Four-way pallet: partial vs full 4-way entry
A four-way pallet can be entered by forklift from all four sides. Notched stringer pallets are partial 4-way (forklifts from all sides, pallet jacks from the two ends only); block pallets are full 4-way, and with a suitable bottom deck pallet jacks can enter from the sides too.
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What is a four-way pallet?
Entry style is one of the classification fields in the Uniform Standard and the Pallet Design System, with three values: 2-Way, Partial 4-Way and Full 4-Way. "Four-way pallet" covers the last two, and the difference matters when the buyer uses pallet jacks.
| Entry style | How it's built | Forklift | Pallet jack |
|---|---|---|---|
| Two-way | Unnotched stringers | 2 ends | 2 ends |
| Partial 4-way | Notched stringers, or a block pallet with an overlapping bottom | All 4 sides | 2 ends |
| Full 4-way | Block pallet with a perimeter, unidirectional or cutout bottom | All 4 sides | Depends on the bottom deck |
How a partial 4-way pallet is built
The GMA pallet is the textbook example. Each of its three 1-3/8 x 3-1/2 x 48 in stringers has two notches: 9 in long, 1-1/4 in deep, starting 6 in from each end, with a 3/4 in corner radius. The bottom deck's three interior boards are clustered in the middle so they stay clear of the notches, which leaves a 9-1/2 in opening at each notch on the 48 x 40.
Forklift tines slide into the notches from the 48 in sides. A pallet jack can't, because its wheels would have to roll over the bottom lead boards and interior boards on those sides. The Uniform Standard recommends notches about 9 in long with about 2 in of opening height to the top of the notch, a radius between 1/2 and 1-1/2 in, and no square corners.
How a full 4-way pallet is built
A block pallet carries its deck on nine blocks, so there is a clear opening between blocks on every side. Whether a pallet jack can use a side opening depends on the base:
- Unidirectional base: bottom boards run one way only, so jack wheels can drop to the floor between them from the other direction.
- Perimeter base: boards frame all four edges. The jack wheels must find openings in the frame; palletdesign.ai flags this when side jack entry is required.
- Cruciform base: a perimeter plus center boards in both directions.
When to use a four-way pallet
- Warehouses where forklifts approach from whichever side faces the aisle.
- Trailer and container loading that turns pallets to fit the floor.
- Retail and pooled programs: pooled 48 x 40 pallets in North America are block pallets.
- Pallet-jack handling from the sides: only a full 4-way design with a suitable base.
When not to use one
- Heavy rack loads on a stringer pallet, where every notch reduces the stringer depth. A 3-1/2 in stringer with a 1-1/4 in notch has 2-1/4 in left at the notch.
- Reversible stringer pallets, whose full bottom deck covers the notch zones.
- Low-cost one-way loads always forked from the ends.
Partial 4-way vs full 4-way
| Partial 4-way (notched stringer) | Full 4-way (block) | |
|---|---|---|
| Parts | Stringers, deckboards | Blocks, stringerboards, deckboards |
| Pallet jack from sides | No | Yes with a unidirectional base |
| Cost | Lower | Higher |
| Typical sizes | 48 x 40 stringer, 42 x 42 | 48 x 40 block, 1200 x 800 |
How to specify four-way entry
- Say which: partial 4-way or full 4-way. "4-way" alone is ambiguous.
- For notched stringers: notch length, depth, distance from each end and corner radius.
- For block pallets: block size and spacing, and the bottom style.
- The handling equipment: forklift tine width and length, pallet jack, which sides.
- Load and rack direction, since notches affect the stringer's bending section.
palletdesign.ai treats "4-way" on a stringer design as a request for notches, dimensions them on the side view, and reports partial 4-way in the classification. See pallet jack compatibility for wheel-opening details.
Questions
- What is the difference between partial and full 4-way pallets?
- Both take forklifts from all four sides. Partial 4-way (notched stringers) takes pallet jacks from only two ends; full 4-way (block) pallets can take pallet jacks from the sides when the bottom deck leaves room for the wheels.
- Is a GMA pallet 4-way?
- It is partial 4-way. Its notched stringers let forklifts enter the 48 in sides, but pallet jacks enter only from the 40 in ends.
- How deep are pallet notches?
- A common notch is 9 in long and about 1-1/4 in deep in a 3-1/2 in stringer, giving roughly 2 in of opening height with a 5/8 in bottom deck.
Related
- Two-way pallet: fork entry from two endsA two-way pallet takes forks and pallet jacks from two opposite ends only, usually an unnotched stringer pallet. When 2-way entry is enough, and specs.
- Block pallet: how it's built and when it beats a stringer palletA block pallet rests on 9 blocks joined by stringerboards, giving full 4-way fork entry. See how it is built, when to use it and what a quote needs.
- Notched stringers: dimensions, rules and strengthNotched stringers give a stringer pallet partial 4-way entry. Typical notch: 9 in long, 1-1/4 in deep, 6 in from each end, with a 1/2 to 1-1/2 in radius.
- Pallet jack compatibility: which pallets work with a pallet jackPallet jack compatibility: stringer pallets take jacks from the ends only, even when notched; block pallets allow more faces, set by the bottom deck.
- Full four-way entryFull four-way entry means forklifts and pallet jacks can both enter from all four sides. Block pallets with perimeter or cruciform bases are full four-way.
- Perimeter base pallet: a block pallet with a framed bottomA perimeter base pallet is a block pallet whose bottom boards frame all four edges. How it compares with unidirectional and cruciform bases, and specs.