What is a pallet jack?
Also called: pallet truck, hand pallet truck, pump truck, walkie
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.
In depth: How to use a pallet jack safely: step by step
A pallet jack lifts only far enough to clear the floor. Its forks carry load wheels near the tips, and those wheels push down through gaps in the pallet's bottom deck to lift it.
Which pallets a pallet jack can enter
| Pallet | Pallet jack entry |
|---|---|
| Stringer, two-way | Ends only |
| Stringer, partial four-way (notched) | Ends only |
| Block, overlapping bottom boards | Typically 2 sides |
| Block, perimeter base or full four-way | All 4 sides |
| Single-face or skid | Any side with clear openings |
What it means for pallet design
The bottom deck layout decides where a jack can go. Bottom boards must leave openings wide enough for the load wheels, and the entry height must clear the lowered forks. Chamfers on bottom boards make entry easier. A pallet jack supports the pallet at the forks and wheels, which sets its dynamic load in that condition.
On a spec sheet or RFQ
Say "pallet jack entry required" and from which sides. PDS lists pallet jack as a separate support condition. The pallet jack guide covers safe use.
Common confusions
"Four-way" on a stringer pallet usually means four-way for forklifts, not for pallet jacks. See four-way entry.
Frequently asked questions
How much weight can a pallet jack lift?
Manual pallet jacks are commonly rated around 5,000 to 5,500 lb (2,270 to 2,500 kg), and heavy-duty and powered models go higher. The rating is on the jack's capacity plate; the pallet must also be rated for the load.
What size are pallet jack forks?
A common US manual jack has forks about 48 in (1219 mm) long and about 27 in (686 mm) across both forks, with a lowered height of roughly 3 in (75 mm). Narrow and long-fork models exist, so check the model's data sheet.
Why can't a pallet jack go into the side of a stringer pallet?
On a stringer pallet the bottom deckboards run across the sides, so the jack's load wheels have nowhere to drop through. Notches let forklifts in from the side but not pallet jacks.
Related
- GuidesHow to use a pallet jack safely: step by stepLower the forks, slide them fully into a pallet side with open space in the bottom deck for the load wheels, pump until the pallet just clears the floor, set the lever to neutral, and move slowly, pushing where you can. Lower fully and pull straight out. Most manual jacks are rated about 5,000 to 5,500 lb.
- GlossaryWhat is a forklift?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.
- 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.
- GlossaryFour-way entry (pallet)Four-way entry means a pallet can be entered from all four sides. Full four-way pallets, usually block pallets with a perimeter or cruciform base, take both forklifts and pallet jacks 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.
- 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.
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.
- 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.
Last reviewed 2026-09-24. 214 words.