Dynamic vs static load: sizing your pallet

The 3 load ratings you need to know

Dynamic load

The dynamic load is the maximum weight the pallet can carry while being moved. It covers every use involving motion:

• Handling with a manual or electric pallet truck
• Lifting with a forklift
• Road transport (acceleration, braking, cornering)
• Stacking with a stacker or forklift

In handling and transport, it is the reference value to compare with your real load, because the forces generated by acceleration and deceleration add to the weight. In racking, the permissible load is checked separately.

Static load

The static load is the maximum weight supported at rest — on the ground, without movement or vibration. It is typically 2 to 4 times higher than the dynamic load, because the mechanical stresses are lower (no jolts, load applied progressively).

Relevant situations:

• Storage in floor piles (the bottom pallet carries the pallets above it)
• Long-term standing storage with no handling planned

Racking load (pallet racking)

A special case: storage in racking. The pallet rests on 2 parallel beams, which creates a central bending stress that does not exist on the ground. The permissible load depends on the spacing of the supports, the pallet orientation and the type of load: it is established by testing (ISO 8611) and in line with the racking supplier's requirements.

This value is critical for racked warehouses: undersizing means the risk of a pallet collapsing and goods falling. For heavy industry, choose reinforced heavy-duty pallets.

Load table by model

⚠️ Dynamic and static loads: indicative values for a new pallet with a distributed load, except the EPAL values (official data sheet). * CP pallets in racking: reference nominal racking load under the CP specification (edition 7, table 13), that is, 50% of the average breaking load measured on pallets made of low-strength timber that still meets the specified quality. The specification states that these values also apply to less severe uses than racking, such as block stacking. They are reference values for a new pallet tested as described in the specification; for a used pallet, a concentrated load or another racking configuration, have the permissible load checked.

How to calculate the pallet you need for your load

Step 1 — Measure your real load

Weigh the contents of a full pallet precisely, in your usual packaging. Example: 24 cartons × 12 kg = 288 kg → real load = 288 kg + the weight of the empty pallet (~25 kg for an EPAL) = 313 kg in total.

Step 2 — Check where the stated load comes from

A nominal load established by ISO 8611 testing applies to a new pallet and is at most half of its breaking load (a safety factor of at least 2). It is used to compare pallets: it is not a guaranteed payload. A catalogue value without testing offers no such basis: ask how it was established. In all cases, allow for:

• Progressive wear over the pallet's life cycle
• Handling shocks
• Asymmetric loads (off-centre gravity)
• Harsh conditions (humidity, cold, transport vibration)

Example: for 1,000 kg of real load, choose a pallet rated for at least 1,000 kg under your actual conditions of use (handling, stacking or racking), and check how that rating was established.

Step 3 — Identify the right model

Look up the pallet in the table above whose load covers your need in your conditions of use (handling, stacking or racking). If several options qualify:

• Single-use export → one-way pallet of the right class
• Closed loop / multi-rotation → EPAL or VMF depending on your sector
• Chemical industry → CP1 to CP9 depending on packaging
• Loads > 1,500 kg → heavy-duty pallet or custom build

Edge cases to anticipate

Concentrated load (point load vs distributed)

All published ratings assume a uniformly distributed load across the deck. If your packaging concentrates the weight in the centre (e.g. an 800 kg motor on an EPAL pallet), the permissible load can be much lower than the rating suggests: have it checked. For these cases, choose a custom pallet designed for that load.

Stacking several full pallets

If you stack 3 full pallets (say 3 × 800 kg in a truck), the bottom pallet carries 3 × 800 kg = 2,400 kg: its own load and that of the 2 pallets above it, as a static load. According to EPAL, when laden pallets are stacked on a solid, even surface, the bottom pallet must not carry more than 5,500 kg; in a truck, also allow for the forces of transport (starting, braking and cornering). A semi-heavy one-way pallet rated at 1,500 kg static is not suitable: with just 2 levels, the bottom pallet already carries 1,600 kg.

Humid or cold environments

Wood loses 20–30% of its strength in humid environments (unheated warehouse in winter) or cold ones (sub-zero cold storage). For these environments, take an extra margin or use a treated pallet (water-repellent, anti-fungal).

Fork entry (2-way vs 4-way)

A 4-way pallet can be picked up from all 4 sides. A 2-way pallet only from the 2 long sides. If your handling requires entry from any side (automated logistics), a 4-way pallet is mandatory. All EPAL and CP pallets are 4-way. Some light one-way pallets are 2-way — check case by case.