Pallets for military and government shipments
US military supplies ship on 40 × 48 in wood pallets to ANSI MH1 Part 9 or MIL-DTL-15011, palletized to MIL-STD-147. Its 2008 base text caps a load at 3,000 lb (2,500 lb to NATO). Wood must be ISPM 15 marked and shipments marked to MIL-STD-129. The contract always governs.
Military and government pallets are specified by documents, not by habit. A contract or purchase order names the packaging standards, and those standards name the pallet, how the load is built on it, how it is strapped and how it is marked. Getting it wrong can mean rejected shipments at a depot and a contract discrepancy report. This page summarizes the main documents; the contract and its referenced revisions always govern.
Which pallets does the military use?
| Pallet | Specification | Use |
|---|---|---|
| 40 × 48 in partial four-way double-wing stringer pallets | ANSI MH1 Part 9 (for example MH1/9-02SW4048, MH1/9-03SW4048) | General military supplies |
| 40 × 48 in four-way double-wing block pallet | ANSI MH1 Part 9 (MH1/9-10BW4048) | General supplies, heavier loads |
| 40 × 48 in four-way wood post-construction pallet | MIL-DTL-15011 (formerly MIL-P-15011), also in MH1 Part 9 | Four-way handling, NATO shipments |
| Ammunition pallet | MH1/9-11BW4048P (meets STANAG 2828) | Ammunition unit loads |
| Stringer pallets for federal use | Federal specification NN-P-71 | Civilian agency and general federal use |
| Air cargo | 463L aluminum air cargo pallets (88 × 108 in) | Military airlift; wood unit loads are built up on them |
Winged pallets are preferred because straps anchor over the wings. See MIL-STD-147 for the part numbers by load weight.
MIL-STD-147 unit load rules (2008 base text)
| Rule | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Pallet | Standard general-purpose 40 × 48 in wood pallet per ANSI MH1 Part 9 |
| Orientation | 40 in side is the length (end of load), 48 in side the width |
| Loads under 1,500 lb (evenly distributed) | MH1/9-02SW4048 |
| Loads 1,500 to 3,000 lb | MH1/9-03SW4048 or MH1/9-10BW4048 |
| Maximum load weight | 3,000 lb per pallet load; 2,500 lb to NATO forces |
| Size, ISO containers and CRAF aircraft | 40 × 48 in; 43 in high recommended for 2-high stacking |
| Size, other shipments | 43 × 52 × 54 in maximum |
| Lumber | Commercially dry, free of decay and weakening defects; criteria in ASTM D6199 and ANSI MH1 |
| Phytosanitary | Wood and dunnage to ISPM 15 |
| Marking | MIL-STD-129 |
When a load is too heavy, MIL-STD-147 says to reduce its height rather than its length or width. Change notices since 2008 may modify these values.
Other documents you will meet
- MIL-STD-129: military marking for shipment and storage, including unit load labels and bar codes.
- MIL-STD-2073-1: the DoD standard practice for military packaging, which sets levels of protection and packaging requirements that reference palletization.
- ANSI MH1: the civilian standard whose Part 9 holds the military pallet designs.
- ASTM D6199: wood quality for containers and pallets.
- Contract clauses: can override any of the above, and often specify inspection, marking and wood packaging certification.
Typical loads and weights
Military unit loads are capped at 3,000 lb in the base text, and the pallet part number is chosen by load weight. Loads include boxed spare parts, rations, drums, ammunition and equipment. Many are dense and heavy, and they may be stacked in containers, handled by rough-terrain forklifts and stored outdoors, so pallets are built heavier than commercial one-way pallets.
Common pitfalls
- Using a commercial 48 × 40 GMA pallet where the contract calls for an MH1 Part 9 design.
- Orienting the load the commercial way. MIL-STD-147 treats the 40 in side as length; follow its figures.
- Exceeding 3,000 lb (or 2,500 lb for NATO) including the pallet and dunnage.
- Unmarked dunnage or bracing on overseas shipments.
- Old revisions. Contracts cite specific revisions and change notices; building to an outdated copy is a common error.
- Flush pallets for strapped loads. The standard notes that wing pallets anchor straps better.
Spec checklist for a quote
- Contract number and the packaging clauses (MIL-STD-147 revision and change notice, MIL-STD-2073-1, MIL-STD-129)
- Pallet specification: ANSI MH1 Part 9 part number or MIL-DTL-15011
- Quantity and required delivery date
- Lumber quality (ASTM D6199 / ANSI MH1) and species restrictions
- ISPM 15 HT treatment and marks, including dunnage
- Inspection and certification documents required
- Unit load: weight, dimensions, bonding method (strapping or film), stability dunnage
- Marking and labeling requirements
For the full standard, see MIL-STD-147. The designer can model a 40 × 48 in winged stringer pallet for a drawing; pallets must still be built to the specified MH1 or MIL-DTL design.
Frequently asked questions
What size pallet does the military use?
The standard general-purpose 40 × 48 in wood pallet. MIL-STD-147 treats the 40 in side as the length (end of the load) and the 48 in side as the width.
What is the weight limit for a military pallet?
The 2008 base text of MIL-STD-147E sets 3,000 lb per single pallet load, including the pallet, bonding and dunnage, and 2,500 lb for shipments to NATO forces. Check the change notice and contract you are working to.
What is a MIL-DTL-15011 pallet?
A four-way entry, wood post-construction (block-style) pallet specified by the detail specification MIL-DTL-15011, which superseded MIL-P-15011. MIL-STD-147 calls for it when four-way entry is needed and for shipments to NATO forces.
Do government shipments need ISPM 15 pallets?
MIL-STD-147E requires wood, including dunnage, to meet and be marked to ISPM 15. Civilian agencies shipping overseas face the same ISPM 15 rules as any exporter.
Sources and references
- MIL-STD-147E, Palletized Unit Loads (US Department of Defense, 2008, with later change notices)
- MIL-DTL-15011K, Pallets, Material Handling, Wood Post Construction, 4-Way Entry (US Department of Defense, 2013)
- ANSI MH1-2021, Pallets, Slip Sheets, and Other Bases for Unit Loads, Part 9 (MHI)
Related
- StandardsMIL-STD-147: palletized unit loads for military suppliesMIL-STD-147 is the DoD standard practice for bonded palletized unit loads of military supplies on the standard 40 × 48 in wood pallet. It points to ANSI MH1 Part 9 designs, limits unit-load size and weight (3,000 lb per pallet load in the 2008 base text) and covers bonding and marking.
- StandardsANSI MH1: pallets, slip sheets and other bases for unit loadsANSI MH1 is the American National Standard for pallets, slip sheets and other unit-load bases, published by MHI. It covers terminology, sizes, wood pallets, fasteners, test procedures, slip sheets and military pallets. The current edition is MH1-2021; its committee is the US adviser to ISO/TC 51.
- StandardsASTM D6199: quality of wood members of containers and palletsASTM D6199 is the ASTM practice that sets quality requirements for three classes of hardwood and softwood members used in boxes, crates, pallets and blocking and bracing. It limits defects such as knots, decay, splits, checks, warp and wane by class of use. The current designation is D6199-18a, reapproved since.
- StandardsISPM 15: the wood packaging standard for international shippingISPM 15 is the IPPC standard requiring solid-wood packaging, including pallets and dunnage, to be debarked, treated (HT, DH, MB or SF) and marked before crossing a border. Plywood, OSB, presswood, wood 6 mm thick or less, and plastic, metal and paper pallets are exempt.
- TypesWinged pallet: single-wing and double-wing constructionA winged pallet is a stringer pallet whose deckboards extend past the outer stringers, typically by 1 to 4 in (25–100 mm). On a single-wing pallet only the top deck overhangs; on a double-wing pallet both decks do. Wings give a larger deck, a grip edge for straps and room for bar slings to lift the load.
- TypesBlock pallet: construction, dimensions and usesA block pallet is a wooden pallet whose deck sits on blocks, usually nine arranged 3 × 3, joined by stringerboards. The gaps between blocks give full 4-way entry for both forklifts and pallet jacks. EUR/EPAL, CP and the pooled 48 × 40 in pallets of CHEP and PECO are all block pallets.
- GlossaryUnit loadA unit load is a group of items, usually cases on a pallet or slip sheet, secured together so it can be stored and moved as a single unit by a forklift or pallet jack. It includes the pallet, the packaging, the stacking pattern and the stabilizers.
- Sizes48 × 40 pallet (GMA): dimensions, weight and specsA 48 × 40 in pallet (1219 × 1016 mm) is the North American standard, also called the GMA pallet. The typical build is a partial 4-way stringer pallet about 4.75 in tall with 7 top and 5 bottom deckboards on 3 notched stringers. Pooled 48 × 40 block pallets (CHEP, PECO) share the same footprint.
More in Industries
- IndustriesPallets for food and beverage manufacturingFood companies run two pallet systems: hygienic plastic or aluminum inside wet and open-product areas, and 48 × 40 in wood or pooled pallets for cased goods. The FDA Sanitary Transportation rule requires suitable, cleanable, sanitary pallets but does not mandate a material.
- IndustriesPallets for grocery and consumer goodsGrocery runs on the 48 × 40 in pallet: GMA-style stringer pallets or pooled block pallets (CHEP, PECO, iGPS plastic). Retailers set the rules in vendor guides: footprint, entry, condition, height, weight and labels, and some accept pooled pallets only. Check each retailer's current guide.
- IndustriesPallets for pharmaceutical and healthcare productsPharmaceutical plants keep wood out of cleanrooms and GMP areas and use hygienic plastic (closed deck, washable) or aluminum there. Finished goods ship on 48 × 40 in or 1200 × 800 mm wood or plastic pallets to meet distribution, cold-chain and customer rules. The quality system, not a law, sets the material.
- IndustriesPallets for the chemical and plastics industryChemical loads (drums, pails, IBCs and 25 kg bags) need heavier, tighter-decked pallets than grocery. Europe uses the CP1 to CP9 block pallets; North America uses 48 × 48 in drum pallets, 42 × 42 and 44 × 44 in sizes and heavy 48 × 40s. Deck gaps and load type matter as much as weight.
- IndustriesPallets for the automotive industryAutomotive supply chains run on returnable plastic pallets, bulk containers and steel racks that cycle between suppliers and plants. OEM packaging guidelines set the footprints; 48 × 45 in is a common automotive size in North America. One-way wood pallets and ISPM 15 crates cover service parts and export.
- IndustriesPallets for beverages: water, soft drinks, beer and spiritsA pallet of bottled water commonly weighs 2,100 to 2,500 lb, and canned drinks and beer 1,500 to 2,200 lb. Most North American beverage loads ship on 48 × 40 in pooled or GMA-style pallets, plus 48 × 20 in half pallets for store delivery. Stiff decks, tier sheets and good wrap prevent crushed loads.
Last reviewed 2026-09-24. 765 words.