How it is built

Instead of three long stringers, a block pallet stands on blocks, typically at the corners and the middle, with boards joining them in both directions. The result is a deck that sits on a ring of supports and leaves an open gap on every side.

Not to scale. A block pallet rests on blocks, so forks enter any of four sides; a stringer pallet is open on two ends unless the stringers are notched.

Where it earns its keep

Drum and tote loads on 48 x 48 stock, which have to be reached from every side.
Cross-docks that turn pallets by hand in tight spaces.
Heavier loads, since the frame spreads weight.
Conveyors that grip the pallet from different directions.

A 48 x 48 pallet is often a block build for that reason. The block design is also common in Euro pallets.

What goes wrong

Block pallets are harder to repair than stringer pallets. A broken block is a structural failure, not a patch job, and a pallet with a loose block is a risk on a forklift. Inspect the corners first.

Buying and selling

Say block in the request, and the size. Many used piles are stringer-built, so block stock is scarcer. A seller with a block stack should count it separately, because the right buyer will pay attention to the difference. Read stringer or block before you choose.

Inspecting a block pallet

Twist each block gently by hand: a loose block means failing fasteners. Look at the nails or screws holding each block to its boards and check for splitting around them. Confirm the boards joining the blocks are intact on all sides, since a missing board removes the rigidity that the design depends on. Pallets with damaged blocks are better dismantled than patched.

Block against strength

A block pallet's strength comes from its blocks and the boards that join them, not from long timbers. That gives it a high load rating for concentrated weights but makes it sensitive to damage at the corners. Dragging a block pallet across a dock can shear a corner block, so lift, do not drag.

Block pallets in food and chemicals

Block pallets are easy to wipe clean because their open sides let air and light through, which is why some plants prefer them. They also drain well, which suits washdown areas. Their weight and cost are the usual objections.

Weight and handling

A block pallet usually weighs more than a plain stringer pallet of the same footprint, so manual handling takes more effort and shipping weight rises slightly. Crews who lift pallets by hand should know this before ordering a large quantity.