Pallet: definition and meaning
Also called: shipping pallet, wooden pallet
A pallet is a flat, portable platform, usually of wood, plastic, metal or paper, on which goods are assembled into a single unit load so they can be lifted, moved, stacked and stored by a forklift or pallet jack.
In depth: What is a pallet? Definition, parts, types and sizes
A pallet is a portable platform that turns many cartons, bags or parts into one unit load. Forks or a pallet jack enter the gap under the top deck, lift the whole load and move it in one trip. Pallets are also the base for racking, floor stacking and truck loading, so their size and strength set how a warehouse and a trailer are used. For the full explainer, see what is a pallet.
Parts of a pallet
A wooden pallet has three layers: a top deck that carries the load, a middle layer of stringers or blocks that creates the fork entry openings, and usually a bottom deck that spreads load onto the floor or rack. The decks are made of deckboards, fixed with nails, staples or screws. See parts of a pallet.
Main classes
| Class | Middle layer | Typical entry |
|---|---|---|
| Stringer pallet | 2 to 4 continuous boards | 2-way or partial 4-way |
| Block pallet | 9 blocks under stringerboards | Full 4-way |
| Skid | Runners, no bottom deck | 2-way |
Common sizes
| Size | Region | Standard |
|---|---|---|
| 48 × 40 in (1219 × 1016 mm) | North America | GMA, ISO 6780 |
| 1200 × 800 mm (47.2 × 31.5 in) | Europe | EPAL EUR 1 |
| 1200 × 1000 mm (47.2 × 39.4 in) | Europe, UK, Asia | ISO 6780 |
| 1165 × 1165 mm (45.9 × 45.9 in) | Australia | ISO 6780 |
| 1100 × 1100 mm (43.3 × 43.3 in) | Japan, Korea | ISO 6780 |
The full list is on US pallet sizes and ISO pallet sizes.
Materials
Wood is the default because it is cheap, repairable and easy to build to any size. Plastic, presswood, metal and paper pallets trade cost for hygiene, uniform weight, or exemption from ISPM 15. See types of pallets.
How a pallet is specified
A buyer's spec sheet states the footprint (length first), class, entry, deck style, every component's actual thickness × width × length, the lumber species and grade, the fastener, and any treatment. Load capacity depends on how the pallet is supported (racked, stacked or on forks), so it is stated per support condition. See how to spec a custom pallet.
Common confusions
- Pallet vs skid. A skid has no bottom deck. See pallet vs skid.
- Pallet as a unit of freight. Carriers often say "a pallet" to mean the loaded unit, not the empty platform.
- "Standard" pallet. There is no single world standard. ISO 6780 lists six footprints.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a pallet and a skid?
A pallet has a top deck and a bottom deck. A skid has only a top deck on its runners or stringers, so it sits directly on its runners and is usually dragged or lifted rather than stacked.
What is the standard pallet size in the US?
The 48 × 40 in (1219 × 1016 mm) GMA pallet is the most common size in North America. Europe's standard is the 1200 × 800 mm EUR pallet.
What are pallets made of?
Most are wood (hardwood or softwood). The main alternatives are plastic (HDPE or polypropylene), molded wood fiber (presswood), steel or aluminum, and corrugated or honeycomb paperboard.
Which dimension of a pallet is stated first?
In North America the first number is the length, which is the stringer or stringerboard length. A 48 × 40 pallet has 48 in stringers and 40 in deckboards.
Related
- GuidesWhat is a pallet? Definition, parts, types and sizesA pallet is a flat, portable platform, usually wood, plastic or metal, that holds goods together as one unit load so a forklift, pallet jack or conveyor can lift and move them. Its deck sits on stringers or blocks that leave openings for forks. In North America the most common size is 48 × 40 in (1219 × 1016 mm).
- GuidesParts of a pallet: deckboards, stringers, blocks and fastenersA wood stringer pallet has top deckboards, stringers (often notched) and bottom deckboards, joined with nails. A block pallet swaps the stringers for 9 blocks and 3 stringerboards. The outermost deckboards are lead boards. Openings between the deck layers take the forks.
- TypesTypes of palletsPallets are classified by construction (stringer or block), entry (two-way or four-way), deck (single-face, double-face, reversible, flush or winged) and material (wood, plastic, metal, presswood or paper). Wood stringer and block pallets make up most pallets in use in North America.
- SizesUS pallet sizes: the standard North American dimensionsThe standard US pallet is 48 × 40 in (1219 × 1016 mm), the GMA pallet, used for grocery, retail and most general freight. Other common North American sizes are 42 × 42, 48 × 48, 48 × 42, 40 × 40, 48 × 45, 44 × 44, 36 × 36 and 48 × 36 in, each tied to particular industries.
- GlossaryUnit loadA unit load is a group of items, usually cases on a pallet or slip sheet, secured together so it can be stored and moved as a single unit by a forklift or pallet jack. It includes the pallet, the packaging, the stacking pattern and the stabilizers.
- ComparisonsPallet vs skid: what is the difference?A skid is a platform with a top deck on runners and no bottom deck; a pallet has a bottom deck too. Choose a skid for heavy machinery, crate bases and loads that are dragged or bolted down. Choose a pallet for stacked, racked or conveyed loads and standard warehouse handling.
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. 445 words.