60 x 4860-inch stringers, 48-inch deck boards
New 60 x 48 pallets
- No industry is listed for it: it is drawn to the load.
- Half again the deck area of a 48 x 40.
An oversized footprint
The 60 x 48 is not on the trade’s standard lists. Buyers ask for it when the product overhangs a 48 x 40 in both directions: cabinets, appliances, rolls of material, crated equipment. We quote it like any custom footprint, from the load.
Stringers and spans
The 60-inch stringers carry the load further between lifting points, and the 48-inch deck boards span further between stringers. Both push the build toward a fourth stringer, thicker boards or hardwood, depending on the weight. The drawing shows how far it reaches past a 48 x 40.
| No. | Member | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Top deck boards | More of them, closer together, for dense or point loads. |
| 2 | Lead boards | Often specified thicker on a heavy build, since they take the first hit. |
| 3 | Stringers | Four or more, so the deck boards span less between supports. |
| 4 | Bottom deck boards | A fuller bottom deck spreads the weight on a floor or rack. |
Forks and trucks
Standard forks may not reach far enough under a 60-inch pallet lifted from the end. Lifted from the side, a 48-inch depth is easier, which means notched stringers. Also check how two of them sit across a trailer. Oversized pallets covers the handling in more detail.
Writing down a 60 x 48
A starting point for the spec at this size. Your load sets the final numbers.
Appliances, cabinets, rolled flooring, crated equipment and large cartons all overhang a grocery pallet. Before ordering an oversized footprint, check the trailer: two pallets side by side across a standard van must leave room for the doors and the load bars. A size that fits the product but wastes the truck can cost more in freight than the pallets.
- Stringers
- Four or more, 60 in long
- Top deck
- Boards 48 in long, thicker for the span
- Entry
- From the 48-inch sides, notched, or block
- Lumber
- Hardwood for heavy loads
- Freight
- Checked against trailer width
Questions about the 60 x 48
- Why not two pallets?
- A single load that spans two pallets is unstable and can twist apart in transit. One oversized pallet keeps it together.
- Do I need longer forks?
- Lifting a 60-inch pallet from the end needs forks long enough to support most of its length. Lifting from the 48-inch side is often easier.
- Can you build bigger than 60 x 48?
- Yes. Any footprint can be drawn; see oversized pallets.
- Is hardwood worth it at this size?
- For heavy loads usually yes: oak and other hardwoods carry more across long spans than pine boards of the same thickness. For light, bulky products, pine keeps the weight and cost down.
- How do you strap a wide load to it?
- Bands run around the deck boards between stringers, or through notches. Tell us how you secure the load and we leave room for the straps.
- What if my product is irregular?
- Send a drawing or photo with dimensions. Feet, skids or legs under the product decide where boards go.
- Will a loaded 60 x 48 pass through doors?
- Dock doors are usually wider than 60 inches, but a wide load on the pallet may not be. Measure the loaded width against the narrowest doorway, aisle and trailer door it must pass, and leave room for the forklift mast and its operator’s sight line.
- How heavy is it empty?
- Heavier than a 48 x 40 in proportion to the extra deck and stringer; the sheet states the weight once lumber and boards are chosen. If people will move it by hand, say so and we keep the boards light.
Quote 60 x 48 pallets
Give the product size, weight and your fork length.
- Pallet size
- 60 x 48
- Construction
- Stringer, block or not sure
- Load weight
- Per pallet, in pounds
Not sure of a line? Leave it blank. Size, load weight and quantity are enough to start a quote.