Nailing pattern (pallet)
Also called: fastening schedule, nail pattern, nail schedule
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.
In depth: Pallet nails and fasteners: types, sizes, MIBANT and nail counts
The nailing pattern (or fastening schedule) tells the builder how many nails go into each joint and where. It is shown on drawings as dots on each board over each stringer or block.
Minimums (Uniform Standard, 2012, Table 5)
| Connection | Minimum fasteners |
|---|---|
| Deckboard up to 5-1/4 in (133 mm) wide | 2 |
| Deckboard 5-1/4 to 7 in (133 to 178 mm) | 3 |
| Deckboard 7 to 8 in (178 to 203 mm) | 4 |
| Block pallet corner block | 3 |
| Block pallet interior block | 2 |
GMA-style 48 × 40 example
| Deck | Per joint (by board) | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Top, 7 boards × 3 stringers | 3 2 2 2 2 2 3 | 48 |
| Bottom, 5 boards × 3 stringers | 3 2 2 2 3 | 36 |
| Pallet | 84 |
Placement rules
Keep nails away from board ends and edges to avoid splits (EPAL, for example, requires at least 20 mm from edges); stagger nails so they do not line up on one grain line; no shiners (protruding nail points) on exposed faces; do not mix incompatible fastener types in one joint.
On a spec sheet
PDS lists "Fasteners per connection" per board and a total per pallet, and the production order multiplies it by the order quantity (84 × 1,000 = 84,000 nails).
Related
- GlossaryJoint (pallet connection)A joint is the fastened connection where a deckboard or stringerboard crosses a stringer or block. Its strength depends on the number and type of fasteners, the wood density and the moisture content.
- GlossaryNail (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.
- GlossaryLead board (pallet)A lead board is the outermost deckboard at each end of a pallet's top or bottom deck, where forks enter. It is usually wider than the interior deckboards, typically 5-1/2 to 6 in (140 to 152 mm).
- 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.
- GuidesHow to build a pallet: 48 × 40 cut list, nailing pattern and assemblyA GMA-style 48 × 40 pallet uses 3 stringers of 1-3/8 × 3-1/2 × 48 in, 7 top and 5 bottom 5/8 in × 40 in deckboards (5-1/2 in leads, 3-1/2 in interiors) and 84 nails of 2-1/4 in: 3 per joint on lead boards, 2 elsewhere. In a jig, nail the top lead boards first, then the rest, flip, and do the bottom.
- Sizes48 × 40 pallet (GMA): dimensions, weight and specsA 48 × 40 in pallet (1219 × 1016 mm) is the North American standard, also called the GMA pallet. The typical build is a partial 4-way stringer pallet about 4.75 in tall with 7 top and 5 bottom deckboards on 3 notched stringers. Pooled 48 × 40 block pallets (CHEP, PECO) share the same footprint.
More in Fasteners
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Last reviewed 2026-09-24. 244 words.