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Block pallet

A pallet whose deck sits on solid or composite blocks instead of stringers.

Last reviewed October 27, 2026 by repallet.org editors.

A block pallet rests on nine or more blocks, joined by stringer boards, rather than on full-length stringers. That design gives true four-way forklift entry and is common in pooled systems and in heavier-duty use.

For end-of-life decisions, block pallets differ in two ways. They are heavier: the USDA Forest Products Laboratory's 48×40 block designs average 44 lb (light duty) and 67 lb (heavy duty), against 31 and 41 lb for stringer designs. And their blocks may be composite, made of chips and glue, which rules that part out for burning under EPA's Burn Wise guidance on glued wood.

Block pallets also last more trips: the same study predicted 16 trips for its light block design and 66 for its heavy one. A block pallet in good condition is a strong candidate for reuse.

Sources

  1. Cradle-to-grave life-cycle assessment of wooden pallet production in the United States (Res. Pap. FPL-RP-707) USDA Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory (Alanya-Rosenbaum and Bergman, 2020). Accessed October 27, 2026. Table 2 (p. 8): average weights of 48×40 in. designs.
  2. Burn Wise: Best Wood-Burning Practices U.S. EPA. Accessed October 27, 2026.

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