Block & Euro Pallets

Stringer pallets only allow full four-way entry when notched, and even then the jack access is limited. Block pallets sit on nine blocks with openings on all four sides, so forklifts and pallet jacks enter cleanly from any direction — essential for automated storage and retrieval systems and dense cross-docking.

• Nine-block base
• Full four-way jack and fork access
• Strong under automation
• Common pooling footprints

If you ship into Europe, the 1200x800 mm EUR/EPAL pallet is often expected by receivers and fits standard European racking and truck dimensions. Euro-format pallets can be requested, including ISPM 15 heat-treated units for international shipping.

A block pallet is built on nine solid blocks: one at each corner, one at the midpoint of each side, and one in the center. Top deck boards sit above the blocks, and typically three bottom runners tie the blocks together underneath. Because the openings between blocks are clear on all four sides, a forklift or pallet jack gets full-width entry from any direction.

That geometry is what separates a true four-way block pallet from a notched stringer pallet. A notched stringer allows a fork in from the sides, but the notch is shallow and a pallet jack cannot get its wheels fully underneath from the ends. Automated equipment, which cannot improvise the way a human operator does, needs the clean, consistent openings a block base provides.

• Nine blocks: corners, sides, and center
• Three bottom runners tie the base together
• Full-width openings on all four sides
• True jack access, not just fork access

The EUR/EPAL pallet measures 1200 by 800 millimeters, weighs roughly 25 kilograms; confirm its rated loads for your use with the supplier. North American block pallets in the 48x40 footprint carry comparable distribution loads to their stringer counterparts, with the block base adding rigidity that helps in racking.

The tradeoff is weight and cost: nine blocks plus runners use more lumber than three stringers, so a block pallet is heavier and pricier than an equivalent stringer unit. You are paying for the four-way access and the rigidity, which is why block construction is worth it for automation and export but not for simple manual handling.

Choose stringer pallets for straightforward, manual, cost-driven handling where a human operator positions the forks. They are lighter, cheaper, and perfectly adequate for the majority of domestic freight. Choose block pallets when automation, dense cross-docking, or international receiving is in play and the extra cost buys reliability.

A practical rule: if a jam, a mis-pick, or a rejected international shipment costs you far more than the price difference between the two designs, spec block. If not, a standard 48x40 GMA stringer pallet is the economical call. Describe your lanes and equipment in your request.

• Stringer: lighter, cheaper, manual handling
• Block: automation, cross-dock, and export
• Block adds rigidity for racking
• Match the spend to the cost of a failure

Block and Euro pallets are durable by design and hold up to many cycles, which makes them strong candidates for pooled and closed-loop programs where the same units circulate for years. Recycled block and Euro-format stock can be requested alongside new builds, so you can often get four-way, automation-ready pallets without paying full new-wood prices.

When a block pallet finally wears out, its blocks and boards can be rebuilt or ground for reuse. Buying recycled block stock where availability allows, and selling empties back, keeps the sustainability profile of these heavier pallets much closer to that of recycled wood.