Construction type
A block pallet replaces the stringers with nine solid blocks — corners, edges and centre — joined by top and bottom stringer boards. That geometry gives genuine four-way access for both forklifts and pallet jacks, carries more weight, and survives more trips, at roughly 15–25% higher cost and a few extra pounds.
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The stringer pallet solves the fork-access problem by cutting holes in a load-bearing beam. The block pallet solves it by never having the beam in the way. Nine blocks — four corners, four edge-centres, one middle — sit between the top deck assembly and the bottom stringer boards, leaving continuous channels on both axes.
That means a pallet jack can enter from any of the four sides, which is what most people actually mean when they say they need a four-way pallet. It also means the load path runs straight down through solid wood rather than across a notched span, which is why block pallets carry more and deflect less.
| Measure | Stringer 48x40 | Block 48x40 |
|---|---|---|
| Forklift entry | 4 sides (if notched) | 4 sides |
| Pallet jack entry | 2 sides | 4 sides |
| Racked capacity | 1,800–2,500 lb | 2,500–3,300 lb |
| Typical service trips | 5–7 | 8–11 |
| Weight | 38–48 lb | 44–58 lb |
| Relative purchase price | Baseline | +15–25% |
| Cost per trip | Higher | Lower on closed loops |
Recovered block pallets come through our yard in steady volume from beverage, chemical and imported-goods lanes. Grade A recovered block pallets are one of the better value items in the whole catalogue: they were built to survive a pooling system, and they usually have most of that life left.
By the numbers
Rules of thumb
Before you order
Perimeter base for rack support and automation; three-board base for lighter floor-stacked work.
A double-face reversible pallet loads either way up, which matters where staff will not check orientation.
Solid sawn timber or engineered wood composite. Composite holds dimension better; sawn is easier to repair locally.
48x40 and 1200x800 are the liquid sizes. Anything else has thin recovery supply and long lead times.
Licensed EUR-1 pallets carry EPAL branding and participate in exchange. An unmarked 1200x800 block pallet is usable and not exchangeable.
What goes wrong
You are buying durability that your customer consumes. Below about three round trips the stringer pallet is cheaper per trip.
FixUse block construction where the pallet comes back, stringer where it does not.
Purchasing comparisons usually stop at unit price. A damaged block is replaced without touching the deck; a cracked stringer means a companion or a scrap.
FixInclude repair cost and grade retention in the model, not just the purchase price.
Block pallets stay inside closed systems rather than entering the open recovery stream, so supply is lumpier than stringer stock.
FixAsk for the current position before building a programme around a weekly volume.
Side by side
| Measure | Stringer 48x40 | Block 48x40 |
|---|---|---|
| Forklift entry | 4 sides (if notched) | 4 sides |
| Pallet jack entry | 2 sides | 4 sides |
| Racked capacity | 1,800–2,500 lb | 2,500–3,300 lb |
| Typical service trips | 5–7 | 8–11 |
| Weight | 38–48 lb | 44–58 lb |
| Purchase price | Baseline | +15–25% |
| Cost per trip, closed loop | Higher | Lower |
Against our interest
The durability premium is consumed by whoever receives the pallet. Below about three round trips, stringer construction wins on cost per trip.
Block pallets run 6–10 lb heavier. On a 26-pallet trailer that is up to 260 lb of payload you are paying to move and cannot sell.
Block pallets stay inside closed systems rather than entering the open recovery stream, so recovered availability is lumpier than stringer stock.
What moves the price
| Driver | What it is | Rough effect |
|---|---|---|
| Block material | Solid sawn timber against engineered wood composite. Composite holds dimension better; sawn is easier to repair locally. | ±8% |
| Base configuration | A perimeter base gives the best rack support; a three-board base is lighter and cheaper. | +10–15% for perimeter |
| Licensed or generic | EPAL-branded EUR-1 participates in exchange. An unmarked 1200x800 block pallet does not. | Substantial — licensed carries a real premium |
| Recovery supply | Import-heavy markets have far better block availability than inland ones. | Lane-dependent |
Due diligence
“Perimeter base or three-board base, and will it be racked?”
“Solid sawn blocks or engineered composite?”
“Is this a licensed EPAL pallet, and can I see the corner-block branding?”
“What is your current recovered block position in my market?”
“How is a damaged block replaced, and does the pallet keep its grade?”
The rulebook
Principal dimensions and tolerances for flat pallets in intercontinental handling, including the 1200x800 and 1200x1000 footprints.
The licensed specification for the Euro pallet — board layout, block dimensions, nail count and pattern, all controlled.
Performance and test requirements, where block construction's better racked-to-static ratio shows up.
US terminology, including the block versus stringer distinction that causes most four-way misunderstandings.
Vocabulary
From the journal
The strength argument is real and it is not the important one. What decides block versus stringer over a fleet's life is what happens when something breaks.
It is a wooden frame with four hinges. It is also, for a lot of closed loops, the cheapest packaging decision available and almost nobody considers it.
Ninety seconds of my time is worth more than any other ninety seconds in this building, and it is not close.
Reference
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Block count | 9 (3 x 3 grid) |
| Block dimensions | 100 x 100 mm typical, or 3.5 x 3.5 in |
| Block material | Solid sawn timber or engineered wood composite |
| Top deck | 5–7 boards, or solid |
| Bottom deck | Perimeter base or 3-board |
| Entry | Full 4-way, forks and jacks |
| Weight (48x40) | 44–58 lb |
| Racked capacity | 2,500–3,300 lb |
| Common footprints | 48x40, 1200x800, 1200x1000, 45x45 |
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