New 48 x 20 half pallets

The 48 x 20 is half of a 48 x 40 along the deck boards. Two side by side take the same floor as one full pallet, which suits shop floors, club stores and promotional displays that are wheeled straight from the truck to the aisle. It is listed for retail.

Here the first number matters more than ever. A 48 x 20 has 48-inch stringers and 20-inch deck boards, so the forks enter from the narrow ends. A pallet with 20-inch stringers and 48-inch boards is a different build, lifted from the long sides. Say which your stores and jacks expect.

With 20-inch deck boards the span between stringers is short, so two or three stringers do. Displays are top-heavy and get bumped by carts, so the lead boards and the nailing at the corners deserve attention. If the display is built onto the pallet, tell us how it is fixed down.

A starting point for the spec at this size. Your load sets the final numbers.

Half pallets also suit e-commerce and club-store programs where a supplier ships product ready to sell, and where floor space is rented by the square foot. A narrow footprint lets a store fit more product lines in an aisle. If your retailer has a written requirement for half pallets, it will set the height, labelling and wrap; send it with the request.

Stringers

Two or three, 48 in long

Top deck

Boards 20 in long

Entry

From the 20-inch ends

Corners

Well nailed, for carts and bumps

Displays

Fixing points for anything built on top

Can two 48 x 20s ship as one 48 x 40?

Side by side they take the same floor space as one, so they can travel that way, wrapped together or separately.

Which way do the forks go?

Into the 20-inch ends, between the stringers. If your jacks need to come in along the 48-inch side, the stringers must run the other way.

Is a half pallet stable?

A narrow pallet is easier to tip. Keep heavy product low and say how tall the load stands.

Is a half pallet cheaper than a full one?

It uses about half the deck lumber, so it usually costs less, though not half, since the stringers and labor don’t halve.

Can displays be fixed to the deck?

Yes, by screws, brackets or banding. Tell us how, and solid boards go where the fixings land.

Do retailers set rules for half pallets?

Many large retailers publish display and pallet requirements for their stores, covering dimensions, materials and labelling. If your half pallets go to a store chain, send its requirement and we write the sheet to match.

Wood or plastic?

We build in wood only. If a program requires plastic half pallets, we are the wrong supplier for it and will tell you so. Wood half pallets can be painted or labelled if a program allows it; ask. Quarter pallets, 24 x 20, follow the same reasoning.