Size Guide · Construction comparison guide
Block vs. Stringer Pallets
'Block' and 'stringer' describe how a pallet is built, not how big it is — and that construction choice drives cost, strength, forklift access, and whether your automated line will even accept it.
Stringer pallets use three parallel boards ('stringers') on edge to support the deck and are cheaper and lighter, but offer only two-way entry unless notched. Block pallets use nine solid blocks (four corners, four edges, one center) for true, unobstructed four-way entry from both forklifts and pallet jacks, and they're generally stronger and more durable at a higher cost. Choose stringers for economy and domestic freight; choose blocks for automation, four-way access, and heavy or export loads.
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Specifications
| Stringer support | 3 boards on edge (the 'stringers') |
| Block support | 9 blocks + interior stringer boards |
| Stringer entry | 2-way, or 4-way if notched (weaker ends) |
| Block entry | True 4-way (full clearance all sides) |
| Relative cost | Stringer cheaper; block runs higher |
| Relative weight | Stringer lighter; block uses more lumber |
| Pallet-jack access | Stringer: 2 sides. Block: all 4 sides |
| Typical strength | Block generally more rigid and durable |
| Automation fit | Block preferred for ASRS/conveyor/robotics |
| Common examples | Stringer: most GMAs. Block: EPAL, rental pool |
| Repairability | Both repairable; blocks replace individually |
How each type is built
A stringer pallet gets its name from three thick boards — the stringers — set on edge and running the length of the pallet, sandwiched between a top and bottom deck. The stringers are the load-bearing spine. If they're left solid, forks and pallet-jack wheels can only enter from the two open ends: 'two-way entry.' To allow forks from all four sides, manufacturers cut notches into the two long stringers, creating 'four-way entry' — but those notches remove material and are the weak point where stringers crack under stress.
A block pallet replaces the three continuous stringers with nine short blocks: one at each corner, one at the midpoint of each side, and one in the center. Deck and stringer boards tie the blocks together top and bottom. Because the blocks are discrete posts, there's full clearance on all four sides — true four-way entry — with no notches to weaken the frame. This is the construction used by EUR/EPAL pallets and most rental-pool pallets like CHB/CHEP-style blues.
Access, strength, and automation
The practical difference on the dock is pallet-jack access. A hand jack's wheels drop through the deck, so on a notched stringer pallet a jack can still usually only enter from the two full-clearance ends — the notches aren't tall enough for the wheels. A block pallet lets a jack in from any of the four sides, which speeds up handling in tight spaces and mixed-orientation racking.
Block pallets are generally more rigid and hold up better to repeated automated handling — conveyors, ASRS, and robotic palletizers are frequently spec'd for block construction because the uniform four-way geometry and lack of protruding stringers feed cleanly through equipment. Stringer pallets can hang up on conveyor rails or trip sensors if the machine expects blocks. That said, a well-built hardwood stringer pallet is plenty strong for most static and stacked loads.
Cost and how to choose
Stringers win on price and weight. They use less lumber and fewer components, so they're cheaper to buy and lighter to ship, which matters on one-way (expendable) loads and high-volume domestic freight where you're not paying to move dead weight. If your product goes out the door and doesn't come back, a #2 recycled GMA stringer is usually the smart, sustainable spend.
Reach for block pallets when you need genuine four-way access, feed automated or robotic lines, run a closed-loop or rental pool, ship internationally, or handle heavy loads that punish notched stringers. They cost more up front but last longer and repair well, so total cost of ownership over many trips often favors blocks.
- Choose stringer: budget-driven, one-way shipments, standard forklift handling, domestic freight
- Choose block: automation/ASRS lines, true 4-way jack access, closed-loop pools, heavy or export loads
- Either way, buy graded, repaired, and recycled stock to cut cost and keep wood out of the landfill
Reading the anatomy: parts and terms
Whichever construction you choose, the vocabulary is the same, and knowing it helps you spec and inspect pallets accurately. The top and bottom flat boards are 'deck boards.' The wider boards at each end of the top deck are 'lead boards' (or 'wingboards' when they overhang) and carry the most forklift-tine abuse. On stringer pallets, the three boards on edge are the 'stringers'; on block pallets, the short posts are the 'blocks' and the boards tying them together are 'stringer boards.'
A couple of features to look for: a 'chamfer' is the beveled edge on lead boards that guides forklift tines in cleanly and reduces jamming, and a 'notch' is the arched cutout in a stringer that creates partial four-way entry. When you inspect used stock, the notch shoulders and the lead-board-to-stringer joints are the first places cracks appear, so check them before you buy.
- Deck boards: the flat top and bottom load surfaces
- Lead boards: wider end boards that take the most tine impact
- Stringers: the three on-edge boards spanning a stringer pallet's length
- Blocks: the nine short posts supporting a block pallet
- Chamfer: beveled lead-board edge that guides forklift tines
- Notch: arched stringer cutout enabling partial four-way entry
Good questions
Block vs. Stringer Pallets FAQ
What is the difference between a block and stringer pallet?
A stringer pallet is supported by three boards set on edge and offers two-way entry (or four-way if notched). A block pallet is supported by nine solid blocks and offers true four-way entry with no notches. Block pallets are generally stronger and better for automation; stringer pallets are cheaper and lighter.
Is a block or stringer pallet stronger?
Block pallets are usually more rigid and durable because they have no notches to crack and distribute load across nine posts. A heavy-duty hardwood stringer pallet is still very strong, but for repeated automated handling and export use, block construction typically holds up better.
Can a pallet jack use a stringer pallet?
Yes, but usually only from the two open ends. Even on a notched four-way stringer pallet, the notches aren't tall enough for a pallet jack's wheels, so jack access is limited to two sides. Block pallets allow a pallet jack in from all four sides.
Are GMA pallets stringer or block pallets?
Most GMA pallets are stringer pallets with three notched stringers for four-way forklift entry, but block-style GMA pallets also exist that use nine blocks for true four-way access. Both share the same 48" × 40" footprint.
What is the difference between two-way and four-way entry?
Two-way entry means forks can only enter from two opposite sides — the case for an un-notched stringer pallet. Four-way entry means forks can enter from all four sides. Notched stringer pallets give partial four-way access for forklifts, while block pallets give true four-way access for both forklifts and pallet jacks.
Why do automated warehouses prefer block pallets?
Block pallets have uniform four-way geometry and no protruding notched stringers, so they feed cleanly through conveyors, ASRS, and robotic palletizers without hanging up or tripping sensors. Machines are often spec'd for block construction, and a stringer pallet can jam equipment that expects blocks.
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