Stackable plastic pallets by static rating
Choose a stackable by the load on the bottom pallet, then check dynamic and entry. The lowest static rating that safely clears your stack is the right one.
Four bands, one question each
| Static band | Fits | Ask the maker |
|---|---|---|
| 3,000 to 8,000 lb | Light loads two high, boxed goods, light retail | Dynamic on a pallet jack, and the deck type |
| 8,000 to 15,000 lb | General manufacturing, three high, mixed cases | Static at the temperature you store at |
| 15,000 to 25,000 lb | Dense product, drums, four high or more | Time held under load; creep data if any |
| 25,000 to 30,000 lb | The upper end of the PHS 48 x 40 list; one used HDPE model is rated 30,000 lb | Whether the load is spread or concentrated |
The 48 x 48 and 56 x 44 cases
A 48 x 48 in model, PHS Plastic's STK 207, is listed at 4,000 lb dynamic and 30,000 lb static, and holds four 55-gallon drums without overhang. A 56 x 44 in beverage pallet from the same list is rated 30,000 lb static. Both show the same pattern: the footprint follows the container, and the static rating is the maker's ceiling for a stack on a flat floor.
Dynamic ratings stay in a narrow band compared with static. Across the 48 x 40 list they run from 2,500 to 5,000 lb while static ranges tenfold. If your pallet rides forks all day, the dynamic number is the more honest guide to how heavy a load it will take.
Entry and deck
- 4-way entry lets forks or a pallet jack go in from any side. PHS lists 4-way entry on all but one of its stackable models.
- Open deck drains and rinses; a closed deck holds small items and keeps dust down. The deck guide covers the choice.
- Some stackables carry runners or a cruciform base for conveyors and racking; see the base guide.
A stack worked out
Take a stackable rated 12,000 lb static. The bottom pallet carries the pallets above it, so with each loaded pallet weighing 2,392 lb it can hold 5 above, a stack of 6. With 6,434 lb per pallet it can hold 1 above. This is a ceiling on a flat floor for a still stack, not a promise for a stack that moves or waits.
| Loaded pallet, lb | Pallets above the bottom | Stack height | Load on the bottom pallet, lb |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2,392 | 5 | 6 | 11,960 |
| 2,899 | 4 | 5 | 11,596 |
| 3,406 | 3 | 4 | 10,218 |
| 3,913 | 3 | 4 | 11,739 |
| 4,420 | 2 | 3 | 8,840 |
| 5,427 | 2 | 3 | 10,854 |
| 6,434 | 1 | 2 | 6,434 |
Reading the bands
The four bands are a way to organise a long list, not a promise about any one pallet. Within a band the models differ by weight, base, deck and price, and two pallets with the same static number can behave differently on a rack or under a hand truck. Use the band to narrow the list, then read the sheets one by one.
From the dock
- Warehouse floors are rarely flat; a slight slope turns a safe stack into a tall lever.
- Creep is slow. A stack that looks fine on Monday may have sagged by the next month in a warm store.
- Weigh a sample loaded pallet before trusting any estimate; stacked weight grows faster than people expect.
- Pallet jacks need clear entry on the bottom; feet and runners that block a wheel make a slow dock.
- Forklift tines catch deck edges; closed decks with chamfered edges suffer less from rough entry.
- Slick film wrap and a smooth deck make a skating surface; a gripping deck pattern holds cartons still.
- Mixed loads stack worst: a heavy case on one corner can cost more than a light load on the whole deck.
Words on this page
- Open deck
- A deck with slots or a grid, which drains water, sheds dust and weighs less than a solid one.
- Bulk bag
- A large woven bag, often sold as a Super Sack, that holds a ton or so of powder or granules and sits on a square pallet.
- Dynamic load
- The weight a pallet holds while it is moved by a forklift, pallet jack or conveyor. It is lower than static because motion adds shock.
- Polypropylene
- Another common pallet resin, lighter and stiffer than some others, with its own behaviour in the cold.
- Static load
- The weight a pallet holds while standing still on a flat floor, spread evenly across the deck. It is the highest of the three ratings.
- Creep
- Slow, permanent bending of plastic under a steady load. A pallet can hold a load for an hour and bow under it after a month.
- 4-way entry
- A pallet that forks or a pallet jack can enter from all four sides.
- Slip sheet
- A thin sheet of plastic or fibreboard used under a load in place of a pallet, handled by a push-pull attachment.
Tell us the footprint and how many stacks you move.
We work out the empty trailer, then take the request for a load.