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Pallets by industry

Each industry settles on a few footprints and a few rules. These pages collect the sizes, construction notes and buyer requirements for each one.

14 pages

Pallets for the grocery industry
The grocery industry runs on the 48 x 40 in (1219 x 1016 mm) pallet, either a GMA-style stringer pallet (3 notched stringers, 7 top and 5 bottom deckboards, 4.75 in tall) or a pooled 48 x 40 block pallet. It is the most common US footprint, often cited at about 30% of new wood pallets.
Pallets for the beverage industry
Beverage pallets carry dense, heavy loads of bottles and cans, so they are built with thicker decks, tighter gaps and often 4 stringers. Besides the 48 x 40 in grocery footprint, the sizes commonly tied to beverage are 48 x 42, 36 x 36 and 48 x 36 in.
Pallets for the chemical industry
Chemical pallets are sized to drums, bags and IBCs: 48 x 48 in (1219 x 1219 mm) carries four 55-gallon drums, and 48 x 42 and 44 x 44 in are also common in North America. In Europe the chemical and plastics industry uses the CP1 to CP9 block pallets, such as CP1 at 1000 x 1200 mm and CP3 at 1140 x 1140 mm.
Pallets for paint and coatings
The paint and coatings industry commonly uses the 42 x 42 in (1067 x 1067 mm) square pallet, a size listed in both ISO 6780 and ANSI MH1, plus 48 x 48 in for drums. Paint loads are cases of cans and stacks of pails, so the spec should focus on deck coverage, gap size and weight.
Pallets for the automotive industry
The footprint most associated with automotive parts is 48 x 45 in (1219 x 1143 mm), a size also used under bulk bins and gaylords; 48 x 40 in is used for aftermarket and retail shipments. Automotive loads are heavy, often concentrated, and move in closed loops, so durability and a clear spec matter more than lowest price.
Pallets for the dairy industry
The footprint most associated with dairy is the 40 x 40 in (1016 x 1016 mm) square pallet, with 48 x 40 in used for shipments into grocery distribution. Dairy pallets live in coolers and wet processing areas, so the spec should cover moisture, mold risk and cleanliness as well as load.
Pallets for building materials
Building materials use heavy-duty pallets sized to the product: 40 x 48 in (1016 x 1219 mm) is associated with bagged cement, 48 x 36 in with shingles, and long pallets such as 96 x 48 in with 4 x 8 ft sheet goods. Wing pallets are a classic choice for bagged cement and loads lifted with bar slings.
Pallets for paper and printing
Paper is dense, heavy and sensitive to moisture, so paper and printing pallets need high deck coverage and dry lumber. The footprint commonly listed for paper is 48 x 36 in (1219 x 914 mm), with 48 x 40 in for shipments into retail and wing pallets for paper rolls lifted by slings.
Pallets for the telecom industry
The footprint most associated with telecom is the 42 x 42 in (1067 x 1067 mm) square pallet, one of the six sizes in ISO 6780. Telecom loads are boxed equipment, cabinets and components, so the spec usually centers on load stability, clean dry lumber and entry, not maximum capacity.
Pallets and skids for machinery and equipment
Machinery and equipment usually ship on custom skids rather than standard pallets: a thick top deck on heavy runners (such as 3-1/2 x 3-1/2 in or larger), sized to the machine base, with bolt holes or tie-down points. The load is concentrated on the machine's feet or frame, so it must be described that way, not as a uniform load.
Pallets for retail distribution
Retail distribution centers are built around the 48 x 40 in (1219 x 1016 mm) pallet, in GMA-style stringer or pooled block construction. Large retailers publish pallet rules: Costco requires pooled block pallets, and The Home Depot requires a PDS analysis or ASTM D1185 test with at least 2,800 lb capacity.
Pallets for export shipping
A wood pallet used in international shipping must meet ISPM 15: debarked, treated (usually heat treated to a 56 °C core temperature for 30 minutes) and marked with the IPPC stamp. Size it to the destination's standard where you can: 48 x 40 in in North America, 1200 x 800 or 1200 x 1000 mm in Europe, 1100 x 1100 mm in Japan and Korea, 1165 x 1165 mm in Australia.
Pallets for military and government shipments
The footprint most associated with military shipments is 40 x 48 in (1016 x 1219 mm), with stringers running the 40 in direction. Military and government pallets are usually built to a drawing or specification named in the contract, so the job is spec control: build exactly what the document says, at its current revision, with the required treatment, marking and inspection records.
Pallets for the pharmaceutical industry
Pharmaceutical shipments use the standard footprints of each market (48 x 40 in in North America, 1200 x 1000 and 1200 x 800 mm in Europe), but they demand cleaner pallets: kiln-dried, bark-free, mold-free wood, or hygienic plastic or metal pallets in controlled areas. The spec should cover cleanliness, moisture, treatment and change control as carefully as load.

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