Pallet stamps and markings: HT, MB, DB, KD and what they mean
Most wood pallet stamps are the ISPM 15 mark: IPPC wheat symbol, country code, facility number and treatment code. HT means heat-treated, DH dielectric heating, MB methyl bromide, SF sulfuryl fluoride. DB (debarked) and KD (kiln-dried) are older or separate marks. For reuse, pick HT and avoid MB.
Most pallets carry more than one mark: a phytosanitary stamp for export, sometimes a lumber grade stamp, a maker's or owner's brand, and on pooled or licensed pallets a system brand such as EPAL or CHEP. Knowing what each mark means tells you whether a pallet can cross a border, who owns it, and whether it is sensible to reuse.
The ISPM 15 mark: anatomy
The most common stamp on a wood pallet is the IPPC mark required by ISPM 15. It proves the wood was treated against pests by an authorized facility.
| Position | Element | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Left | IPPC symbol | Wheat-ear logo | Registered symbol of the International Plant Protection Convention |
| Right, line 1 | Country code | US, CA, MX, DE, CN | ISO two-letter code of the country where treatment was done |
| Right, line 1 | Producer or treatment provider number | 12345 or a letter-number code | Unique number assigned under the national program |
| Right, line 2 | Treatment code | HT, DH, MB, SF | How the wood was treated |
| Optional | Agency logo, "DB" | Inspection agency mark | Who audits the facility; older marks show DB |
The format is usually written XX-000 YY: country, facility number, treatment. ISPM 15 requires the mark to be legible, permanent and non-transferable, inside a border, and it recommends against red and orange ink because those colors are used for dangerous goods labels. The mark should appear on at least two opposite sides of the pallet. Some buyers ask for more: Costco wants the mark on both long sides, and some shippers ask for all four.
In the US, treatment facilities are licensed by inspection agencies accredited under the American Lumber Standard Committee (ALSC) wood packaging material program. Canada and other countries run their own programs under their national plant protection organization.
Treatment codes
| Code | Meaning | Chemical? | Reuse notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| HT | Heat treatment: core at 56 °C for 30 min | No | The best choice for reuse |
| DH | Dielectric heating: 60 °C for 1 min through the profile | No | Same as HT for reuse |
| MB | Methyl bromide fumigation | Yes, toxic fumigant | Avoid for DIY, food, animals, firewood |
| SF | Sulfuryl fluoride fumigation | Yes, fumigant | Rare on pallets; avoid for DIY and food |
| DB | Debarked | No | Older marks; now implicit in all ISPM 15 wood |
| KD | Kiln-dried | No | A lumber moisture claim, not an ISPM 15 code |
What about KD and KD-HT stamps?
"KD" and "KD-HT" come from lumber grade stamps on the boards, not from the pallet's ISPM 15 mark. KD tells you the lumber was dried at the mill. It does not make the pallet export-compliant and it says nothing about moisture after the pallet sat in the rain. Only the IPPC mark with HT, DH, MB or SF proves ISPM 15 compliance. See heat-treated vs kiln-dried.
Do not use pallets stamped MB for indoor furniture, raised garden beds, children's projects, animal bedding, food contact or firewood. Burning fumigated wood is a bad idea regardless of residue levels, and you gain nothing by taking the risk. Unmarked pallets carry unknown history; treat them the same way for indoor or food uses.
Other marks you will see
Manufacturer and customer brands
Many pallets carry a hot-iron brand, stencil or ink-jet mark with the maker's name, a part number, a date code or a customer's name. These are identification only. A buyer can specify them on an order.
Repair marks
The Uniform Standard for Wood Pallets recommends that repaired pallets carry a repair mark with the repair class, repairer ID, date and owner, at least 2 in (51 mm) high with 1 in (25 mm) letters. Repaired pallets used for export must also be re-treated and re-marked with a new ISPM 15 stamp; the old mark must be obliterated.
EPAL and EUR marks
A licensed EPAL Euro pallet (1200 × 800 mm) carries branded marks on its blocks:
- The EPAL oval brand on the corner blocks of the long sides
- The IPPC mark with country code, plant protection registration number and treatment code, on the center blocks of the long sides (mandatory since 2010)
- The EPAL licence number and the year and month of manufacture
- A metal EPAL control staple on a center block
Older Euro pallets carry a railway mark and "EUR" in an oval. Only EPAL licensees may apply EPAL marks. A "Euro-size" pallet without them is just a 1200 × 800 mm block pallet. See EPAL.
Pooled pallet marks
| System | Look | Typical marks | Ownership |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHEP | Blue paint | "CHEP" and "Property of CHEP" stenciled on blocks or boards | Owned by CHEP; not for sale |
| PECO | Red paint | "PECO" branding | Owned by PECO; not for sale |
| iGPS | Blue plastic | Molded iGPS branding, embedded RFID | Owned by iGPS; not for sale |
Painted pallets you find may also be private company pallets marked "Property of" a manufacturer or retailer. If a pallet says someone else owns it, it is not yours to keep, sell or reuse. See pallet pooling.
Stamps on pallets from other countries
The ISPM 15 mark looks the same everywhere, but the country code tells you where the wood was treated, and some countries add extra marks.
| Country code | Country | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| US | United States | ALSC-accredited agency programs |
| CA | Canada | Canadian Food Inspection Agency program |
| MX | Mexico | National program |
| CN | China | National program; imported goods often arrive on these pallets |
| DE, NL, PL | Germany, Netherlands, Poland | Often on EPAL and other European block pallets |
A foreign mark on a pallet in the US is normal: it means the pallet arrived with imported goods. The same reuse rules apply. HT is fine, MB is not.
Where to look for the stamp
On a stringer pallet, look on the outside faces of the two edge stringers, usually near the center. On a block pallet, look on the side faces of the blocks, especially the center blocks. Stamps can be faint on weathered wood; check all four sides.
Marks that are not stamps
- Paint on block or stringer ends: often pool or owner identification.
- Colored crayon or chalk: recycler grading or sorting marks.
- Barcode or RFID labels: tracking on pooled or closed-loop pallets.
- Stenciled numbers: load ratings or part numbers on custom pallets.
Are recycled pallets safe to reuse?
The stamp is only one part of the answer. A pallet's history matters more than its treatment code.
| Situation | Safe for DIY or indoor reuse? |
|---|---|
| HT or DH mark, clean, dry, no stains or odors | Generally yes, after sanding and inspection |
| MB or SF mark | No |
| No mark | Unknown history; avoid for indoor, food, animals or firewood |
| Visible stains, spills, oily or chemical odor | No, whatever the mark |
| Painted pooled pallet (blue, red) | Not yours to use; return to the owner |
| Mold, rot, insect holes | No |
For more on sourcing used pallets responsibly, see free pallets and pallet mold.
Specifying marks on a quote
When you buy new pallets, write marking requirements on the RFQ:
- ISPM 15 mark: treatment code (HT), number of sides (2 opposite, both long sides, or 4)
- Brand or stencil: your logo, part number, "Property of" text and position
- Date or lot code
- Paint or color code, if used for ownership
- Repair marking rules, if the supplier also repairs your pallets
Marking options print on the drawing sheet in the designer; see the heat-treated pallets guide for when the ISPM 15 mark is required.
Frequently asked questions
What does HT mean on a pallet?
Heat-treated: the wood core was held at 56 °C (133 °F) for at least 30 minutes under ISPM 15. HT pallets were not treated with chemicals.
What does MB mean on a pallet?
Methyl bromide: the wood was fumigated with a toxic pesticide gas. MB is being phased out under ISPM 15 and banned or restricted in some countries. Do not use MB pallets for furniture, food contact, animal bedding or firewood.
What does DB mean on a pallet stamp?
Debarked. Older ISPM 15 marks included DB. Since the 2009 revision all ISPM 15 wood must be debarked, so DB is no longer a required code, but many pallets still carry it.
What if a pallet has no stamp?
An unmarked pallet was probably made for domestic use and not treated. It is not export-compliant and you cannot tell how it was treated. It may be fine for domestic shipping but is a poor choice for reuse near food or indoors.
Is it legal to use a pallet with someone else's brand on it?
Not if it is a pooled pallet. Blue CHEP, red PECO and iGPS plastic pallets remain the property of the pooling company. Other brands (a manufacturer's logo, a customer name) are usually just identification.
Sources and references
- ISPM 15, Regulation of wood packaging material in international trade (IPPC)
- EPAL Euro pallet, marking and technical data (European Pallet Association)
- Uniform Standard for Wood Pallets, marking of repaired pallets (Woodpack Global, formerly NWPCA)
Related
- 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.
- 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.
- GlossaryIPPC markThe IPPC mark is the stamp that shows wood packaging was treated under ISPM 15. It contains the IPPC symbol, a two-letter ISO country code, a producer or treatment provider code assigned by the national plant protection organization, and a treatment code (HT, DH, MB or SF), inside a border.
- GlossaryMethyl bromide (MB)Methyl bromide (MB) is a fumigant gas approved under ISPM 15 for treating wood packaging, marked with the code MB. It depletes the ozone layer, ISPM 15 encourages alternatives, and the EU has prohibited its use since March 2010 except in emergencies.
- StandardsEPAL: the European pallet system, marks, licensing and exchangeEPAL (European Pallet Association e.V.) runs the open exchange pool for EPAL Euro pallets. Only licensed producers and repairers may make or repair them, and independent inspectors check quality. The EPAL 1 is 800 × 1200 × 144 mm, about 25 kg, with a 1,500 kg safe working load.
- GuidesCHEP pallets: what the blue pallets are, how rental works, and what to do if you have oneCHEP pallets are the blue pallets rented through CHEP's pool. In North America they are 48 × 40 in (1219 × 1016 mm) wood block pallets CHEP rates at 2,800 lb (1,270 kg). CHEP owns every one and never sells them: if you receive some, keep them apart and request a collection.
- GuidesPECO pallets: the red rental pallets, specs, and how to return themPECO pallets are the red pallets rented through PECO Pallet's pooling network in the US, Canada and Mexico. They are 48 × 40 in (1219 × 1016 mm) wood block pallets that PECO rates at 2,800 lb (1,270 kg). PECO owns them and does not sell them: if you find red PECO pallets, report them to PECO for pickup.
- GuidesWhere to get free pallets, and which ones to leave aloneFree pallets usually come from small local businesses that receive freight and do not return pallets. Always ask first. Never take blue CHEP, red PECO or iGPS pallets, which are rented property. For projects, choose clean HT-stamped pallets and avoid MB-stamped or stained ones.
More in Compliance and safety
- GuidesFood-grade pallets: what the term means and how to specify oneThere is no FDA certification for a food-grade pallet. The term means a clean, dry, uncontaminated pallet: new or top-grade wood, kiln-dried and heat-treated (never methyl bromide), or virgin food-contact plastic. FSMA requires transport equipment that will not make food unsafe.
- GuidesPallet mold: causes, prevention and what to do with moldy palletsPallet mold grows when wood stays above about 20% moisture in warm, still air: green pallets in containers, wrapped loads or covered yards. The fix is dry wood: specify kiln-dried pallets (19% or less), store them dry and ventilated, and check moisture before loading. HT alone does not prevent mold.
- GuidesPallet fire safety: idle pallet storage, NFPA 13, fire codes and UL 2335Stacks of idle pallets burn fast and hot, so NFPA 13 and fire codes treat them as a special hazard. Store them outdoors or in a detached building where possible; indoors they need specific sprinkler protection. Unlisted plastic pallets count as a higher hazard than wood. Confirm with your AHJ.
Last reviewed 2026-09-24. 1,373 words.