The ranges
| Source | Figure |
|---|---|
| Mecalux | 33 to 49 lb (15 to 22 kg); reinforced 55 to 66 lb (25 to 30 kg) |
| PHS | About 33 to 48 lb |
| Typical GMA | GMA pallets typically 37 lb (17 kg), 6.5 in tall |
Why the numbers differ
- Wood species: hardwood is heavier than softwood.
- Moisture: green or wet wood weighs more.
- Build: more boards or blocks add weight.
- Repairs: plugs and plates add a little.
Pallet production accounts for 43 percent of hardwood and 15 percent of softwood usage in the United States, which is part of why species vary.
Why weight matters to a buyer
A trailer's weight limit includes the pallets. A truckload of 500 pallets at 40 lb each is 20,000 lb of wood before any product. Heavier pallets also strain pallet jacks and manual handling. A dry pallet is usually lighter than one left out in a Salt Lake winter, where snow averages about 60 inches a season.
Does weight show strength?
Roughly, but a heavy wet pallet is not a strong one.
Is a lighter pallet cheaper to ship?
It cuts the weight of a load, which can matter for air freight.
For capacity, see how much weight a pallet can hold. For the standard pallet, the GMA guide. To ask for stock, use the quote form.
Why weight matters before the load does
The pallet itself is dead weight. On a trailer limited by weight rather than space, every pound of wood is a pound of product left behind. On a manual dock, a dry 33 lb pallet and a rain-soaked 60 lb one feel like different jobs for whoever stacks them all shift.
What shifts the number
- Moisture: green or wet lumber can weigh far more than kiln-dried.
- Species: denser hardwood is heavier than pine or spruce.
- Build: a reinforced or block pallet carries extra lumber.
- Repairs: plates and companion boards add pounds.
Treat any published weight as a range. When you buy by the truckload, ask whether the count or the weight governs the order, and say which suits your scale.
Why do sources quote different weights?
Species, moisture, board count and build differ. Published numbers describe typical ranges, not a particular pallet.
Does a wet pallet really weigh more?
Yes. Wood takes on water readily, so a pallet left in snow can weigh noticeably more than one kept dry.
Should I weigh pallets before I order?
Weigh one or two from the pile you plan to use. A real number beats a catalogue range.
Weighing for freight
Freight classes and carrier bills are set from total shipment weight, pallet included. Weigh a typical loaded pallet on a floor scale and write the total on the bill of lading. Underreporting draws reweigh charges and delays at a terminal.