Entry height (pallet)
Also called: fork entry height, opening height, clear height
Entry height is the clear vertical height of a pallet's fork opening, from the floor or bottom deck to the underside of the top deck. On a 2-way stringer pallet it equals the stringer height, typically 3-1/2 in (89 mm).
In depth: Standard pallet height: empty pallets and maximum load heights
Entry height is the number that tells you whether a fork or pallet jack will fit under the top deck. It is smaller than the overall height because it excludes both deck thicknesses.
What sets it
| Entry | Entry height equals |
|---|---|
| End entry on a stringer pallet | Stringer height |
| Side entry through a notch | Notch depth + bottom deckboard thickness (or notch depth alone where no board is below) |
| Block pallet | Block height (plus any stringerboard below the entry) |
Typical values
| Pallet | Entry height |
|---|---|
| GMA-style 48 × 40, ends | 3.5 in (89 mm) |
| GMA-style 48 × 40, sides (notch) | 1.25 + 0.625 = about 1.9 in (48 mm) |
| Uniform Standard (2012) notch recommendation | About 2 in (51 mm) |
| EPAL 1 blocks | 78 mm (3.1 in) block height |
Why it matters
Standard forklift tines are around 1-1/2 to 2 in thick, and pallet-jack forks when lowered are commonly around 3 in high, so a notch opening of about 2 in takes forklift tines only. Low entry height means forks catch deckboards, which is the main cause of damaged lead boards. Taller stringers or blocks raise entry height but also raise overall height, which can cost a layer in a trailer or rack. Check the equipment you use against the design.
On a spec sheet
Entry height is not usually a named field. It follows from stringer or block height and the notch depth. State it as a requirement if your equipment needs a minimum.
Related
- GlossaryOpening (pallet fork opening)An opening is the clear space between the decks and between stringers or blocks that fork tines or pallet-jack forks enter. It is described by its width and its height.
- GlossaryFork entry (pallet)Fork entry is the set of sides from which forklift tines or pallet-jack forks can enter a pallet. Pallets are classed as 2-way, partial 4-way or full 4-way entry.
- GlossaryWhat is a pallet notch?A notch is a cutout in the lower edge of a pallet stringer that lets forklift tines enter from the sides, making the pallet partial four-way. A typical 48 × 40 notch is 9 in long and 1-1/4 in deep, starting 6 in from each end.
- GlossaryOverall height (pallet)Overall height is the total height of an empty pallet, from the floor to the top of the top deck. A GMA-style 48 × 40 is 4-3/4 in (121 mm) and an EPAL 1 is 144 mm (5.7 in).
- GuidesStandard pallet height: empty pallets and maximum load heightsAn empty standard 48 × 40 wood stringer pallet is about 4-3/4 to 6 in (121 to 152 mm) tall; a GMA-style build with 5/8 in decks on 3-1/2 in stringers is 4-3/4 in. A EUR pallet is 144 mm (5.7 in). Pooled 48 × 40 block pallets are about 5.6 in. Loaded, most unit loads are kept between 48 and 72 in overall.
- GuidesPallets for automation: conveyors, AS/RS and robotic palletizersAutomated systems need consistent, flat, stiff pallets. Bottom boards must cross the conveyor supports (perpendicular to rollers, across chain strands), gaps must not snag, flatness is often held to 1/4 in or better, and AS/RS racks commonly limit sag to 0.5 in. Perimeter-base block and plastic pallets run either way.
More in Components and construction
- GlossaryActual dimension (pallet and lumber)An actual dimension is the measured size of a pallet or component at manufacture. Pallet spec sheets state component sizes as actual dimensions, for example a 5/8 × 3-1/2 × 40 in deckboard.
- GlossaryBlock (pallet)A block is a rectangular, square or cylindrical spacer between the decks of a block pallet. Most block pallets have 9 blocks in a 3 × 3 grid, and the block height sets the fork entry height.
- GlossaryBottom deck (pallet)The bottom deck is the lower layer of deckboards (or a perimeter, runner or panel base) on a double-face pallet. It spreads the load onto the floor, rack or conveyor and stabilizes the stringers or blocks.
- GlossaryBottom deck coverage (pallet)Bottom deck coverage is the percentage of a pallet's underside covered by bottom deckboards. A GMA-style 48 × 40 bottom deck covers about 45%, less than the top deck, to leave room for notches and pallet-jack wheels.
- GlossaryCenter block (block pallet)The center block is the middle block in the 3 × 3 grid of a nine-block pallet. It supports the middle of the deck and, on EPAL pallets, carries the producer, date and treatment marks.
- GlossaryChamfer (pallet)A chamfer is a bevel cut along the edge of a bottom deckboard, usually a lead board, so pallet-jack wheels can ride up and over it instead of hitting a square edge.
Last reviewed 2026-09-24. 275 words.