A wrong or damaged pallet tips the load. Here are the main load carriers — EUR/EPAL pallet (800×1200 mm according to EN 13698-1), disposable and plastic pallets, half-/quarter pallets and cages — their dimensions and load capacities, when a pallet should be scrapped, and how you build a stable, secured load unit.
Introduction
The pallet is the load carrier's foundation: it lifts the goods off the floor, gives the forks room to go under, and keeps the load together as one unit. If you choose a pallet that is too weak or damaged for the goods — or stack the load unit poorly — it will tip during transport or in the rack. Therefore pallet and load unit knowledge is fundamental warehouse knowledge.
Pallet openings: 2-way and 4-way
A 2-way pallet can be taken with the forks from two opposite sides; a 4-way pallet has cutouts in the blocks so the forks can enter from all four sides. Pallet terminology is established in ISO 445, and the main dimensions for flat pallets for intercontinental material handling in ISO 6780. The EUR pallet is a 4-way pallet, which makes it flexible to handle in narrow aisles.
EUR/EPAL-pallen
The EUR pallet (EPAL 1) is the most widespread European flat pallet. It is made of wood, assembled with a fixed pattern of 78 special nails and manufactured according to a production specification (UIC 435-2 / EPAL, and for wooden flat pallets EN 13698-1). The quality requirements are strict, precisely because the pallet is reused and exchanged in a closed loop.
| Property | Value (EPAL 1) |
|---|---|
| Mål (L × B × H) | 1200 × 800 × 144 mm |
| Tare weight | ca. 25 kg |
| Secure load in motion (dynamic) | op til ca. 1.500 kg |
| Load in shelf (supported at the ends) | op til ca. 1.000 kg |
| Static load (bottom pallet in stack on flat, solid floor) | op til ca. 4.000 kg |
Other load carriers
- 01One-way pallet ('INKA'/press pallet): lighter and cheaper, not designed for reuse or heavy loads — always check the bearing capacity before heavy goods.
- 02Plastic pallet: hygienic and weather-resistant, used in food and pharmaceutical; load capacity varies greatly by type.
- 03Half and quarter pallet (e.g. 800×600 and 600×400 mm): for displays and smaller shop units.
- 04Industrial/chemical pallet (1000×1200 mm): larger module sizes, used in many industries.
- 05Cage pallet/pallet cage: steel frame with base for loose or irregular goods; often stackable — check stacking weight and that sides are locked.
Discard damaged pallets
A pallet with damage is a safety risk, no matter how small it looks. Discard (take out of use) a pallet if:
- 01A board is missing, broken or so splintered that a nail head or nail protrudes.
- 02A block (the bearing «foot») is cracked or missing.
- 03The pallet is crooked, warped or clearly rotten/waterlogged.
- 04There is doubt that the pallet can bear the goods — so it is not used for that lift.
Members only
The rest of the article is locked
Create a free user account to unlock all articles, calculators, templates and range — and get access to quizzes and classes. It takes less than a minute: name, email and a password. No payment card.
Want to try something first? See what you can use without an account — the junior zone, the encyclopedia, the videos and more.