Selecting the right pallet might seem straightforward, but the wrong choice can lead to product damage, shipping delays, and unnecessary costs. Here's your complete guide to choosing pallets that work for your business.
Understanding Your Load Requirements
The most critical factor in pallet selection is understanding your load requirements:
- Static load: Weight when stationary (on floor or in racking)
- Dynamic load: Weight during movement (on forklifts or pallet jacks)
- Racking load: Weight when supported only at the edges
Always select pallets rated above your maximum load to ensure safety margins.
Standard Pallet Sizes
While custom sizes are available, standard dimensions offer the best availability and pricing:
If none of the standard footprints below suit the product, our custom size pallets are built to your dimensions instead, and that page sets out what to send us for a quote.
- GMA/Grocery (48" x 40"): Most common in North America
- Drum (48" x 48"): Ideal for drums and bulk containers
- Automotive (48" x 45"): Standard in automotive supply chains
- Chemical (42" x 42"): Common in chemical and paint industries
Entry Point Considerations
Pallets come with different entry configurations:
- 4-way entry: Forklifts can access from all four sides
- 2-way entry: Access only from two sides (front and back)
For maximum warehouse flexibility, 4-way entry pallets are generally preferred, even though they cost slightly more.
Wood Type Selection
The type of wood affects durability, weight, and cost:
- Hardwood: More durable, higher load capacity, heavier
- Softwood: Lighter weight, lower cost, good for lighter loads
- Combo/Mixed: Balance of strength and cost-effectiveness
Heat Treatment
Heat treatment is a process, not a document. A heat treated pallet has been held at 56°C for 30 minutes minimum measured at the core of the wood, and that is the whole of what the term describes.
Whether a particular pallet also carries a mark is a separate question with a separate answer, and this page is not the place either of them gets answered. Treatment and marking are not the same thing, and we do not publish what our stock carries.
What we hold, and what to send us when you order it, is on our heat treated pallets page.
If you're shipping internationally, tell us before you order and we will confirm exactly what the stock carries.
New vs. Recycled Pallets
Both options have their place:
- New pallets: Consistent quality, ideal for automated systems
- Recycled pallets: Cost-effective, environmentally friendly
Many businesses use new pallets for customer-facing shipments and recycled pallets for internal operations.
Get Expert Advice
Still unsure which pallet is right for your application? Contact our team at Grunge Pallets. With decades of experience serving Metro Atlanta businesses, we can recommend the perfect solution for your specific needs.