Overhang
In pallet construction, overhang is the distance a deck extends beyond the outer stringers or stringerboards, forming a wing. It is recorded as a single dimension, with zero meaning a flush pallet. It is different from load overhang, where the product extends past the pallet edge.
Also called deck overhang, wing overhang
Reviewed
How overhang is specified
Deck overhang is measured from the outside face of the outer stringer (or stringerboard) to the end of the deckboard. It is stated per deck: a single-wing pallet has overhang on the top deck only, a double-wing pallet on both. The PDS spec sheet shows it in the "Wing" field, where 0.00 means flush.
No standard fixes a typical overhang value. It is chosen per design, for example to create room for crane sling bars under the top deck.
Deck overhang vs load overhang
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Deck overhang (wing) | the pallet's own deck sticks out past its supports |
| Load overhang | the product or cartons stick out past the pallet edges |
The first is a construction choice. The second is a unit-load problem that exposes carton edges and reduces their support.
Why it matters
Overhang changes how the deckboard ends are loaded and nailed, and bottom-deck overhang can block pallet-jack entry. When quoting, state the overhang in inches for each deck so the drawing and the price match.
Questions
- Is pallet overhang the same as a wing?
- Yes, for the pallet deck. The overhanging part of the deck is the wing, and the overhang is its dimension.
Related
- WingA wing is the part of a pallet deck that overhangs past the outer stringers. Single-wing pallets overhang on top only; double-wing on top and bottom.
- FlushA flush pallet has its deckboard ends even with the outer stringers or blocks, with no wing or overhang. Most GMA 48x40 and block pallets are flush.
- Load overhangLoad overhang is when product on a pallet extends past the pallet's edges. It leaves carton edges unsupported, cutting stacking strength and inviting damage.
- Winged pallet: overhanging decks for bags and slingsA winged pallet's deckboards overhang the outer stringers. Single-wing overhangs the top deck only; double-wing both. Used for bagged goods and sling lifting.
- Pallet jackA pallet jack is a wheeled hand or powered truck whose forks lift a pallet a few inches. Its wheels need openings in the bottom deck and chamfered lead boards.
- Panel deckA panel deck is a pallet deck of plywood or OSB instead of boards. The Uniform Standard requires face grain across the stringers and pieces 24 in wide or more.