BUILD
Block or stringer: which pallet does your load need?
Choose block when the load is heavy, square, racked or handled from several sides; choose stringer when the load is light to medium, packed in cartons and handled from the ends. The extra stiffness and entry of a block build cost weight and money.
01 Head to head
| Question | Block | Stringer |
|---|---|---|
| Fork entry | All four sides | Two sides, unless notched |
| Stiffness | High | Good; depends on the stringers |
| Weight and cost | More lumber, usually heavier | Lighter, usually cheaper |
| Common failure | Split block | Cracked stringer |
| Used supply in 48 x 40 | Less common | Most common |
| Heavy square loads | The usual choice | Possible, less common |
02 Decide by load
- Is it heavy enough to be near the dynamic band of 2,000 to 2,800 lb? Choose block.
- Is it racked? Choose block.
- Is it cartons on a 48 x 40, floor stacked? Stringer is fine.
- Do forks come from several sides? Choose block or notched stringer.
03 A note on terms
Stringer describes the frame. Two-way and four-way describe how forks enter. A stringer pallet is usually two-way; a block pallet is four-way. The builds hub explains the terms in one table.
04 Common conclusions
- For cartons on a dock that enters from the ends, stringer is enough.
- For drums, totes and racked loads, block.
- For mixed handling, four-way.
- For the cheapest sorted used stock in 48 x 40, stringer.
05 The hidden cost of changing
Switching from stringer to block, or the reverse, can ripple through a plant. Racks are set for a given pallet thickness, conveyors expect a particular bottom edge, and pallet jacks need clear openings. Test one before ordering many.
06 Fastening
Block pallets use more nails or staples per pallet, and the fasteners must clear the blocks. Stringer pallets rely on nails driven into end grain, so they work loose over time and show nail heads on the top deck before they fail.
07 What the trade sources add
PHS notes that square or nearly square pallets resist load tipping better, and that four-way pallets with more rigid stringers suit heavy loads. Interlake Mecalux says stringer builds are the most popular in North America and block builds suit automated warehouses. A stringer pallet has three or more stringers, notched for four-way entry.
08 Stringer length and deck-board length
PHS says the first number in a pallet size is the stringer length and the second the deck-board length. A 48 x 40 stringer pallet therefore has 48 inch stringers under 40 inch boards, and a 40 x 48 has the reverse. Both describe the same footprint, which is why the rankings list them separately.
Q Questions
Which lasts longer?
Block builds are usually sturdier under heavy repeated lifting, but quality of lumber and repair matters as much.
Are block pallets stronger?
They are stiffer, which matters for racking. A stringer can carry a heavy load on a flat floor.
Which is easier to find used?
Stringer pallets are far more common, so they are easier to find used in standard sizes.
Src Sources
Req Ready to ask?
One short form covers buying, selling and clearing. Request a price