Nail (pallet fastener)
Also called: pallet nail, pallet fastener
A nail is the standard fastener for wood pallets, driven through deckboards into stringers or blocks. Pallet nails are specified by shank type (helical, annular or plain), length, wire diameter, head diameter and bending strength.
In depth: Pallet nails and fasteners: types, sizes, MIBANT and nail counts
Almost all wood pallets are nailed, mostly by automated nailing machines using collated nails in coils. The nail is small, but it decides how long a pallet lasts: most pallet damage happens at the joints.
Shank types
| Type | Also called | Withdrawal | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Helically threaded | Screw shank, "SS" | High | Medium and high-density hardwoods, automated assembly |
| Annularly threaded | Ring shank | High | Low-density hardwoods and most softwoods |
| Plain shank | Smooth | Low | Clinched mat nails on block pallets |
Typical sizes
| Field | Common values |
|---|---|
| Length | 1-5/8 to 3 in (41 to 76 mm); 2 to 2-1/4 in common for 5/8 in decks on stringers |
| Wire diameter | 0.099 to 0.120 in (2.5 to 3.0 mm), 12.5 to 11 gauge |
| Head diameter | About 0.28 in (7 mm) |
| Bending (MIBANT) | Lower angle is stiffer |
The Uniform Standard (2012) asks for at least 1-1/4 in (32 mm) of penetration into the stringer or block (1 in where the deck is 1/2 in thick or less), so nail length is at least deck thickness plus penetration.
On a spec sheet
PDS lists a fastener ID (for example "2-1/4 x .112 SS"), type, length, thread length, thread diameter, wire diameter, head diameter, flutes, helixes, pitch, thread angle, MIBANT angle, withdrawal characteristic and total count (84 on a GMA-style 48 × 40). See pallet nails and fasteners. Nail dimensions are covered by ASTM F1667.
Related
- GuidesPallet nails and fasteners: types, sizes, MIBANT and nail countsMost wood pallets use threaded nails: helical (screw shank) for dense hardwoods, annular (ring shank) for softwoods. A typical deck nail is 2-1/4 in long with 0.112–0.120 in (11.5–11 gauge) wire. The Uniform Standard requires at least 2 nails per joint on boards up to 5-1/4 in wide and 3 on wider ones.
- GlossaryHelically threaded nail (pallet)A helically threaded nail has spiral flutes rolled into its shank so it rotates as it is driven, which locks it into the wood. It is the most common pallet nail, recommended for medium- and high-density hardwoods.
- GlossaryAnnularly threaded nail (pallet)An annularly threaded nail, or ring shank nail, has a series of rings rolled into its shank that lock into the wood fibers. It is generally recommended for low-density hardwoods and most softwoods.
- GlossaryWire diameter (pallet nails)Wire diameter is the diameter of the steel wire a nail or staple is made from, measured on the shank before threads are rolled. Pallet nails are commonly 0.099 to 0.120 in (2.5 to 3.0 mm), or 12.5 to 11 gauge.
- ComparisonsHelical vs annular pallet nails: which to specifyChoose helically threaded (screw shank) nails for medium- and high-density hardwoods and automated nailing; they turn as they drive and resist bending and splitting. Choose annularly threaded (ring shank) nails for low-density hardwoods and most softwoods, where rings grip best.
- StandardsASTM F1667: specification for nails, spikes and staplesASTM F1667 is the ASTM product specification for driven fasteners: nails, cut nails, spikes and staples. It classifies them by type and style and sets dimensions, material, properties and coatings, with testing to ASTM F680. The current edition is F1667/F1667M-21a.
More in Fasteners
- GlossaryClinched nail (pallet)A clinched nail is driven all the way through the parts it joins and has its protruding tip bent over flat. Block-pallet deck mats (deckboards plus stringerboards) are commonly assembled with clinched nails.
- GlossaryMIBANT (nail bend test)MIBANT (Morgan Impact Bend Angle Nail Tester) is an impact-bend test for nail stiffness, run under ASTM F680. A weight strikes a clamped nail and the resulting bend angle is recorded; a lower angle means a stiffer, better nail.
- GlossaryNail head diameter (pallet nails)Nail head diameter is the width of a nail's head. It sets how well the nail resists pulling through the deckboard; the Uniform Standard requires the head to be at least 2.25 times the wire diameter for reusable pallets.
- GlossaryNailing pattern (pallet)A nailing pattern is the number and position of fasteners at each joint of a pallet. The Uniform Standard sets minimums by deckboard width: 2 fasteners per joint for boards up to 5-1/4 in wide and 3 for 5-1/4 to 7 in.
- GlossaryPlain shank nail (pallet)A plain shank nail has a smooth shank with no threads. It has the lowest withdrawal resistance of pallet nails, so on pallets it is mainly used where it is clinched, such as block-pallet deck mats.
- GlossaryScrew (pallet fastener)A screw is a threaded fastener turned into the wood rather than driven. On pallets, deck screws, lag screws and washer-head self-drilling screws are used for heavy skids, plastic lumber pallets and designs that must be taken apart or repaired.
Last reviewed 2026-09-24. 263 words.