What is a forklift?
Also called: lift truck, fork truck, forklift truck
A forklift is a powered industrial truck that lifts, carries and stacks loads on two steel fork tines inserted into a pallet's openings. Its rated capacity applies at a stated load center, commonly 24 in (610 mm) in the US and 500 mm in Europe.
In depth: Four-way pallet: partial vs true 4-way entry explained
Forklifts are the main reason pallets exist. The pallet's fork entry openings, entry height and lead boards are all sized around forklift tines.
Common types
| Type | Typical use |
|---|---|
| Counterbalance (electric or engine) | General warehouse and dock work |
| Reach truck | Narrow-aisle racking, double-deep reach |
| Order picker and turret trucks | Very narrow aisles |
| Rough-terrain | Yards, building sites |
| Pallet jack (manual or powered) | Floor-level moves, truck loading |
What forklifts mean for pallet design
- Entry direction: two-way pallets take forks from the ends; partial four-way and full four-way pallets from all sides. See two-way vs four-way.
- Opening size: the openings must clear the fork tines with room for misalignment.
- Impact: most pallet damage comes from forks hitting lead boards and blocks. Durability depends on how well the pallet absorbs it.
- Support: on the forks, the pallet is supported only at the tines, which sets its dynamic load rating.
On a spec sheet or RFQ
State the entry sides needed, whether forklifts lift from the end or the side, and the tine width, spacing and length if they are unusual.
Common confusions
A forklift's rated capacity is not the pallet's rating. Each must cover the load independently.
Frequently asked questions
What is a forklift load center?
The load center is the horizontal distance from the fork face to the center of gravity of the load. Capacity is rated at a standard load center, commonly 24 in (610 mm) in the US; a longer load reduces what the truck can safely lift.
Can a forklift enter a pallet from any side?
Only if the pallet has openings on that side. Two-way pallets take forks from the ends only. Notched stringer pallets and block pallets take forks from all four sides.
How wide are forklift tines?
Common tines are about 4 in (100 mm) wide, and PDS uses 4 in as its default tine width. Heavier trucks use wider tines. Measure your own if the pallet openings are tight.
Related
- GlossaryFork tinesFork tines are the two steel arms on a forklift or pallet jack that slide into a pallet's openings to lift it. Their width, thickness, length and spacing set the minimum size of the pallet's openings and affect its dynamic load rating.
- 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.
- GlossaryDynamic loadDynamic load is the weight a pallet can safely carry while it is being moved, supported on forklift tines, a pallet jack or a conveyor. It sits between the static rating and the racking rating.
- GlossaryWhat is a pallet jack?A pallet jack is a manual or powered truck with two low forks that slide into a pallet and raise it a few inches off the floor so it can be moved. Its load wheels drop through openings in the bottom deck, so it can only enter sides where those openings exist.
- TypesFour-way pallet: partial vs true 4-way entry explainedA four-way pallet can be entered from all four sides. A partial 4-way pallet is a stringer pallet with notched stringers: forklifts enter all four sides, but pallet jacks only the two ends. A true (full) 4-way pallet is usually a block pallet, which forklifts and pallet jacks can enter from every side.
- ComparisonsTwo-way vs four-way pallets: entry types explainedA two-way pallet takes forks from two opposite ends only. A four-way pallet takes forks from all four sides; partial four-way (notched stringers) admits forklifts but not pallet jacks from the sides. Choose two-way for low cost and fixed flows, four-way for flexible handling and trailer loading.
More in Handling and storage
- GlossaryAutomated storageAutomated storage, often called AS/RS (automated storage and retrieval system), stores and retrieves pallets with stacker cranes, shuttles and conveyors instead of forklift drivers. It needs pallets with tight dimensional tolerances, low deflection (often 0.5 in, 13 mm, or less) and sound bottom decks.
- GlossaryBlock stackingBlock stacking is storing unit loads directly on top of one another on the warehouse floor, in rows and columns, with no racking. The bottom pallet and the packaging carry the whole stack, so static load and box compression strength limit the height.
- GlossaryConveyorA pallet conveyor moves loaded pallets on driven rollers or chains instead of a forklift. The pallet's bottom deck is the running surface, so the orientation of bottom boards, flatness, deflection and condition decide whether it runs reliably.
- GlossaryDrive-in rackA drive-in rack is high-density racking where the forklift drives into a lane and places pallets many deep on continuous rails along each side. The pallet is supported only along two edges, so its capacity across the unsupported direction governs.
- GlossaryEdge protectorAn edge protector, or corner board, is an L-shaped strip of laminated paperboard, plastic or other material placed on the vertical or top edges of a unit load. It spreads strapping and stretch wrap pressure, protects case corners, and can add vertical stacking strength.
- GlossaryPallet dispenserA pallet dispenser is a machine that holds a stack of empty pallets and releases them one at a time, usually onto a conveyor feeding a palletizer. It needs pallets with consistent dimensions, flat decks and sound bottom boards.
Last reviewed 2026-09-24. 219 words.