Slip sheet: the thin pallet alternative, sizes, tabs and materials
A 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.
- Type
- Slip sheet
- Footprint
- 48.00 × 40.00 in
- Height
- 0.06 in
Every dimension is editable. Get the drawing free, or request a quote.
The slip sheet removes the pallet from the shipment altogether. It works well in high-volume lanes where both ends have the right equipment, particularly container exports, and poorly anywhere else.
What is a slip sheet?
A slip sheet is a flat sheet, slightly larger than the load, with one or more tabs (lips) extending past the load on the side the lift truck approaches from. A push-pull attachment on the lift truck clamps the tab, pulls the load onto its platens, and pushes it off at the destination. ANSI MH1 covers slip sheets alongside pallets; see ANSI MH1.
How is a slip sheet built?
The pallet.design slip sheet template is for a 48 × 40 in load:
| Feature | Template value | Metric |
|---|---|---|
| Load area | 48 × 40 in | 1219 × 1016 mm |
| Material | Solid fiber | |
| Caliper | 0.060 in | 1.5 mm |
| Tabs | One, 4 in, on side A | one, 102 mm |
| Scored tab | Yes |
Materials
| Material | Character | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Corrugated | Cheapest; weak in humidity | One-way, dry, light loads |
| Solid fiber (kraft linerboard) | Mid-price; handles cold and humid conditions; can be reused | Most common general choice |
| Plastic (HDPE or PP) | Most durable and most expensive; reusable | Closed loops, wet or cold environments |
Tabs
- Single tab, usually on a narrow end, for loads always approached from one side.
- Two, three or four tabs on adjacent or opposite sides, for loads approached from different sides in rail cars or containers.
- Tab depth commonly 3–4 in (76–102 mm); some sources recommend 4–6 in (102–152 mm).
- Scoring along the fold line lets the tab bend up out of the way when not in use.
Caliper
Fiber slip sheets run about 0.040–0.125 in (1.0–3.2 mm). Thicker sheets (0.060–0.125 in) are for heavier loads, because the tab must withstand the full pull force of the load sliding across the platens.
Where are slip sheets used?
- Container exports, where pallet height and weight cost space; one reference cites 12–15% more product per container
- High-volume beverage, food and consumer goods lanes
- Customers who pay to dispose of pallets
Pros and limits
| Pros | Limits |
|---|---|
| Very light; one source says about 20 times lighter than a wood pallet | Needs push-pull attachments at both ends |
| Saves several inches of height per load | Less support for the load: goods must be stable |
| Cheap per unit | Drivers need push-pull equipment and training |
| ISPM 15 exempt | Not rackable; floor or container use only |
| Takes little storage space | Tabs tear if caliper is too thin for the load |
Capacity and weight
A slip sheet has no load rating in the pallet sense, because the floor or container supports the load. What matters is whether the tab and sheet survive the pull: heavier loads need thicker caliper and stronger material. Fiber sheets weigh roughly 1–5 lb (0.5–2.3 kg). The load itself must be stable enough (interlocked, wrapped) to travel without a rigid base. See unit load design.
Slip sheet vs pallet
| Slip sheet | Pallet | |
|---|---|---|
| Height added to the load | A fraction of an inch | about 4-3/4 to 6 in (121–152 mm) for a wooden 48 × 40 |
| Weight | about 1–5 lb | about 30–70 lb for wood |
| Handling equipment | Push-pull attachment | Standard forks or pallet jack |
| Racking | No | Yes |
| Return logistics | Usually none | Often |
See pallet vs slip sheet for the full comparison.
ISPM 15
Exempt. Fiber and plastic slip sheets are not wood packaging under ISPM 15.
What drives the cost?
- Material (corrugated, solid fiber, plastic)
- Caliper and size
- Number of tabs and scoring
- Coatings: moisture resistance or high-friction surfaces
- Quantity: typically bought in thousands
Specifying a slip sheet for a quote
- Load area (L × W) and tab layout: which sides, and depth of each tab
- Material and caliper
- Scored tabs, yes or no
- Coating: none, moisture resistant, high friction
- Load weight and stability
- Environment: humidity, cold storage
- Reuse or one-way
- Quantity and delivery location
Related: pallet vs slip sheet, tier sheet, paper pallet, pallets per container. The slip sheet template draws the flat pattern with tabs; open it in the designer.
Drawing and parts listEdit in the design app
Slip sheet for a 48×40 load template, generated from the model. Every dimension is editable.
Pallet
- Type
- Slip sheet
- Footprint
- 48.00 × 40.00 in
- Overall height
- 0.06 in
- Classification
- 48.00 x 40.00 load area, Slip Sheet, Solid Fiber, 0.060 in caliper, 1-Tab (A)
Construction
- Material
- Solid Fiber
- Caliper
- 0.06 in
- Load area
- 48.00 × 40.00 in
- Tabs
- A 4.00 in (4)
- Scored
- Yes
- Coating
- None
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
What is a slip sheet used for?
To ship a unit load without a pallet. It saves the pallet's weight and height, so more product fits in a container or trailer, and removes the cost of buying and returning pallets.
What equipment do you need for slip sheets?
A lift truck with a push-pull attachment, which grips the slip sheet's tab and pulls the load onto wide, thin platens. The receiving site needs the same equipment or must transfer the load onto a pallet.
What size slip sheet do I need for a 48 × 40 load?
The load area plus tabs. For a 40 × 48 in load, common sheets are 43 × 51 or 44 × 52 in, with 3–4 in tabs. Some sources recommend 4–6 in tabs.
What is the difference between a slip sheet and a tier sheet?
A slip sheet goes under the whole load and has tabs for push-pull handling. A tier sheet (layer pad) goes between layers of product to stabilise them and has no tabs.
How thick is a slip sheet?
Fiber slip sheets are commonly about 0.040–0.125 in (1.0–3.2 mm) thick. Heavier loads need thicker sheets, often 0.060–0.125 in.
Related
- ComparisonsPallet vs slip sheet: cost, cube and handling comparedChoose a slip sheet when you ship high volumes in containers or trucks, both ends have push-pull forklift attachments, and saving weight, cube and pallet cost matters. Choose a pallet when the receiver handles with standard forks or pallet jacks, loads are racked, or handling equipment is unknown.
- GlossaryPush-pull attachmentA push-pull attachment is a forklift attachment that grips the tab (lip) of a slip sheet, pulls the load onto wide platens, and pushes it off at the destination. It lets unit loads be handled on slip sheets instead of pallets.
- GlossaryTier sheetA tier sheet (layer pad) is a flat sheet of corrugated board, solid fiber or plastic placed between layers of a unit load, or on the pallet deck, to spread weight, bridge deck gaps and stabilize the layers. It is not lifted by equipment.
- 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.
- GuidesHow many pallets fit in a 20 ft and 40 ft container?A 20 ft container fits 11 EUR pallets (1200 × 800 mm), 9 pallets of 1200 × 1000 mm and 9 to 10 US 48 × 40 pallets on the floor. A 40 ft or 40 ft high cube fits 23 to 25 EUR, 20 to 22 of 1200 × 1000 mm and 20 to 21 of 48 × 40. The inside width of 2.35 m (92.6 in) is what limits most layouts.
- 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.
- 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.
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.
- 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. 782 words.