◆ Know your decks from your stringers
Types of pallets, decoded.
Stringer or block? GMA or custom? 2-way or 4-way? Pick the wrong one and you either overpay or you can't get a forklift in. Here's the plain-English breakdown of every wooden pallet type we stock and remanufacture.
Not sure which type fits your load? Send us the weight and equipment — we'll spec it.
Ask us to spec a pallet
1-min quote● Answer first
The two families: stringer & block
Nearly every wooden pallet is one of two designs. Stringer pallets use long boards (stringers) as the support members. Block pallets use solid blocks as spacers. That single difference drives strength, forklift access, and price.
Stringer pallets
Three (sometimes more) parallel stringers run the length of the pallet, sandwiched between top and bottom deck boards. Cheap to build, light to ship, easy to repair. The classic 48×40 GMA grocery pallet is a stringer pallet.
- ◆ Naturally 2-way entry; notch the stringers for partial 4-way.
- ◆ Lower cost, lighter tare weight.
- ◆ Simple to repair — swap a cracked stringer or deck board.
- ◆ Best for standard, moderate loads and one-to-a-few trips.
Block pallets
Nine solid blocks (corners, mid-sides, center) act as spacers between the decks, joined by top and bottom lead boards plus stringer boards. True 4-way entry, higher capacity, better for automated and racking environments. CHEP/PECO rental pallets are block pallets.
- ◆ True 4-way entry — forks in from all four sides.
- ◆ Higher static, dynamic and racking capacity.
- ◆ Better dimensional consistency for conveyors & AS/RS.
- ◆ Costlier, heavier — earns its keep in reuse-heavy loops.
→ Head to head
Stringer vs block, side by side
The trade-offs that actually matter when you're choosing.
| Attribute | Stringer pallet | Block pallet |
|---|---|---|
| Support members | 3+ long stringer boards | 9 solid blocks + lead boards |
| Forklift entry | 2-way (4-way if notched) | True 4-way |
| Pallet-jack access | Two sides (ends) | All four sides |
| Relative strength | Good | Higher — stiffer under load |
| Typical tare weight | Lighter (~30–40 lb) | Heavier (~45–70 lb) |
| Relative cost | Lower | Higher |
| Repairability | Very easy | Easy but more parts |
| Best for | General shipping, one-way & short loops | Racking, automation, reuse pools, export |
Weights are directional and vary with wood species, moisture and board thickness. See real dimensions on the size chart.
◆ The famous footprint
GMA & CHEP-style pallets
When people say 'standard pallet' in North America, they almost always mean one of these.
GMA (48×40 grocery)
Standardized by the Grocery Manufacturers Association, the 48×40-inch stringer pallet is the default of the U.S. consumer-goods supply chain. It fits standard racking, trailers and floor-loading patterns. If you just need "pallets," this is almost certainly the one — and it's our highest-volume stock.
Full dimensions and load ratings live on the size chart.
CHEP / PECO-style
CHEP (blue) and PECO (red) run pooled rental block pallets on the same 48×40 footprint. They're rented, not owned, and must be returned to the pool — using them for one-way outbound shipping gets expensive. When you want that 4-way strength without the rental pool, we supply equivalent block or reinforced stringer pallets you actually own.
→ Entry & access
2-way vs 4-way entry
How many sides a forklift or pallet jack can enter is one of the most practical specs — and the easiest to get wrong.
2-way
Solid stringers block the sides, so forks enter only from the two ends. Fine when handling direction is consistent — lowest cost.
Partial 4-way (notched)
Notches cut into the stringers let a pallet jack in from all sides and full forks from two. The common compromise on GMA stringer pallets.
True 4-way
Block construction leaves full openings on all four sides. Best for tight docks, automation and any operation where handling direction varies.
◆ Deck configurations
The deck boards define the pallet
How the top and bottom boards are arranged changes strength, weight and how well loads sit flat.
Flush deck
Deck boards end flush with the stringers — clean edges, easy to band and stack. The default look.
Wing (overhang) deck
Top deck boards extend past the stringers, creating 'wings.' Adds surface for banding and hooks, but wings can catch and break.
Single-face
Deck boards on top only, no bottom deck. Light and cheap — think display 'skids' — but weaker and worse for racking.
Double-face
Decks top and bottom. Stronger, spreads load, protects goods when stacked. Most shipping pallets are double-face.
Non-reversible
Bottom deck has fewer/spaced boards; only the top surface is meant to carry the load. The standard double-face build.
Reversible
Identical top and bottom decks — flip it either way and it still works. Handy when orientation can't be controlled.
★ Wood species
Softwood vs hardwood
Species isn't branding — it's a load and lifespan decision. We sort and remanufacture both, and nail the right one to your job.
Softwood (SPF: pine, spruce, fir)
Lighter, cheaper, easy to nail and repair. The bulk of everyday shipping pallets. Great for moderate loads and single-to-short loops.
Hardwood (oak, poplar, mixed)
Heavier and stronger — better for heavy loads, sharp point loads, and reuse-heavy loops where the pallet takes a beating trip after trip.
→ How to choose
Trade-offs, in one breath
Match the pallet to the job, not the other way around.
Pick a stringer pallet when…
- ◆ You're shipping standard 48×40 loads.
- ◆ Cost and tare weight matter.
- ◆ Handling direction is predictable.
- ◆ Pallets go one-way or through short loops.
Pick a block pallet when…
- ◆ You're racking, conveying or automating.
- ◆ Loads are heavy or awkward.
- ◆ True 4-way access is a must at the dock.
- ◆ Pallets cycle through a long reuse pool.
? Common questions
Pallet types FAQ
What is the difference between a stringer and a block pallet?
A stringer pallet uses three or more parallel boards (stringers) running the length of the pallet to support the deck. A block pallet uses solid blocks — usually nine — as spacers, which lets forks enter from all four sides. Block pallets are sturdier and true 4-way; stringer pallets are cheaper and lighter.
What is a GMA pallet?
A GMA pallet is the 48x40-inch stringer pallet standardized by the Grocery Manufacturers Association for the grocery and consumer-goods supply chain. It's the most common pallet in North America and our workhorse stock size.
Is a CHEP pallet the same as a block pallet?
CHEP and PECO run blue and red rental block pallets. They're a specific pooled-rental block design — you don't buy them outright. When customers want that footprint and 4-way strength without the rental pool, we supply equivalent block or reinforced stringer pallets.
What is 2-way vs 4-way entry?
It describes how many sides a forklift can enter. True 4-way pallets (block, or notched stringers) accept forks from all four sides. 2-way pallets only accept forks from the two ends. Partial 4-way (notched stringer) allows full forks from two sides and a pallet jack from the others.
Softwood or hardwood pallets — which is better?
Softwood (pine, spruce, fir) is lighter, cheaper and easy to repair — great for most shipping. Hardwood (oak, poplar, mixed) is heavier and stronger, better for high load weights or reuse-heavy loops. We stock both; the right pick depends on load weight and how many trips the pallet needs to survive.
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