Wire diameter (pallet nails)
Also called: shank diameter, wire gauge, gauge
Wire diameter is the diameter of the steel wire a nail or staple is made from, measured on the shank before threads are rolled. Pallet nails are commonly 0.099 to 0.120 in (2.5 to 3.0 mm), or 12.5 to 11 gauge.
In depth: Pallet nails and fasteners: types, sizes, MIBANT and nail counts
Wire diameter is the main size of a nail after its length. It sets bending stiffness, withdrawal area and splitting risk. Gauge numbers run backwards: a higher gauge is thinner wire.
Common pallet nail wire sizes
| Gauge | Wire diameter | Metric |
|---|---|---|
| 12.5 ga | 0.099 in | 2.5 mm |
| 12 ga | 0.105 in | 2.7 mm |
| 11.5 ga | 0.112 to 0.113 in | 2.8 to 2.9 mm |
| 11 ga | 0.120 in | 3.0 mm |
European pallets use metric wire, for example 2.1, 3.1 or 3.4 mm.
Why it matters
Thicker wire resists bending when a pallet racks or is struck, and resists head pull-through for a given head. In a Virginia Tech study of GMA-style pallets, pallets built with 11.5 ga (0.112 in) nails lasted about twice as many handling trips as the same design with 12.5 ga (0.099 in) collated nails. Collated nails for high-speed nailers are often thinner than bulk nails, a known cost versus quality trade-off. Thicker wire also splits dense wood more readily.
On a spec sheet
"Wire Dia" in the fastener table, in inches or mm (for example 0.112). The fastener ID often includes it: "2-1/4 x .112 SS". The Uniform Standard's minimum head size is also a ratio of wire diameter.
Related
- GlossaryNail (pallet fastener)A nail is the standard fastener for wood pallets, driven through deckboards into stringers or blocks. Pallet nails are specified by shank type (helical, annular or plain), length, wire diameter, head diameter and bending strength.
- GlossaryMIBANT (nail bend test)MIBANT (Morgan Impact Bend Angle Nail Tester) is an impact-bend test for nail stiffness, run under ASTM F680. A weight strikes a clamped nail and the resulting bend angle is recorded; a lower angle means a stiffer, better nail.
- GlossaryNail head diameter (pallet nails)Nail head diameter is the width of a nail's head. It sets how well the nail resists pulling through the deckboard; the Uniform Standard requires the head to be at least 2.25 times the wire diameter for reusable pallets.
- GuidesPallet nails and fasteners: types, sizes, MIBANT and nail countsMost wood pallets use threaded nails: helical (screw shank) for dense hardwoods, annular (ring shank) for softwoods. A typical deck nail is 2-1/4 in long with 0.112–0.120 in (11.5–11 gauge) wire. The Uniform Standard requires at least 2 nails per joint on boards up to 5-1/4 in wide and 3 on wider ones.
- StandardsASTM F1667: specification for nails, spikes and staplesASTM F1667 is the ASTM product specification for driven fasteners: nails, cut nails, spikes and staples. It classifies them by type and style and sets dimensions, material, properties and coatings, with testing to ASTM F680. The current edition is F1667/F1667M-21a.
More in Fasteners
- GlossaryAnnularly threaded nail (pallet)An annularly threaded nail, or ring shank nail, has a series of rings rolled into its shank that lock into the wood fibers. It is generally recommended for low-density hardwoods and most softwoods.
- GlossaryClinched nail (pallet)A clinched nail is driven all the way through the parts it joins and has its protruding tip bent over flat. Block-pallet deck mats (deckboards plus stringerboards) are commonly assembled with clinched nails.
- GlossaryHelically threaded nail (pallet)A helically threaded nail has spiral flutes rolled into its shank so it rotates as it is driven, which locks it into the wood. It is the most common pallet nail, recommended for medium- and high-density hardwoods.
- GlossaryNailing pattern (pallet)A nailing pattern is the number and position of fasteners at each joint of a pallet. The Uniform Standard sets minimums by deckboard width: 2 fasteners per joint for boards up to 5-1/4 in wide and 3 for 5-1/4 to 7 in.
- GlossaryPlain shank nail (pallet)A plain shank nail has a smooth shank with no threads. It has the lowest withdrawal resistance of pallet nails, so on pallets it is mainly used where it is clinched, such as block-pallet deck mats.
- GlossaryScrew (pallet fastener)A screw is a threaded fastener turned into the wood rather than driven. On pallets, deck screws, lag screws and washer-head self-drilling screws are used for heavy skids, plastic lumber pallets and designs that must be taken apart or repaired.
Last reviewed 2026-09-24. 225 words.