Pallet sizes · 48 × 48
48 × 48 skid: drawing, specs and parts list
Reviewed
A standard 48 × 48 in skid has 7 top deckboards, 3/4 in thick, nailed to 4 runners 3-1/2 × 3-1/2 in, with no bottom deck. It stands 4-1/4 in tall, takes 64 nails and 23.46 board feet of lumber, and weighs about 103 lb in mixed hardwood, green. Entry: 2-way.
- All dimensions in inches, actual size.
- Nails per Uniform Standard Table 5: two per joint on boards up to 5-1/4 in, three up to 7-1/4 in.
- 2.5 in helical nails.
- Top gap 3.250 in, 59% deck coverage.
| 1 | 2 | Top lead board 3/4 × 5-1/2 × 48 |
| 2 | 5 | Top interior board 3/4 × 3-1/2 × 48 |
| 3 | 4 | Stringer 3-1/2 × 3-1/2 × 48 |
Generated by the palletdesign.ai engine from the standard design for this size. Your mill's build may differ; open it in the designer to change any part.
Specifications
| Size (L × W × H) | 48 × 48 × 4.25 in |
|---|---|
| Type | Stringer skid |
| Entry | 2-way |
| Pallet weight | ≈ 103 lb |
| Top deck | 7 boards, 3/4 in thick |
| Stringers | 4 × 3-1/2 × 3-1/2 in |
| Bottom deck | None (skid) |
| Lumber | Mixed hardwood |
| Fasteners | 64 × 2-1/2 in helical |
| Board feet | 23.46 |
| Est. cost | $21.79 (indicative) |
| Classification | 48 x 48 in, Stringer, Single-Face (Skid), Flush, 2-Way, Reusable |
Parts list and cut sizes
| Part | Qty | Cut size, in | Board feet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top lead board | 2 | 3/4 × 5-1/2 × 48 | 2.75 |
| Top interior board | 5 | 3/4 × 3-1/2 × 48 | 4.38 |
| Stringer | 4 | 3-1/2 × 3-1/2 × 48 | 16.33 |
| Total | 11 | 23.46 |
Boards are thickness × width × length; stringers and blocks are width × height × length. Actual sizes.
How it's built
The 7 top deckboards run across the 48 in width and are spaced along the 48 in stringers with 3-1/4 in gaps. The end (lead) boards are 5-1/2 in wide and the interior boards 3-1/2 in, all 3/4 in thick.
There is no bottom deck. The 4 runners (3-1/2 × 3-1/2 in) sit on the floor, so forks and pallet jacks enter from the two ends only: 2-way entry. Skids suit machinery and crate bases that are lifted and set down, not loads stacked on top of each other.
Nails follow the Uniform Standard for Wood Pallets minimum per joint by board width: 64 in the top deck, 64 in total, 2-1/2 in helical.
More on this construction: skid, deck board spacing and nail schedules.
Weight and cost by lumber species
| Species | Green | Kiln dried | Indicative cost (green) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mixed hardwood | 103 lb | 68 lb | $21.79 |
| Oak | 123 lb | 91 lb | $25.31 |
| Southern yellow pine | 104 lb | 80 lb | $22.96 |
| SPF | 76 lb | 54 lb | $24.13 |
| Douglas fir | 91 lb | 70 lb | $26.48 |
Same parts, different lumber: 23.46 board feet × pounds per board foot, nails included. Kiln dried is to 19% moisture. See moisture content.
Questions
- How much does a 48 × 48 skid weigh?
- About 103 lb (47 kg) in mixed hardwood, green. The same design ranges from about 54 lb in kiln-dried SPF to 123 lb in green oak.
- How many nails are in a 48 × 48 skid?
- 64: 64 in the top deck. That's the Uniform Standard minimum: two nails per joint on boards up to 5-1/4 in wide and three on wider boards. See the nail schedule guide.
- How many board feet are in a 48 × 48 skid?
- 23.46 board feet, from actual part sizes (thickness × width × length ÷ 144) with notches not deducted. Buy more than that to cover trim and kerf; see board feet.
- How tall is a 48 × 48 skid?
- 4-1/4 in overall (108 mm), from the floor to the top of the deck.
- How much does a 48 × 48 skid cost?
- The engine's indicative estimate is about $21.79 each for lumber, nails and labor at default lumber prices. Real quotes depend on your mill's lumber cost, volume and freight; see pallet cost.