Presswood pallet: molded wood-fibre, nestable and ISPM 15 exempt
A 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.
- Type
- Presswood
- Footprint
- 48.00 × 40.00 in
- Height
- 5.50 in
Every dimension is editable. Get the drawing free, or request a quote.
Presswood pallets solve the export problem in a different way from plastic. They are still made of wood, but processed wood, so they fall outside ISPM 15 and need no treatment or stamp. They also nest, which makes them cheap to ship empty.
What is a presswood pallet?
A presswood pallet (also pressed wood, molded wood or Inka-style pallet) is a one-piece pallet made by pressing wood fibres or chips mixed with resin in a heated mold. One US maker describes pressing at about 350 °F (177 °C). The result is a dish-shaped deck with hollow, tapered feet molded in, with no nails or separate parts. See presswood vs wood.
How is a presswood pallet built?
| Feature | Typical |
|---|---|
| Construction | One molded piece, wood fibre plus resin |
| Feet | 9 hollow, tapered feet |
| Entry | 4-way for forklifts; 2-way for pallet jacks on many models |
| Height | about 5–6 in (127–152 mm); the pallet.design template uses 5-1/2 in (140 mm) |
| Nest ratio | about 2.5:1 to 4:1 |
| Fasteners | None |
Sizes and load grades
Presswood pallets are catalog products. One US maker lists these footprints (dynamic / static):
| Footprint | Dynamic | Static |
|---|---|---|
| 20 × 24 in | 750 lb (340 kg) | 3,000 lb (1,361 kg) |
| 24 × 40 in | 2,500 lb (1,134 kg) | 7,500 lb (3,402 kg) |
| 42 × 42, 48 × 40, 48 × 42 in | 1,500–2,500 lb (680–1,134 kg) | 4,500–7,500 lb (2,041–3,402 kg) |
| 44 × 44, 45 × 45, 48 × 45 in | 2,000–2,500 lb (907–1,134 kg) | 6,000–7,500 lb (2,722–3,402 kg) |
| 600 × 800 and 1200 × 800 mm | 2,500 lb (1,134 kg) | 7,500 lb (3,402 kg) |
The same footprint often comes in several grades. That maker's 42 × 42 in, for example, comes in 1,000, 1,500, 2,000 and 2,500 lb dynamic grades, weighs 34 lb (15 kg) and nests 4:1. In Europe, 1200 × 800 mm presswood pallets are sold rated up to 1,250 kg (2,756 lb) and weighing under 12.5 kg (28 lb).
Where are presswood pallets used?
- Export by sea and air; see export pallets
- One-way shipments where the pallet will not return
- Clean environments that ban loose nails and splinters
- Shippers who need to store many empties in little space
Pros and limits
| Pros | Limits |
|---|---|
| ISPM 15 exempt, no stamp needed | Not rated for open-beam racking |
| Nests, saving storage and freight | Fixed catalog sizes only |
| No nails or splinters | Sensitive to long exposure to water |
| Light for a wood-based pallet | Lower dynamic capacity than wood or plastic |
| Some models carry BioPreferred and Cradle to Cradle marks | Feet bear on small areas when stacked on loads |
Capacity and weight
Presswood pallets carry medium loads: about 1,500–2,500 lb (680–1,134 kg) dynamic in 48 × 40 class sizes, depending on grade, with static ratings roughly three times higher. They weigh about 25–35 lb (11–16 kg). Ratings are the maker's and assume uniformly distributed loads on forks or a flat floor. Do not rack them. See pallet load capacity.
ISPM 15
Exempt. Presswood is processed wood, so it needs no treatment or IPPC mark under ISPM 15. If you attach solid-wood parts (for example cleats), those parts are not exempt.
What drives the cost?
- Size and load grade (heavier grades use more material)
- Quantity: bought by the stack or truckload
- Freight, which nesting reduces
As a rough estimate, presswood pallets price in the same broad band as a new wooden pallet, about $10–20 in the US, and prices vary with grade and volume. Get quotes for your size and grade.
Specifying a presswood pallet for a quote
- Footprint from the maker's catalog
- Load grade (dynamic rating) and static rating needed
- Load weight and type, floor stacking
- Confirm no racking
- Entry needs: pallet jack access from which sides
- One-way or multi-trip
- Quantity (per stack or truckload) and delivery location
Related: presswood vs wood, nestable plastic pallet, paper pallet. The presswood template records these fields; open it in the designer.
Drawing and parts listEdit in the design app
Presswood 48×40 template, generated from the model. Every dimension is editable.
Pallet
- Type
- Presswood
- Footprint
- 48.00 × 40.00 in
- Overall height
- 5.50 in
- Classification
- 48.00 x 40.00 x 5.50, Presswood (Molded Wood Fiber), Nestable, 2000 lb Dynamic Grade, 4-Way
Construction
- Material
- Molded wood fiber (nestable, no nails)
- Load grade
- 2000 lb dynamic
- Height
- 5.50 in (5-1/2)
Requirements
- Load
- 2,000 lb, uniform
- Handling
- forklift, pallet jack
- Racking
- Not racked
- Floor stack
- 1 high
- Use
- Reusable / multi-trip
- Environment
- Standard
- ISPM-15
- Domestic only
- Certified rating
- Not required
- Food contact / fire
- No / no listing
Order
- Quantity
- Not specified
- Ship to
- —
- Needed by
- —
Frequently asked questions
Do presswood pallets need heat treatment for export?
No. Presswood is processed wood made under heat and pressure, which ISPM 15 exempts. That is the main reason exporters use it.
Can presswood pallets be racked?
No. At least one major maker states they are not intended for open-beam rack storage. Use them on the floor, on forks and in trucks and containers.
How much weight can a presswood pallet hold?
They come in load grades. One US catalog lists 48 × 40 in and similar sizes at 1,500–2,500 lb dynamic and 4,500–7,500 lb static, depending on grade.
Can presswood pallets be made to a custom size?
No. They are pressed in fixed molds, so you choose from the maker's catalog of footprints and load grades.
Are presswood pallets recyclable?
They are made from wood fibre and resin and can be ground and recycled or used as fuel, depending on local facilities. Some models carry USDA BioPreferred and Cradle to Cradle certification.
Related
- ComparisonsPresswood vs wood pallets: differences and when to use eachChoose a presswood (molded wood-fiber) pallet for one-way export and air freight: it is ISPM 15-exempt, nails-free, light and nests about 4:1 for storage. Choose a solid wood pallet when you need racking, heavy or custom loads, or pallets you will reuse and repair.
- TypesExport pallets: ISPM 15, container sizes and material choicesAn export pallet must meet ISPM 15 (heat-treated and marked wood, or an exempt material such as plastic, presswood, paper or metal), fit the container and the consignee's equipment, and usually be cheap enough to lose. Common choices are HT wood, 45 × 45 in or 1200 × 1000 mm footprints, and nestable plastic.
- TypesNestable plastic pallet: light, cheap and not for racksA nestable plastic pallet has legs or feet, usually nine, that fit into the pallet below when empty, so stacked empties take little space. It is the lightest and cheapest plastic pallet, about 14–30 lb (6–14 kg) in 48 × 40 in, with 4-way entry. It is not rackable.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- GlossaryComposite block (pallet)A composite block is a pallet block made from wood chips, particles or fibers bonded with resin under heat and pressure. It does not split like solid wood and, as processed wood, is exempt from ISPM 15 on its own.
More in Other materials
- 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.
- 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.
- TypesPallet collar: hinged wooden frames that turn a pallet into a boxA 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.
- 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.
Last reviewed 2026-09-24. 731 words.