Wane (lumber defect)
Also called: waney edge, bark edge
Wane is bark, or the absence of wood, on the edge or corner of a sawn piece, where the cut reached the outside of the log. Pallet lumber grades limit how wide and deep it can be.
In depth: Pallet lumber grades: what Standard, Utility and Economy mean
Wane appears when a board is sawn close to the round surface of a log, so one corner or edge is rounded or still has bark. Pallet stock, much of it from log centers and edges, often has some.
Limits in the Uniform Standard (2012), Table 1
Limits are fractions of the part's width and thickness.
| Part | Reusable (about PDS Standard) | Single-use (about PDS Economy) |
|---|---|---|
| Deckboards, exposed face | 1/4 width × 2/3 thickness | 3/8 width × full thickness |
| Deckboards, non-exposed | 1/3 width × 2/3 thickness | 1/2 width × full thickness |
| Stringers and blocks | 1/3 × 1/2 | 5/8 × 2/3 |
At most one third of the components in a pallet may contain wane, and wane above a stringer notch is limited further.
Why it matters
Wane reduces the bearing area under the load, weakens the part, and leaves less wood around nails at joints. On the top deck it creates an uneven, edged surface that can cut bags or cartons. If bark remains, it also affects ISPM 15 compliance, which limits the size of bark pieces.
On a spec sheet
Wane is controlled through the lumber grade, for example "Standard &BTR". If your products are sensitive to edge contact, add a note such as "no wane on top deck exposed face".
Related
- 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.
- 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.
- GlossaryKnot (lumber defect)A knot is the portion of a branch embedded in a board. Knots weaken wood by disrupting the grain, so pallet lumber grades limit their size and number, with stricter limits for unsound (loose or decayed) knots.
- 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.
- StandardsUniform Standard for Wood Pallets (Woodpack Global, formerly NWPCA)The Uniform Standard for Wood Pallets is the North American industry standard for specifying, building and repairing wood pallets: terms, lumber quality, tolerances, fasteners, notches, repair and performance. Woodpack Global (formerly NWPCA) publishes it; it is voluntary and was revised in 2025.
More in Materials
- 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.
- GlossaryGalvanizing (steel pallets and fasteners)Galvanizing is coating steel with zinc to protect it from corrosion. Steel pallets are often hot-dip galvanized after fabrication, and galvanized nails, staples and hinges are used where wood pallets or collars see moisture.
Last reviewed 2026-09-24. 230 words.