Poplar (pallet lumber)
Also called: yellow poplar, tulip poplar, cottonwood, aspen
Poplar is a lower-density hardwood common in pallet stock. The name covers two groups: yellow poplar (tulip tree, PDS class 29) and the true poplars such as aspen and cottonwood (low-density class 7).
In depth: Pallet wood species: hardwood vs softwood, and which to specify
"Poplar" on a pallet quote is ambiguous. Yellow poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera, also called tulip poplar or tulip tree) is not a true poplar at all; it belongs to the magnolia family. The true poplars (genus Populus) include aspen and cottonwood.
How the species classes treat it
| Wood | Uniform Standard / PDS class | Density group |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow poplar | 29 | Low |
| Eastern poplar, aspen, cottonwood | 7, low-density eastern hardwoods | Low |
| Hybrid poplar (Europe) | 37 | Varies |
Why it matters
Both groups are lighter and weaker than oak or maple, so a pallet with a high share of poplar needs thicker or wider parts to reach the same rating. Class 7 matters for compliance: the Uniform Standard's repair rules limit classes 7, 13 and 14 to interior deckboards, and some retailer programs, such as The Home Depot's, have excluded class 7. Poplar is easy to nail, dries quickly and is light, which suits one-way and lighter-duty pallets.
On a spec sheet
Name the class, not just "poplar". A mixed hardwood spec that includes a low-density share should state the percentage, for example "LD Eastern Hardwoods 25%".
Related
- GlossaryHardwood (pallet lumber)Hardwood is lumber from broadleaf (deciduous) trees such as oak, maple, ash and yellow poplar. Most eastern US pallets are built from mixed hardwood cut stock, which is dense, strong and holds nails well.
- GlossaryMixed hardwood (pallet lumber)Mixed hardwood is pallet lumber made from several hardwood species that are not sorted by species, sold and specified as one mix. Spec sheets state it as percentages of density classes, such as 50% high, 25% medium and 25% low density.
- GlossaryLumber grade (pallet lumber)A lumber grade is a quality class that limits defects such as knots, wane, splits and decay in pallet parts. PDS uses Select, Premium, Standard, Utility and Economy, often as '&BTR' mixes such as Standard & Better.
- GuidesPallet wood species: hardwood vs softwood, and which to specifyMost North American pallets are made from mixed Eastern hardwoods (oak, maple, poplar and others) or softwoods such as Southern yellow pine and SPF. Density drives strength, stiffness, nail holding and weight. Specify a species class or group plus a grade rather than a single species.
- GuidesPallet lumber grades: what Standard, Utility and Economy meanPallet lumber is graded by the defects each part may contain: knots, wane, splits, decay and slope of grain. The Uniform Standard for Wood Pallets sets minimum quality for reusable and single-use pallets, and PDS names grades from Select to Economy. Specify a minimum grade per component.
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. 201 words.