A block pallet uses blocks, typically nine, at the corners, edge midpoints and center to support the deck, allowing four-way fork entry.
Detailed Definition
Block pallets use solid wood, laminated or composite blocks between the top and bottom decks instead of continuous stringers. The common layout is nine blocks: four corner blocks, four edge blocks and one center block, tied together by stringer boards under the top deck. Openings on every side let forklifts enter from all four directions, and the bottom deck layout decides where pallet jacks can enter. Block designs are widely used in Europe, where the EUR/EPAL 1200 x 800 mm pallet is the best known example, and in heavy-duty and pooled pallet applications.
How a block pallet is put together
A typical wood block pallet is built in layers. Top deck boards are nailed to stringer boards, sometimes called connector boards, which sit on the blocks. Below the blocks, bottom deck boards tie the base together. The bottom can be a perimeter base, with boards around all four edges, or a cross-board base with boards running in one direction only. Blocks may be solid wood, glued laminations or pressed wood composite, and each behaves differently when struck by forks or exposed to water.
Block versus stringer designs
A stringer pallet gives full entry from two ends and, with notched stringers, limited forklift entry from the sides. Pallet jacks cannot use those notches. A block pallet removes that limit for forklifts, which is why pooled pallets and many automated systems favor block designs. Block pallets also use more parts and fasteners, so they are usually heavier and cost more to build than a comparable stringer pallet. Whether the extra access is worth it depends on how the pallet will be handled across the whole supply chain.
What to specify when buying block pallets
- Footprint, overall height and fork opening height
- Block material and dimensions, and the stringer board size
- Bottom deck style and which sides allow pallet jack entry
- Rated capacity for your support condition (floor, forks or rack span), designed with tools such as the NWPCA Pallet Design System or tested to ASTM D1185 or ISO 8611
Authoritative Sources
- Consumer Brands Association (formerly GMA) (CBA): the trade association whose 48x40 inch pallet standard (the "GMA pallet") became the dominant US pallet specification.
- National Wooden Pallet & Container Association (NWPCA): the US trade association representing wood pallet manufacturers, recyclers, and component producers, founded in 1947.
- International Organization for Standardization (ISO): the international standards organization that publishes ISO 6780 (flat pallets for intercontinental materials handling) and ISO 18613 (repair of flat wooden pallets).
Related Glossary Terms
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a block pallet always carry more weight than a stringer pallet?
No. Capacity depends on the full design: wood species, board thickness, block size, fastener pattern and how the pallet is supported. A lightly built block pallet can hold less than a heavy-duty stringer pallet. Rated capacity also changes with the support condition, so a pallet that carries a heavy load on the floor may be rated much lower when spanning rack beams. Ask the supplier for capacity under your actual handling and storage conditions.
Can pallet jacks enter a block pallet from all four sides?
Not always. Forklifts can usually enter from any side because the forks pass over the bottom deck. A pallet jack has load wheels that must drop through openings in the bottom deck to reach the floor. If bottom boards run across the path of those wheels, the jack cannot enter from that side. Perimeter bases and cross-board bases behave differently, so check the bottom deck drawing against the equipment you use.