Two-way pallet: what it is and when it is the right choice
A two-way pallet is a pallet that forklifts and pallet jacks can enter from only two opposite sides. Most are stringer pallets with solid (unnotched) stringers, so the forks go in between the stringers at the ends. They are cheaper and keep full stringer strength, but they cost handling flexibility.
"Two-way" describes access, not construction. It tells the warehouse which sides of the pallet a forklift or pallet jack can use. Most two-way pallets are simple stringer pallets, and they remain common where pallets always move the same way.
What is a two-way pallet?
A two-way pallet accepts forks from two opposite sides only. On a stringer pallet with solid stringers, the openings are the gaps between the stringers at each end. The other two sides are closed by the outer stringers. The glossary entry is two-way entry.
How is a two-way pallet built?
A typical two-way pallet is a 3-stringer pallet with unnotched stringers.
| Component | Typical 48 × 40 in build | Metric |
|---|---|---|
| Stringers | 3, 1-3/8 to 1-1/2 × 3-1/2 × 48 in, no notches | 35–38 × 89 × 1219 mm |
| Top deckboards | 7, 5/8 × 3-1/2 and 5-1/2 × 40 in | 16 × 89 and 140 × 1016 mm |
| Bottom deckboards | 3–5, often spaced evenly | 3–5 |
| Opening height | stringer height, about 3-1/2 in | about 89 mm |
| Opening width | clear bay between stringers, about 17-7/8 in | about 454 mm |
The opening width comes from the stringer spacing: (40 − 3 × 1.375) / 2 ≈ 17.9 in (455 mm) for three 1-3/8 in stringers. Standard forklift tines fit comfortably. Pallet jacks need the bottom deck to leave room for their wheels near the entry face.
Other two-way designs include skids (runners without a bottom deck), heavy machinery bases on 4 × 4 or 4 × 6 runners, and some plastic pallets with continuous runners.
Where are two-way pallets used?
- Closed-loop and in-plant handling where pallets always move in one direction
- Heavy loads that need full-depth stringers, such as machinery, metal and drums
- Racking where the pallet is always placed with stringers spanning the beams
- Custom and long pallets (for example 96 in or longer) where notching adds little
Pros and limits
| Pros | Limits |
|---|---|
| Cheapest to build (no notching) | Forks from two sides only |
| Full stringer depth, stiffer when racked across the length | Must be oriented correctly at every handoff |
| Fewer weak points for fork damage | Less flexible in trailers and cross-docks |
| Good for heavy concentrated loads | Some customers and retailers require 4-way |
Capacity and weight
Weight is the same as a notched pallet of the same design, typically 30–70 lb (14–32 kg) for a 48 × 40 in. Removing the notches keeps the stringer's full section, which helps racked capacity across the length. The actual rating depends on species, sizes and support condition, and the manufacturer's analysis is authoritative. See pallet load capacity.
When is two-way the better choice?
Pick two-way over four-way when:
- The pallet always enters the same way, for example on a production line, a conveyor or in a closed loop
- The load is heavy enough that full-depth stringers matter more than side access
- The pallet will be racked with its stringers spanning the beams
- The pallet is long (96 in, 2438 mm, or more) and side entry would need very wide fork spreads anyway
- Cost matters more than handling flexibility
Pick four-way when trailers are loaded from the side, when pallets pass through cross-docks and retailers, or when pallet jacks must enter from the long side. See four-way pallet.
ISPM 15
A two-way wooden pallet needs heat treatment and an ISPM 15 mark for most export. Plastic and metal two-way pallets are exempt.
What drives the cost?
- Board feet of lumber (species, thickness, stringer size)
- No notching step, so slightly cheaper than partial 4-way
- Heat treatment
- Volume and freight
Specifying a two-way pallet for a quote
- Length × width, stringer length first
- Entry: 2-way from the ends (no notches)
- Stringers: count, size, species
- Top and bottom deckboards: count, thickness, widths
- Minimum opening height and width if your equipment needs it
- Load, support condition and stacking
- ISPM 15 HT
- Quantity and delivery location
Related: four-way pallet and two-way vs four-way. You can open the GMA template in the designer and turn notches off to make it two-way.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a 2-way and a 4-way pallet?
A 2-way pallet takes forks from two opposite sides only. A 4-way pallet takes forks from all four sides, either partially (forklifts only, through stringer notches) or fully (forklifts and pallet jacks, on block pallets).
Is a 2-way pallet stronger than a 4-way pallet?
A 2-way stringer pallet keeps the full depth of its stringers, so it is usually stiffer when racked across its length than the same pallet with notches. Overall strength still depends on the whole design.
Can you convert a 2-way pallet to 4-way?
A pallet shop can notch the stringers at manufacture, which makes it partial 4-way. Cutting notches into existing pallets is not recommended because the bottom deckboards usually block the notch area.
Which way do forks go into a 2-way stringer pallet?
Into the ends, parallel to the stringers. On a 48 × 40 in pallet that means entering the 40 in faces.
Related
- TypesFour-way pallet: partial vs true 4-way entry explainedA four-way pallet can be entered from all four sides. A partial 4-way pallet is a stringer pallet with notched stringers: forklifts enter all four sides, but pallet jacks only the two ends. A true (full) 4-way pallet is usually a block pallet, which forklifts and pallet jacks can enter from every side.
- ComparisonsTwo-way vs four-way pallets: entry types explainedA two-way pallet takes forks from two opposite ends only. A four-way pallet takes forks from all four sides; partial four-way (notched stringers) admits forklifts but not pallet jacks from the sides. Choose two-way for low cost and fixed flows, four-way for flexible handling and trailer loading.
- GlossaryTwo-way entry (pallet)Two-way entry means forks and pallet jacks can enter a pallet from two opposite ends only. Unnotched stringer pallets and most skids are two-way.
- TypesStringer pallet: construction, dimensions and when to use oneA stringer pallet is a wooden pallet whose deckboards are nailed across two or more continuous beams called stringers, usually three on a 48 × 40 in pallet. It is 2-way entry, or partial 4-way when the stringers are notched. It is the most common and cheapest pallet design in North America.
- GlossaryFork entry (pallet)Fork entry is the set of sides from which forklift tines or pallet-jack forks can enter a pallet. Pallets are classed as 2-way, partial 4-way or full 4-way entry.
- GlossaryOpening (pallet fork opening)An opening is the clear space between the decks and between stringers or blocks that fork tines or pallet-jack forks enter. It is described by its width and its height.
- TypesSkid: what it is, how it differs from a pallet, and how to spec oneStrictly, a skid is a pallet with no bottom deck: a top deck fastened to runners, often 3-1/2 × 3-1/2 in (a nominal 4 × 4). Skids carry machinery, crates and heavy loads that are dragged or bolted down. In everyday freight speech, especially in Canada and LTL shipping, skid often just means pallet.
More in Construction styles
- TypesSingle-face pallet: construction, uses and limitsA single-face pallet has only one deck: deckboards on top of the stringers or runners and nothing underneath. It is lighter and cheaper than a double-face pallet and suits one-way loads, machinery and crate bases, but it spreads load poorly onto the floor or the pallet below and is weak in racking across its width.
- TypesDouble-face pallet: construction, reversible vs non-reversibleA double-face pallet has a top deck and a bottom deck. Most are non-reversible: the bottom deck has fewer boards and only the top carries product. A reversible double-face pallet has two identical load-bearing decks. The bottom deck spreads load onto the floor or the load below and stiffens the pallet in racking.
- TypesReversible pallet: two identical decks, uses and trade-offsA reversible pallet is a double-face pallet whose top and bottom decks are identical, so it can be loaded on either side. Flipping it spreads wear over two decks and removes the need to orient it. The trade-off is weight, cost and poor pallet-jack access, because the full bottom deck leaves no room for jack wheels.
- TypesFlush pallet: deckboards flush with the stringersA flush pallet is a pallet whose deckboards end exactly at the outside faces of the outer stringers or stringerboards, with no overhang. Almost all standard pallets, including GMA and EUR pallets, are flush. The alternative is a winged pallet, whose deckboards extend past the stringers.
- TypesWinged pallet: single-wing and double-wing constructionA winged pallet is a stringer pallet whose deckboards extend past the outer stringers, typically by 1 to 4 in (25–100 mm). On a single-wing pallet only the top deck overhangs; on a double-wing pallet both decks do. Wings give a larger deck, a grip edge for straps and room for bar slings to lift the load.
Last reviewed 2026-09-24. 731 words.