Pallet collar: hinged wooden frames that turn a pallet into a box
A pallet collar is a frame of four boards joined by metal hinges that sits on a pallet to form an open box. Collars stack to build height and fold flat when empty. The common European collar fits a 1200 × 800 mm pallet, is 200 mm (7.9 in) tall and has 4 or 6 galvanized hinges.
Pallet collars are common in European logistics and less familiar in North America. They let one pallet become a crate of whatever height you need, then fold flat when the goods are out.
What is a pallet collar?
A pallet collar is a four-sided wooden frame that rests on the top deck of a pallet. The boards are joined at the corners by hinges so the collar folds flat. Several collars can be stacked on one another to make a deeper box, and a lid can close the top. With the collar in place, loose, irregular or fragile goods can be shipped on a standard pallet, and loaded collars can be stacked.
How is a pallet collar built?
The common European collar for a 1200 × 800 mm pallet, as described by several suppliers:
| Feature | Typical | Imperial |
|---|---|---|
| Outer size | 1200 × 800 mm | 47.2 × 31.5 in |
| Inner size | about 1160 × 760 mm | about 45.7 × 29.9 in |
| Height | 200 mm (some 195 mm) | 7.9 in |
| Board thickness | about 20 mm | about 0.8 in |
| Hinges | 4 or 6, galvanized steel | |
| Stacking | up to about 7 collars | about 1.4 m, 55 in |
The hinges are fixed through the boards at each corner. Collars are usually made from softwood boards, and some are EPAL-marked for use in the European exchange system. Plastic collars and metal collars are sold for hygienic and heavy-duty loops.
Accessories
| Accessory | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Lid | Closes the top; plywood, wood or plastic |
| Top frame | Squares and stabilises the load for strapping |
Where are pallet collars used?
- Loose parts, castings and components in manufacturing
- Agricultural produce and bulk goods
- Returnable packaging between plants
- Storage of small items in racks, as a box of adjustable height
- European logistics, on Euro pallets; see Euro pallet
Pros and limits
| Pros | Limits |
|---|---|
| Height adjustable by adding collars | Extra component to buy, track and return |
| Folds flat, saving return space | Hinges can bend or pull out |
| Makes loose goods stackable | Height adds wall weight; loads must still suit the pallet |
| Reuses standard pallets | Wood collars need HT for export |
| Cheaper than a rigid crate | Not sealed against moisture or dust |
Capacity and weight
A collar does not change the pallet's rating: the pallet under it carries the load. When loaded collars are stacked, the walls carry part of the weight of the unit above, so the collars' condition and the number of tiers matter. Rules for stacking loaded boxes come from the pallet's own ratings and the collar supplier's guidance. See pallet load capacity.
Collars vs rigid crates and pallet boxes
A collar is not the only way to box a load:
| Option | Height | Empty return | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pallet collars | Adjustable in 200 mm steps | Fold flat | European parts and produce loops |
| Wooden crate | Fixed, built to the product | Does not fold | Machinery, export, one-way |
| Steel box pallet | Fixed (EPAL: 970 mm) | Does not fold | Automotive, exchange pools |
| Collapsible plastic container | Fixed | Folds flat | Closed loops, hygienic uses |
See pallet box for the rigid options.
ISPM 15
Wooden collars and lids are solid wood packaging, so they need heat treatment and an ISPM 15 mark for most export, just like the pallet. Plywood lids are exempt as processed wood. See heat-treated pallets.
What drives the cost?
- Size and height
- Board thickness and species
- Hinge count (4 or 6) and quality
- Heat treatment
- EPAL marking, if required
- Lids and accessories
- Quantity
Specifying a pallet collar for a quote
- Pallet size the collar sits on (for example 1200 × 800 mm) and required inner dimensions
- Collar height (for example 200 mm) and number per pallet
- Board thickness and material (wood, plastic, metal)
- Hinges: 4 or 6, finish
- Lid: yes or no, material
- ISPM 15 HT for wood
- EPAL-marked or unmarked
- Quantity and delivery location
Related: pallet box, Euro pallet, 1200 × 800 pallet. Collars are quoted as accessories; in the designer, add them to any pallet, for example the EPAL 1 template.
Frequently asked questions
What size is a standard pallet collar?
The most common size fits a 1200 × 800 mm Euro pallet and is 200 mm (7.9 in) high. The inside is about 1160 × 760 mm. Collars are also made for 1200 × 1000 mm, 800 × 600 mm and custom sizes.
How many pallet collars can you stack?
As many as the load and handling allow. Suppliers commonly describe stacking up to about seven collars on one pallet, which with 200 mm collars gives about 1.4 m (55 in) of wall height.
Do wooden pallet collars need heat treatment?
Yes, for export. They are solid wood packaging under ISPM 15, so they must be treated and marked like the pallet.
Are there plastic pallet collars?
Yes. Plastic collars and frames are sold for hygienic and closed-loop uses. Metal collars also exist.
Does a collar add load capacity to the pallet?
No. The pallet still carries the load. A collar contains loose or fragile goods and lets loaded pallets be stacked, with the collar walls carrying part of the stack load.
Related
- TypesPallet box: bulk bins, gaylords and box pallets explainedA pallet box is a bulk container with a pallet-sized base that forklifts and pallet jacks can handle: a wooden bin, a corrugated gaylord on a pallet, a collapsible plastic bulk container or a steel box pallet. The EPAL box pallet has a 1200 × 800 mm inner base, is 970 mm tall and carries 1,500 kg.
- TypesEuro pallet (EUR / EPAL 1): dimensions, weight and constructionThe Euro pallet (EUR or EPAL 1) is a licensed European block pallet measuring 1200 × 800 × 144 mm (47.2 × 31.5 × 5.7 in). It weighs about 25 kg (55 lb), has 11 boards, 9 blocks and 78 nails, and carries a safe working load of 1,500 kg (3,307 lb). Only EPAL licensees may build and mark it.
- Sizes1200 × 800 pallet (Euro pallet): dimensions, weight and specsA 1200 × 800 mm pallet (47.2 × 31.5 in) is the Euro pallet, standardized as EPAL 1 / EUR 1 and one of the six ISO 6780 sizes. The EPAL 1 is 144 mm tall, weighs about 25 kg, and has a safe working load of 1,500 kg. It is the standard pallet for European retail and food logistics.
- 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.
- TypesWooden pallets: types, construction, sizes and how to specify themA wooden pallet is a flat transport platform built from lumber deckboards fastened to stringers or blocks. In North America most are 48 × 40 in stringer pallets weighing about 30–70 lb (14–32 kg); in Europe the 1200 × 800 mm EPAL block pallet dominates. Wood must be ISPM 15 treated for most export.
- GuidesHeat-treated pallets (HT): what they are, when you need them, and costA heat-treated (HT) pallet's wood core was held at 56 °C (133 °F) for 30 minutes under ISPM 15, then stamped with the IPPC mark and HT. Most countries require it on wood pallets crossing their border. It adds roughly $1–3 per pallet (2026 US estimate) and kills pests; it does not dry the wood.
- 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.
More in Other materials
- TypesPresswood pallet: molded wood-fibre, nestable and ISPM 15 exemptA presswood pallet is a one-piece pallet molded from wood fibre and resin under heat and pressure. It has no nails, nests about 2.5:1 to 4:1, weighs roughly 25–35 lb (11–16 kg) in 48 × 40 class sizes and is ISPM 15 exempt as processed wood. It comes in fixed sizes and is not rackable.
- TypesMetal pallets: steel, stainless and aluminum comparedMetal pallets are fabricated from carbon steel, stainless steel or aluminum, usually welded. They carry heavy or hot loads, last for years in returnable loops, do not burn and are exempt from ISPM 15. Carbon steel is the strongest and cheapest metal, stainless and aluminum resist corrosion, and aluminum is the lightest.
- TypesSteel pallet: welded, galvanized and built for heavy loopsA steel pallet is fabricated from carbon or stainless steel sheet, channel and tube, usually welded and hot-dip galvanized or powder coated. It carries heavy loads, lasts for years outdoors and in hot processes, does not burn and is ISPM 15 exempt. Steel pallets weigh roughly 50–150 lb (23–68 kg).
- TypesAluminum pallet: light metal for food, pharma and cleanroomsAn aluminum pallet is a welded metal pallet, usually seal-welded so it can be washed and sanitised. It is lighter than steel, does not rust, is ISPM 15 exempt, and is used in food processing, pharmaceutical cleanrooms and hot or wet processes. It is among the most expensive pallet types.
- TypesPaper pallet: corrugated and honeycomb pallets explainedA paper pallet is made entirely from paper products: a corrugated or honeycomb paperboard deck on feet of paper tubes, honeycomb blocks or folded board. It is very light (from about 4 kg, 9 lb), recyclable and ISPM 15 exempt. Ratings reach about 750–1,000 kg, and humidity reduces strength.
- TypesSlip sheet: the thin pallet alternative, sizes, tabs and materialsA slip sheet is a thin sheet of solid fiberboard, corrugated board or plastic used under a unit load instead of a pallet. A push-pull lift truck attachment grips its tab and pulls the load onto its platens. Sheets for a 40 × 48 in load are commonly 43 × 51 or 44 × 52 in with 3–4 in tabs.
Last reviewed 2026-09-24. 769 words.