HDPE (high-density polyethylene)
Also called: high-density polyethylene, PE-HD
HDPE (high-density polyethylene) is the most common resin for plastic pallets. It stays tough at low temperatures, which suits freezers and cold chains, but it is less stiff than polypropylene, which matters for rack deflection.
In depth: Plastic pallets: types, materials, load ratings and how to buy them
HDPE is used for injection-molded, structural-foam, thermoformed and rotomolded pallets, and for extruded plastic lumber. Industry guides describe it as the majority resin for plastic pallets.
HDPE vs polypropylene
| Property | HDPE | Polypropylene |
|---|---|---|
| Cold performance | Tough in freezers | Homopolymer gets brittle in cold; copolymer needed |
| Stiffness at room temperature | Lower | Higher, better for edge racking |
| Typical use | Nestable, stackable, freezer, hygienic | Rackable, higher-temperature |
One buyer's guide quotes HDPE service from about −40 °F to +140 °F (−40 to 60 °C). Temperature ranges are published per model; use the manufacturer's figure.
Why it matters
Plastic pallet load ratings are governed by stiffness and creep more than by strength, so resin choice affects how much a rackable pallet sags over time. HDPE pallets for rack use are often reinforced with steel tubes. Virgin HDPE is usually required for direct food contact; recycled HDPE costs less. HDPE pallets are exempt from ISPM 15.
On a spec sheet
Plastic pallet specs list material (HDPE, PP or blend), resin source (virgin or recycled), any reinforcement, color, fire rating (for example UL 2335), the temperature range, and static, dynamic and racking ratings with the test standard behind them.
Related
- GlossaryPolypropylene (plastic pallets)Polypropylene (PP) is a plastic resin used for plastic pallets. It is stiffer than HDPE at room temperature, which helps rack performance, but homopolymer PP becomes brittle in the cold, so freezer pallets use PP copolymer.
- GlossaryPlastic lumber (pallets)Plastic lumber is solid or hollow plastic profiles, usually extruded HDPE or rigid PVC and often recycled, cut and fastened like wood boards. Pallets built from it can be made to any size without a mold.
- 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.
- 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).
- ComparisonsPlastic vs wood pallets: cost, strength and when to use eachChoose wood when you need the lowest price, a custom size, easy repair or one-way shipping. Choose plastic when pallets run in a closed loop for many trips, when hygiene and washability matter, when you need consistent dimensions for automation, or to avoid ISPM 15 treatment on exports.
More in Materials
- GlossaryBark (on pallet lumber)Bark is the outer layer of a tree trunk. ISPM 15 requires wood packaging to be made from debarked wood, allowing only small remnants: pieces under 3 cm wide of any length, or wider pieces with a surface area under 50 cm².
- GlossaryCant (pallet lumber)A cant is a log that has been sawn flat on two or four sides. In the pallet industry it usually means the low-grade center of a hardwood log, left after grade lumber is cut from the outside, which is resawn into pallet parts.
- GlossaryComposite block (pallet)A composite block is a pallet block made from wood chips, particles or fibers bonded with resin under heat and pressure. It does not split like solid wood and, as processed wood, is exempt from ISPM 15 on its own.
- GlossaryCorrugated fiberboard (pallets and slip sheets)Corrugated fiberboard is a board made of a fluted paper medium glued between flat paper liners. It is used for boxes, and in pallet work for corrugated paper pallets, slip sheets, tier sheets and pallet runners.
- GlossaryCut stock (pallet components)Cut stock is lumber already sawn to the finished thickness, width and length of pallet parts, such as 5/8 × 3-1/2 × 40 in deckboards, ready for nailing. It is also called pallet stock or shook.
- GlossaryDouglas-fir (pallet lumber)Douglas-fir is a dense, strong softwood from western North America, also grown in Europe. It is species class 11 (Douglas-fir–larch) in the Uniform Standard and PDS, and class 33 in the European species list.
Last reviewed 2026-09-24. 211 words.