Pallet nails and fasteners: types, sizes, MIBANT and nail counts
Most 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.
The nails are the cheapest part of a wood pallet and the part that decides how long it lasts. Most pallet failures in service start at a joint: a nail pulls out, a board lifts, a stringer splits around a nail. Nail type, diameter, length, steel quality and count are all specifiable, and all belong on a pallet spec.
Types of pallet nails
Pallet nails are grouped by shank. The shank decides how well the nail resists withdrawal.
| Type | Also called | Shank | Best in | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Helically threaded | Screw shank, "SS" | Spiral flutes rolled into the wire; the nail rotates as it drives | Medium- and high-density hardwoods | Standard in automated nailing; resists splitting and withdrawal in dense wood |
| Annularly threaded | Ring shank | Rings around the shank that lock into wood fibers | Softwoods, low-density hardwoods | High withdrawal in soft wood; common on SYP and SPF pallets |
| Plain shank | Smooth, bright | Smooth | Mat nails that are clinched; light single-use pallets | Loses most holding power if driven green and then dried |
| Staple | Round or rectangular wire | Two legs, often adhesive-coated | Light and one-way pallets | Crown must not run parallel to the grain |
| Screw | Deck, lag or self-drilling screw | Full thread | Heavy, repairable or bolted designs | Added to PDS in version 6.11 |
For a side-by-side comparison, see helical vs annular nails.
Pallet nail sizes: length and wire diameter
A pallet nail is described by length, wire diameter and shank type, for example "2-1/4 × 0.112 helical" or "2-1/4 × 11-1/2 ga SS".
Wire diameter and gauge
| Gauge | Wire diameter | Metric | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12-1/2 ga | 0.099 in | 2.5 mm | Light pallets; common in collated (coil) nails |
| 12 ga | 0.105 in | 2.7 mm | Light to medium |
| 11-1/2 ga | 0.112–0.113 in | 2.9 mm | The most common reusable pallet nail |
| 11 ga | 0.120 in | 3.0 mm | Heavy duty |
Collated nails for pneumatic tools are often 12-1/2 ga, while bulk nails for automated nailing machines are often 11-1/2 ga. That is a real quality trade-off. In Virginia Tech durability testing, a GMA pallet built with 11-1/2 ga (0.112 in) nails lasted about twice as many handling trips as the same pallet built with 12-1/2 ga (0.099 in) collated nails.
Length
The rule is penetration. The Uniform Standard asks for at least 1-1/4 in (32 mm) of penetration into the stringer or block, or 1 in (25 mm) if the deckboard is 1/2 in (13 mm) thick or less. So nail length must be at least deckboard thickness plus 1-1/4 in.
| Joint | Deck thickness | Typical nail length |
|---|---|---|
| Deckboard to stringer | 1/2–5/8 in (13–16 mm) | 2 in (51 mm) |
| Deckboard to stringer | 5/8–3/4 in (16–19 mm) | 2-1/4 in (57 mm) |
| Deckboard to stringer, heavy | 7/8–1 in (22–25 mm) | 2-1/2 in (64 mm) |
| Stringerboard to block (through deck and stringerboard) | about 1-3/8 in combined | about 3 in (76 mm) |
| Block pallet deck mat, clinched | Stack thickness | Stack + at least 1/4 in (6 mm) |
Clinched mat nails must fully penetrate the deck mat and be at least 1/4 in longer than the stack so the point can be bent over.
Head and thread details
Spec sheets from PDS and fastener suppliers also list:
- Head diameter: typically about 0.28 in (7 mm). The Uniform Standard sets a minimum head-to-shank ratio of 2.25 for reusable pallets and 2.00 for single-use pallets.
- Thread length and thread crest diameter: for example 1.25 in thread and 0.124 in crest on a 0.112 in wire.
- Flutes and helixes (helical nails), rings per inch (annular nails), and thread angle (57–69° is typical for helical nails).
These feed the withdrawal calculation below.
MIBANT: how nail quality is measured
MIBANT stands for Morgan Impact Bend Angle Nail Tester. It is an impact-bend test described in ASTM F680. A weight strikes a clamped nail and the resulting bend angle is measured. A lower angle means stiffer steel, which means the nail resists bending and loosening in service.
| MIBANT angle | Quality band often quoted in the industry |
|---|---|
| 8–24° | Excellent |
| 25–35° | Good |
| 37–46° | Acceptable |
| Above about 46° | Poor for reusable pallets |
The Uniform Standard converts MIBANT to bending yield strength and sets a minimum of 100 ksi (690 MPa). Not more than 8% of nails in a sample may show shank failure in the test. Nail dimensions are covered by ASTM F1667.
Thread quality matters too. Industry guidance rates the thread "press-out" (crest diameter minus wire diameter) above 0.020 in as excellent and below 0.010 in as poor.
How nail withdrawal is calculated
The Uniform Standard (Annex F) publishes the connection equations. The key term is the fastener withdrawal characteristic, Cw (shown on PDS sheets as FWC):
- Plain shank nails: Cw = 1.0
- Threaded nails: Cw = 1 + K × (thread crest − wire diameter) × (threaded helixes or rings factor), with K = 22 for helical and 60 for annular nails
A typical 2-1/4 × 0.112 in helical nail with a 0.124 in crest scores about 2.6. Minimum Cw is 1.9 for reusable pallets and 1.5 for single-use pallets. Withdrawal also rises with wood density to the power 2.5, which is why the same nail holds far better in oak than in SPF.
How many nails per joint?
The Uniform Standard (Table 5) sets minimum fasteners per deckboard-to-stringer connection by board width:
| Deckboard width | Minimum nails per joint |
|---|---|
| Up to 5-1/4 in (133 mm) | 2 |
| Over 5-1/4 to 7 in (133–178 mm) | 3 |
| Over 7 to 8 in (178–203 mm) | 4 |
For block pallets, the minimum is 3 fasteners at each corner block and 2 at each interior block, and at least one fastener per 8 in² (52 cm²) of block fastening surface.
Worked example: 48 × 40 in GMA-style pallet
- Top deck: 2 lead boards 5-1/2 in wide × 3 stringers × 3 nails = 18; 5 interior boards 3-1/2 in wide × 3 stringers × 2 nails = 30. Total 48.
- Bottom deck: 2 lead boards × 3 × 3 = 18; 3 interior boards × 3 × 2 = 18. Total 36.
- Pallet total: 84 nails.
The EPAL Euro pallet uses 78 approved nails with marked heads. The nailing pattern (where each nail sits) is shown as dots on a PDS drawing and in the pallet.design drawing sheet.
Placement rules that prevent failures
From the Uniform Standard:
- No "shiners" (nail points or shanks protruding) on exposed faces.
- At most one open split with a visible shank per connection, and on no more than one third of components.
- Do not mix incompatible fastener types in one connection.
- Staple crowns must not run parallel to the grain.
- Keep nails back from board ends and edges to avoid splitting; EPAL requires at least 20 mm (3/4 in) from edges.
Specifying it for a quote
Put one line per connection type on your RFQ:
- Fastener type (helical, annular, plain, staple, screw)
- Length × wire diameter (for example 2-1/4 × 0.112 in)
- Maximum MIBANT angle or minimum bending yield
- Nails per joint: lead boards and interior boards
- For block pallets: mat, top-deck-to-block and bottom-deck-to-block fasteners separately
The designer counts nails from the board layout and Table 5 minimums. Open the GMA 48 × 40 template to see the 84-nail schedule on the drawing.
Frequently asked questions
What size nails are used for pallets?
For 5/8 to 3/4 in deckboards on stringers, 2 to 2-1/4 in threaded nails with 0.099 to 0.120 in wire are typical. Block pallets often use about 3 in nails through the stringerboard into the block, shorter clinched nails for the deck mat, and 2-1/4 in nails on the bottom deck.
Are helical or annular nails better for pallets?
Helical (screw shank) nails suit medium- and high-density hardwoods and automated nailing. Annular (ring shank) nails hold better in softwoods and low-density hardwoods. The better nail is the one matched to the wood.
What is a good MIBANT angle for pallet nails?
Lower is stiffer. Industry bands often quoted are 8–24° excellent, 25–35° good and 37–46° acceptable. Ask your shop for the MIBANT value of the nails it uses.
How many nails does a pallet have?
A typical 48 × 40 in GMA-style stringer pallet with 7 top and 5 bottom deckboards on 3 stringers has 84 nails: 3 per lead-board joint and 2 per interior joint. An EPAL Euro pallet has 78.
Can pallets be built with screws or staples?
Yes. Staples are common on light and one-way pallets, and screws and bolts on heavy, repairable or bolted-down designs. The Uniform Standard and PDS both cover them, but nails remain the default for volume production.
Sources and references
- Uniform Standard for Wood Pallets, fastener requirements, Table 5 and Annex F (Woodpack Global, formerly NWPCA)
- ASTM F680, Standard Test Methods for Nails (ASTM International)
- Effect of fastener quality on pallet durability, white paper (Virginia Tech Center for Packaging and Unit Load Design)
Related
- ComparisonsHelical vs annular pallet nails: which to specifyChoose helically threaded (screw shank) nails for medium- and high-density hardwoods and automated nailing; they turn as they drive and resist bending and splitting. Choose annularly threaded (ring shank) nails for low-density hardwoods and most softwoods, where rings grip best.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- GlossaryWire diameter (pallet nails)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.
- StandardsASTM F680: test methods for nails (including the MIBANT test)ASTM F680 is the ASTM standard for testing nails: dimensions, tension, bend, impact bend, hardness and zinc coatings. Its impact bend test is the MIBANT test pallet makers use to check nail stiffness. F680 gives methods only; the product spec sets the pass values.
- 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.
- 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.
More in Materials
- 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.
- 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.
- GuidesPallet lumber moisture: green vs kiln-dried, shrinkage, weight and moldGreen pallet lumber can hold 50–80% moisture; kiln-dried (KD) lumber is dried to about 19% or less. Drier wood is lighter, stiffer and far less prone to mold, but green wood nails more easily and costs less. Heat treatment (HT) for ISPM 15 kills pests; it does not dry the pallet. Specify moisture separately.
- GuidesPlastic pallet buying guide: styles, resins, ratings and costChoose a plastic pallet by how it is handled and stored: nestable for cheap one-way use, stackable for floor stacking, rackable for open-beam racking. Compare static, dynamic and racking ratings only when the test standard and support match. New US prices run about $40–200 (2026 estimates).
Last reviewed 2026-09-24. 1,334 words.