How to choose a plastic pallet
The short answer: match four things to your load — the deck (grid or flatboard), the faces (single or double), the strength class, and the footprint. Get those right and the pallet fits your racking, your goods and your container.
1 · Deck — grid or flatboard?
Grid (open) decks shed water and dust, weigh less and cost less — best for drums, sacks and general warehousing. Flatboard (closed) decks stop small boxes and powders falling through and wipe clean — pick them for hygiene, food and small-footprint loads.
2 · Faces — single or double?
Single-faced pallets nest to cut freight and suit one-way export and ground storage. Double-faced pallets add a bottom deck for racking stiffness and even load spread — choose them for beam racking and heavy reuse.
3 · Strength — light, medium or heavy-duty?
Match the rating to how the pallet is carried: static (at rest), dynamic (on a forklift) and racking (unsupported on beams). Heavy-duty rackable pallets take the most on racking; export pallets are dynamic/static only and ship cheaper.
4 · Footprint — 1200×1000 or Euro 1200×800?
Match the pallet to your racking bay and the container floor. The 1200×1000 mm size is the global industrial standard; 1200×800 mm is the Euro footprint. Getting this right avoids wasted container space.
Compare our plastic pallet range
A representative model from each type we stock, with footprint, packed CBM and an estimated container load. Figures come straight from the live catalog.
| Type | Example | Footprint | CBM | Per 40' HQ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grid / Single-faced | Plastic Pallet 800x600x140mm - grid-deck big n… | 80×60 cm | 0.067 m³ | 967 |
| Flatboard / Single-faced | Plastic Pallet 800x600x120mm - flat-deck big n… | 80×60 cm | 0.058 m³ | 1118 |
| Grid / Double-faced | Plastic Pallet 1200x800x125mm - grid-deck tian… | 120×80 cm | 0.120 m³ | 540 |
| Flatboard / Nine-foot / Single-faced | Plastic Pallet 1200x1000x150mm - impact-resist… | 120×100 cm | 0.180 m³ | 360 |
Container counts are floor-loaded estimates; exact figures are confirmed on quote.
Frequently asked
What is the difference between a grid and a flatboard plastic pallet?
A grid (open-deck) pallet has a ribbed, perforated top that sheds water and dust and weighs less, ideal for drums, sacks and general warehousing. A flatboard (closed-deck) pallet has a solid top that supports small boxes, bagged powders and hygiene loads where nothing should fall through. Choose flatboard for small-footprint or food/pharma goods, grid for heavy drums and lower cost.
Single-faced or double-faced pallet — which do I need?
Single-faced pallets have a deck on top only and stack/nest compactly, which lowers freight cost — good for one-way export and ground storage. Double-faced pallets add a bottom deck for stiffness and even load spread, so they suit beam racking and repeated handling. If pallets go into racking or get reused heavily, pick double-faced.
Are nestable pallets cheaper to ship?
Yes. Nestable (single-faced) pallets fold into each other when empty, so their packed CBM is a fraction of a rigid rackable pallet's. Far more fit in the same container, cutting freight cost per pallet — that is why exporters favour them for the outbound leg.
How much weight can a plastic pallet hold?
It depends on the model and how the load is supported. Three ratings matter: static (stacked at rest), dynamic (moving on a forklift/jack) and racking (unsupported on beams). Heavy-duty rackable pallets carry the most on racking; light export pallets are rated for dynamic and static loads only. Tell us your load weight and whether it goes into racking and we match the right class.
Which plastic pallet size is standard?
The two global footprints are 1200×1000 mm (often called the industrial or 'GMA-equivalent' size) and the 1200×800 mm Euro footprint. Match the pallet to your existing racking bay and the container floor so you avoid wasted space.