Home › Answers › What Is the Difference Between a Stringer and a Block Pallet?

What Is the Difference Between a Stringer and a Block Pallet?

By United States Pallets Editorial Team · Reviewed by industry operators · Last updated: June 23, 2026

By Mark Gabrielli, Pallet Industry Specialist — Updated 2026

Stringer pallets use 3 long parallel boards (stringers) supporting the deck; block pallets use 9 short wood blocks at corners and midpoints supporting the deck.

Resource: Answer

Get a Price →

Quick Answer: Stringer pallets use 3 long parallel boards (stringers) supporting the deck; block pallets use 9 short wood blocks at corners and midpoints supporting the deck.

Recycled pallet yard with large warehouse stock

Detailed Answer

Stringer: lower cost ($11-18 new), 2-way or 4-way notched entry, dominant in US grocery/retail. Block: higher cost ($18-28 new), true 4-way entry, preferred for AGV/AS-RS automation, EUR pallet standard.

Sources

NWPCA Uniform Standard
EUR/EPAL spec

Companion Resources

What documentation accompanies pallet answer loads?

BOL, packing list, grade certifications standard. Heat-treated loads add IPPC stamps and ISPM-15 documentation. Pharma-grade loads add batch records. Food-grade loads add FSMA Sanitary Transportation Rule certifications. All documentation ships electronically before delivery.

Does United States Pallets buy back used pallets in national?

Yes. We buy back used pallets from national collectors, recyclers, and warehouses - 250-pallet minimum per load, single-size only (no mixed-size loads). Fast ACH payment, typically same-day or net-7 depending on volume. Pickup arranged on standard outbound delivery routes.

How does United States Pallets compare to United States-based local pallet suppliers?

Local United States suppliers offer geographic proximity. United States Pallets offers nationwide sourcing depth, multi-grade inventory always in stock, sub-2-business-hour quote response, audit-ready documentation, and standing-order automation that local yards typically don't match.

Can United States Pallets handle pallet answer for high-volume national operations?

Yes. Standing-order programs for national operations running 500+ pallets/week lock in tiered pricing, reserve delivery slots, and run on autopilot in the background. Custom contract terms available for accounts running 2,000+/week.

What credit terms does United States Pallets offer national customers?

Net-30 credit terms standard after the first 1-3 prepaid or COD loads while credit is being established. Submit a credit application with three trade references; approval typically processes within 48 hours. Volume accounts can negotiate net-45 or net-60.

Operational details for Florida

Compliance specification

Kiln-dried hardwood meets NWPCA Uniform Standard for Wood Pallets; moisture content verified <19% at dispatch, blade-cut deck boards, no visible bark.

Florida regulatory context

FL DEP solid-waste rules classify wood pallets as recyclable; our recycled pallet stream qualifies for the FL Recycling Business Assistance Center small-business grant program.

Florida Sales Tax Exemption Form DR-46NT applies to pallets purchased for resale or for use in manufacturing of tangible personal property; we provide the form with every commercial invoice.

Pallet specification detail

Standard 48x40 GMA pallets feature 5/8 inch deck boards with a 4-board face pattern; bottom configuration is 3-board for four-way fork entry; nail pattern uses 2.5 inch screw-shank galvanized fasteners.

Custom 42x42 pallet builds use 7/8 inch deck boards for telecommunications-equipment loads; nail-pattern density doubled to handle 5,000 lb static load; runner spacing optimized for 4,000 lb-capacity narrow-aisle reach trucks.

Delivery and logistics

Live-load operations bring the trailer to your dock for a 90-minute window; loader/unloader provided; suited to customers without dedicated dock space or with intermittent volume.

Customer use case

Citrus packers in Indian River County require Florida-specific phytosanitary documentation per USDA Marketing Order 905; we provide the documentation on every load.

Pricing context

Delivery freight runs $250-450 per truckload (53-foot) within 75 miles of a yard; longer hauls priced at $2.50-3.50 per loaded mile; flatbed loads premium 10-15%.

Sustainability

Carbon footprint per delivered pallet (cradle-to-gate, including 75-mile delivery): new GMA ~21 kg CO2e; recycled Grade A ~7 kg CO2e; custom builds vary by spec.