A "custom pallet" can mean ten different things to ten different shops. The faster you can answer the seven questions below, the faster you'll get a clean quote — and the less chance you'll get a pallet back that doesn't fit your load. Here's how we walk a new customer through their first custom spec.

1. Dimensions and orientation

Two numbers: stringer length x deck-board length, in inches. By convention, the first number is the stringer (the long board that the deck boards sit across); the second is the deck width. A 48 x 40 is 48-in. stringers x 40-in. deck boards. Tell us whether you want four-way fork entry (notched stringers) or two-way. Most modern operations want four-way.

2. Load weight

What does one fully loaded pallet weigh? This drives lumber grade, stringer dimension, and deck-board pitch. Rough bands we use:

Under 1,500 lb — Standard #3 SPF lumber, 5/8-in. deck boards. Light-duty.
1,500-3,000 lb — #2 SPF, 3/4-in. deck boards, tighter pitch. Most general industrial.
3,000-5,000 lb — Mixed hardwood stringers, 7/8-in. deck boards, full pitch.
Over 5,000 lb — All-hardwood, oversized stringers, 1-in.+ deck boards. Engineering review.

3. Deck pattern

How many top deck boards and bottom deck boards? Common patterns:

5/3 flush — 5 top boards, 3 bottom boards, deck boards flush with the stringers. The standard default.
7/5 flush — Closer pitch for heavier loads or smaller cases that need more deck contact.
Wing — Deck boards overhang the stringers; common for racking and load-securing.
Solid-deck — Plywood or close-pitch boards for products that would otherwise fall through. Common for small parts, drums on edge, and small-case retail.

4. Stringers

Three options: full (one-piece), companion-stringered (two pieces joined with a "companion" reinforcement), or block (nine-block construction with no stringers, four-way fork entry from any side). Block pallets are more cube-stable but cost more in lumber. Companion stringers are common in recycled Mixed Load Pallets builds.

5. Fasteners

Helical (twist) nails — Standard. Hold well under shock loads.
Stick nails — Cheaper, lower hold. Light-duty only.
Screws — Reusable racking pallets and high-value goods. Adds cost.

6. Treatment

Domestic shipments don't need treatment. Anything leaving the U.S. on a wooden pallet legally needs ISPM-15 heat treatment with the IPPC stamp — see our ISPM-15 guide. Food-grade and pharma facilities may also require kiln-dried or new-only lumber.

7. Volume and cadence

One-time 50-pallet build, recurring 200/week, or 4,000/quarter? Cadence drives pricing more than people expect. Recurring orders get scheduled lumber runs and lower per-pallet rates. One-time orders are priced on spot lumber and current build slots.

A clean RFQ looks like this

Size: 48 x 48
Entry: 4-way (notched stringers)
Load weight: 2,400 lb
Deck pattern: 7/5 flush
Stringers: full, #2 SPF
Fasteners: helical
Treatment: HT / ISPM-15 stamp required
Volume: 150/week, ongoing
Delivery: Marietta, GA — dock-high

What we'll send back

Per-pallet price, lead time on the first run and recurring runs, and a build sheet you can hand to your receiving team. If anything in your spec is going to cause a load-stability issue, we'll flag it before you commit — not after.

Spec a Custom Pallet