Softwood (pallet lumber)
Also called: softwood lumber, conifer lumber, whitewood
Softwood is lumber from coniferous trees such as pine, spruce and fir. Softwood pallets are lighter and more uniform than hardwood pallets, and they are the norm in Europe and much of the western and southern US.
In depth: Hardwood vs softwood pallets: strength, weight and cost
"Softwood" means wood from conifers. It is a botanical term: southern yellow pine and Douglas-fir are denser than many hardwoods. Softwood pallet parts are often made from dimension lumber or its offcuts, so sizes like 2×4 (1-1/2 × 3-1/2 in, 38 × 89 mm) stringers are common.
Species classes (Uniform Standard / PDS)
| Class | Group | Density group |
|---|---|---|
| 22 | Southern yellow pine | Medium/high |
| 11 | Douglas-fir–larch | Medium/high |
| 12 | Hem-fir | Low |
| 13 | SPF and similar | Low |
| 14 | Low-density softwoods (cedars) | Low |
| 33 to 36 | European softwoods (pine, spruce, fir) | Varies |
Why it matters
Softwood is lighter (about 3.2 lb per board foot green SPF in PDS examples, against about 4.4 for green mixed hardwood), easier to nail without splitting, and available kiln-dried, which helps with mold and weight. Low-density softwood needs thicker parts for the same strength. Annularly threaded nails are generally recommended for most softwoods. Some retailers restrict the lowest-density classes: The Home Depot's standards have excluded classes 7 and 14.
On a spec sheet
Give the species class, grade and mix percentage (for example "SPF Standard &BTR 100%"), and the moisture content at manufacture. "Whitewood" in the pallet trade usually means a new, non-pooled pallet, not a species, so avoid it as a material spec.
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.
- GlossarySouthern yellow pine (SYP)Southern yellow pine (SYP) is a group of pine species from the southeastern US (mainly loblolly, longleaf, shortleaf and slash pine). It is one of the densest and strongest softwoods used for pallets.
- GlossarySPF (spruce-pine-fir)SPF (spruce-pine-fir) is a group of light-colored, low-density softwood species sold together as one lumber group, mainly from Canada and the northern US. It is light, easy to nail and common in softwood pallets.
- ComparisonsHardwood vs softwood pallets: strength, weight and costChoose hardwood (oak, mixed eastern hardwoods) for heavy loads, rough handling and many trips: it is dense, stiff and holds nails well but is heavier. Choose softwood (southern yellow pine, SPF) for lighter, more uniform, often kiln-dried pallets. Regional supply often decides.
- 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.
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. 236 words.