Four-way entry pallets allow forklifts to enter from all four sides. Load capacity can differ depending on which sides the pallet is lifted from.
Detailed Definition
Block pallets and EUR/EPAL pallets typically offer four-way entry, because their blocks leave openings on every side for forklift tines. Standard US stringer pallets are usually two-way, or partial four-way when the stringers are notched. Four-way designs give operators more freedom in tight spaces and with mixed equipment, though block pallets generally have more components than a comparable stringer pallet. Pallet jack access depends on the bottom deck layout.
True four-way versus partial four-way
The difference is how the forks reach the load. On a block pallet, forks pass through full height openings between blocks on all four sides. On a notched stringer pallet, side entry relies on notches cut into the stringers, which are shallower and weaken the stringers at that point. That is why partial four-way pallets usually carry less when lifted from the notched sides. If a customer specification says four-way, confirm whether partial four-way is acceptable.
Pallet jacks and the bottom deck
Four-way for a forklift does not always mean four-way for a pallet jack. A jack's load wheels need clear floor space under the opening. Block pallets with a perimeter bottom deck, and EUR pallets, allow jack entry only from certain sides. If your docks rely on pallet jacks or walkies, try a jack on a sample pallet from each side before approving a design.
When four-way entry is worth specifying
Four-way entry pays off in tight docks, trailers loaded from the side, cross-dock operations where pallets are turned often, and automated systems that approach from a fixed direction. In simple operations where pallets always enter racks and trailers the same way, a two-way or partial four-way stringer pallet often works fine. Match the specification to how pallets actually move through your building.
Authoritative Sources
- Material Handling Institute (MHI): the largest US trade association for material handling, logistics, and supply chain technologies.
- 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 pallet standards such as ISO 6780 (flat pallets, principal dimensions and tolerances) and ISO 8611 (pallet test methods).
Related Glossary Terms
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a four-way entry pallet stronger than a two-way pallet?
Not necessarily. Four-way entry describes access, not strength. A well built block pallet can carry heavy loads, but so can a heavy duty stringer pallet. Strength comes from wood species and grade, component sizes, fasteners and the support condition, such as floor, rack or forks. Compare rated capacities for the way you will actually use the pallet instead of assuming that four-way means stronger.
Do GMA style 48 x 40 pallets have four-way entry?
The common GMA style 48 x 40 pallet is a three-stringer, partial four-way design. Forks enter freely from the two 40 inch ends and can enter the 48 inch sides through notches cut in the stringers. Pallet jacks can usually enter only from the ends. Operations that want true four-way handling often use block pallets instead, and many pooled rental pallets in North America are block designs.