Industries
Pallets for paper and printing
Reviewed
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.
Common pallet sizes
| Size | Metric | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| 48 x 36 in | 1219 x 914 mm | Cased and bundled paper; also beverage and shingles |
| 48 x 40 in | 1219 x 1016 mm | Office paper and printed goods into retail distribution |
| 42 x 42 in, 48 x 48 in | 1067, 1219 mm square | Rolls shipped on end, square skids of sheets |
| 60 x 48 in | 1524 x 1219 mm | Large-format sheets and board |
Sheet paper for printing often ships on pallets sized to the sheet, so custom footprints are common. Size the pallet so the stack does not overhang the edge: overhanging paper gets crushed and damaged by forks. See load overhang.
Construction and spec notes
Why paper is a demanding load
- Weight. Paper is dense, and a full stack of sheets or cases is heavy for its height.
- Flat, rigid base. A stack of sheets bridges nothing: any sag or gap in the top deck shows up as a wave or a mark in the bottom sheets. Paper pallets are often built with high deck coverage or a solid deck, with thick, flat boards and no raised nail heads.
- Moisture. Paper absorbs moisture from wet wood and from humid air, which can cause curl and dimensional change. Dry lumber is the usual answer.
Rolls
Paper rolls are shipped either on end or on their side. On end, the roll bears on a circular footprint, so the deck under the rim must be continuous enough to support it. On their side, rolls need cradles or chocks to stop them rolling. Wing pallets are a classic choice for rolls and other loads lifted with bar slings, because the slings hook under the overhanging top deck.
Deck, stringers and fasteners
- More top boards with narrow gaps, or a solid deck, for sheet stacks
- 3/4 in or thicker deckboards for heavy stacks, to limit deflection between stringers
- 4 or more stringers, or a block design, for large sheet sizes
- Nails set flush or countersunk so they cannot mark the paper; the Uniform Standard does not allow shiners (nail points showing) on exposed faces
Moisture content and cleanliness
Specify kiln-dried lumber, and a moisture target (for example 19% or lower). Green lumber releases water as it dries and can raise humidity inside a wrapped load or a closed trailer. Also specify clean lumber with no bark, mold or stains, since paper shows contamination. See moisture content.
Racking and stacking
Paper is often floor-stacked in warehouses and racked in distribution. State the stack height and rack span. Capacity from palletdesign.ai's beam check is indicative; confirm with a PDS analysis or a test to ASTM D1185 or ISO 8611.
What to put in the RFQ
- Sheet or case size, stack height and maximum load
- Footprint, sized to the product with no overhang
- Deck coverage: solid deck or maximum gap
- Deck thickness, number of stringers, flatness requirement
- Nail type and a no-shiners requirement
- Lumber moisture content target and cleanliness
- For rolls: on end or on side, roll diameter and weight, sling lifting
- Storage: floor stacking height, racking span
The pallet RFQ guide covers the commercial fields.
Questions
- What size pallet is used for paper?
- 48 x 36 in (1219 x 914 mm) is the size commonly listed for paper, with 48 x 40 in for retail shipments. Printing paper often ships on custom pallets sized to the sheet.
- Why do paper pallets need a solid deck?
- Gaps and sagging boards leave marks and waves in the bottom sheets of a stack. A solid deck or narrow gaps with thick boards give a flat, continuous base.
- Should pallets for paper be kiln dried?
- Yes, usually. Paper absorbs moisture, and green lumber releases water as it dries, which can cause curl or mold in a wrapped load.