EcoPallets

The reference library

Pallet products, without the guesswork.

In short: From the 48×40 GMA workhorse to custom export builds, our catalog spans stringer and block pallets in every standard size and grade, plus collars, caps and reclaimed timber.

Start with a category below, or send specs and we'll match from stock.

Pallet Dispatch OrderRequest for quote · fill in & send
Form
№ EPS-BOL-4471
US / Canada format
2-letter code
US ZIP or CA postal
No phone spam. We only use this to quote your job — reply within 1 business day.

Quick-glance: our core types

Stringer Pallets

The North American standard — deck boards fastened across parallel stringers.

Entry: Two-way, or four-way with notched stringers

Block Pallets

True four-way entry on nine load-bearing blocks — the global standard.

Entry: True four-way

Block vs Stringer — Which to Choose

A head-to-head on strength, cost, automation and repairability.

Entry: Comparison guide

One stream, one catalog

Every pallet we ship comes from the same circular supply.

New builds, remanufactured units and reclaimed accessories all move through one graded stream — so a size and grade you spec today can be matched again on the next order.

Whether you need a stock 48×40 GMA by the truckload or a one-off export footprint, we work from the same inventory of recovered lumber and standardized cut stock. That keeps lead times short, pricing honest and quality consistent across stringer, block and custom builds.

Stacks of graded wood pallets ready for dispatchIn stock

Who we build for

Pallets matched to the way your industry ships.

Footprint, grade and construction all change with the load. These are the sectors we spec for most often.

Grocery & CPG

High-turn retail supply chains built on the 48×40 GMA standard.

48×40 GMA #1Block / pooled

Food & Beverage

Heavy, dense loads that demand clean, dry, contamination-free pallets.

48×40 GMA #1Heavy-duty hardwood

Automotive

Just-in-time parts flow on rugged, often custom returnable pallets.

Custom heavy-duty48×45 automotive

Chemicals & Drums

Four-drum and IBC loads that concentrate weight on the deck.

Heavy-duty 48×40Full-deck drum pallet

Pharmaceuticals

Regulated, clean-room-grade loads needing traceable, contaminant-free pallets.

Kiln-dried 48×40 #1Plastic hygienic pallets

Building Materials

Bricks, tile, bagged cement, and lumber carried on heavy-duty stock.

Heavy-duty hardwoodCustom oversized skids

Agriculture

Produce, grain, and seed handled in bins, collars, and vented pallets.

Bin pallets / collars48×40 GMA

Retail & E-commerce

Fast fulfillment mixing full pallets, half pallets, and display units.

48×40 GMA #1Half pallet (40×24)

Speak the language

Key terms, in plain English.

A quick reference for the words that show up on quotes and spec sheets — from stringers and blocks to grades and footprints.

Stringer Pallet

A pallet built on continuous longitudinal boards called stringers.

Stringers are the load-bearing beams (usually 2×4 lumber) that run the length of the pallet between the top and bottom deck boards. The standard GMA pallet uses three stringers spaced to allow forklift and pallet-jack entry. Stringer pallets are typically two-way entry unless notched for four-way access.

Block Pallet

A pallet supported by solid blocks instead of continuous stringers.

Block pallets use nine blocks (corners, mid-sides, and center) joined by top and bottom deck boards plus perimeter and internal stringer boards. This construction gives true four-way entry from all sides for forklifts and pallet jacks. EPAL and CHEP pooled pallets are the most common block designs in circulation.

Deck Board

The horizontal boards forming the top and bottom surfaces of a pallet.

Deck boards carry the unit load and distribute weight to the stringers or blocks. A standard GMA pallet has seven top deck boards and five bottom deck boards, typically 5/16 to 3/4 inch thick. Board spacing (deck coverage) affects how much small or bagged product can be supported without falling through.

Lead Board

The outermost deck board at each end of a pallet.

Lead boards (also called end boards or butt-end boards) take the most abuse from forklift tines and pallet-jack wheels during entry. Because they fail first, GMA #1 grade requires undamaged lead boards while lower grades tolerate cracks or splits here. Repairers often replace lead boards before any other component.

Chamfer

A beveled or angled cut on the bottom deck board edge.

A chamfer is a shallow bevel milled along the leading edge of bottom deck boards to help pallet-jack wheels roll up onto the pallet without catching. It reduces board splintering and eases entry on automated or high-throughput lines. Chamfered bottom boards are common on premium and pooled pallets.

Notch

A cutout in a stringer that creates fork access on all four sides.

Notches (also called fork openings) are semicircular or rectangular cuts on the two outer stringers of a stringer pallet. They allow a forklift to enter from the notched sides, converting a two-way pallet into a partial four-way (fork-only) design. The intact wood above and below the notch keeps the stringer strong enough to carry the load.

GMA Pallet

The 48×40 inch grocery-industry standard pallet.

GMA refers to the Grocery Manufacturers Association, which standardized the 48×40 inch stringer pallet now used across most US supply chains. It is the single most common pallet footprint in North America, sized to fit standard truck trailers two-wide. GMA #1 and GMA #2 are the primary recycled-market grades.

EPAL / Euro Pallet

The 1200×800 mm European standard block pallet.

The EUR/EPAL pallet is an 800×1200 mm block pallet built to strict specifications and marked with the EPAL logo in an oval on the corner blocks. It is the backbone of European pallet pooling and open exchange systems. Each licensed EPAL pallet is repairable and re-enters the pool under controlled quality rules.

ISPM-15

The international standard requiring wood packaging treatment for export.

ISPM-15 (International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures No. 15) governs solid-wood packaging used in international trade to prevent the spread of pests. Compliant pallets must be either heat-treated or fumigated and stamped with the IPPC mark showing country, facility number, and treatment method. Composite, plywood, and OSB pallets are exempt because manufacturing already eliminates pests.