative, sizes, tabs and materialsA slip sheet is a thin sheet of solid fiberboard, corrugated board or plastic used under a unit load instead of a pallet. A push-pull lift truck attachment grips its tab and pulls the load onto its platens. Sheets for a 40 × 48 in load are commonly 43 × 51 or 44 × 52 in with 3–4 in tabs.
- GuidesPlastic pallet buying guide: styles, resins, ratings and costChoose a plastic pallet by how it is handled and stored: nestable for cheap one-way use, stackable for floor stacking, rackable for open-beam racking. Compare static, dynamic and racking ratings only when the test standard and support match. New US prices run about $40–200 (2026 estimates).
- TypesRackable plastic pallet: runners, reinforcement and racking ratingsA rackable plastic pallet is designed to sit in open-beam racking with nothing underneath. It has runners (3, 5 or 6) or a perimeter or cruciform base, often with steel reinforcement. Racking ratings for 48 × 40 in models are typically about 1,500–4,400 lb, valid only at the tested span and orientation.
More in Using the designer
- DocsGetting started with the pallet designerOpen a template, edit its properties in the inspector, clear any errors in the Checks tab, then switch to the Drawing tab for an ANSI B sheet. From there you can share a link, print, or request a quote. No account is needed and the designer is free.
- DocsPallet templates in the designerThe designer ships with 21 templates across eight pallet types: 7 wood stringer, 4 wood block, 4 plastic, 2 metal, and one each for presswood, paper, slip sheet and anything else. Each opens as a complete, valid design you can edit.
- DocsThe designer interface and keyboard shortcutsThe designer has a top bar (name, Model and Drawing tabs, Share, Print drawing, Request quote), a toolbar for views and display modes, a Browser panel listing parts and templates, a 3D viewport, an inspector with Properties, Checks and Parts tabs, and a status bar.
- DocsDesigning wood stringer palletsWood stringer pallets are modeled board by board. You set the build (pallet, skid or plastic lumber), wings, top and bottom deckboard count, thickness and widths, stringer count and size, optional 4-way notches, lumber and fasteners. Deckboards are spaced evenly with flush ends.
- DocsDesigning wood block palletsBlock pallets are modeled as 9 blocks in a 3 × 3 grid under 3 stringerboards, with a top deck and a perimeter, cruciform or 3-board bottom. You set deckboard direction, board counts and widths, block sizes and material, and whether the pallet is Euro-size or EPAL-licensed.
- DocsUnits and dimension conventionsEvery length is stored in inches at actual size and shown in inches or millimetres. Length is the stringer or stringerboard direction and is stated first. Drawings use decimal inches or whole millimetres; parts lists use shop fractions to the nearest 1/16 in.
Last reviewed 2026-09-24. 722 words.