Comparison
The most complete comparison on the market. Real cost over 3 years, load ratings, standards, environment — everything you need to make the right decision, wherever in the EU you operate.
The EPAL pallet (1200×800×144 mm) is the standardised European exchange pallet, built for multi-rotation: robust, repairable, exchangeable one-for-one in the open pool across the whole of Europe. The one-way pallet is designed for a single trip: lighter, cheaper per unit, and it never needs to come back. The right choice depends on your logistics loop, not on the unit price.
One cultural note for readers outside France: EPAL pallets are bought and owned outright. There is no rental contract, no operator fee, no return obligation to a pool company — just the one-for-one exchange convention between trading partners. More on exchange and pooling systems →
Golden rule: if your pallet makes round trips → EPAL. If it leaves for the customer and never returns → one-way. It really is that simple in 80% of cases.
| Criterion | EPAL pallet | One-way pallet |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 1200×800×144 mm (standardised) | Variable (usually 1200×800 or 1200×1000) |
| Weight | ~25 kg (20–27 kg) | 5–19 kg depending on build |
| Dynamic load | 1,500 kg | 400–1,000 kg depending on model |
| Static load | 4,000 kg | Up to 1,700 kg (semi-heavy) |
| Number of uses | 10–15 rotations (often more) | 1 single use |
| Standard | EPAL / EN 13698-1 | No imposed standard |
| Construction | 11 boards, 9 blocks, 78 nails | Variable, light softwood |
| Board thickness | 22–24 mm | ≤ 15 mm (light models) |
| Repairable | Yes (by EPAL-licensed repairers) | No (discarded after use) |
| Exchangeable | Yes (open European pool, 1 for 1) | No |
| ISPM 15 | Included on new, on request for second-hand | Included at DirectPAL |
| Entry points | 4-way | 2- or 4-way depending on model |
| Environmental impact | Low (reuse + repair) | Higher (single use) |
We publish our price ranges — rare in this market. Indicative prices per pallet, excl. VAT, for full-truckload volumes ex-works our Paris-region depots:
| Pallet | Published range (excl. VAT) |
|---|---|
| EPAL grade 1 | €10.50 – €13.30 |
| EPAL grade 2 | €9.00 – €11.60 |
| One-way 80×120 light | €4.30 – €5.40 |
| One-way 80×120 semi-heavy | €4.80 – €6.00 |
VAT: Intra-EU supply: invoice without VAT with your valid EU VAT number (reverse charge, Art. 138 of Directive 2006/112/EC). See all prices in detail →
Comparing the unit price of an EPAL and a one-way pallet is misleading. What matters is the cost per rotation — the total cost divided by the number of effective uses.
Take a concrete example. A company shipping 300 pallets a week in a closed loop (the pallets come back):
EPAL scenario: higher initial investment, but each pallet serves 10 to 15 times. With occasional repairs, the cost per rotation is divided by the number of cycles. Over 3 years, the saving can reach 50 to 60% compared with one-way pallets.
One-way scenario: low unit cost, but 300 new pallets have to be bought every week. Over 3 years, the cumulative spend far exceeds the initial EPAL investment.
The important exception: if your pallets leave for export with no possible return, the calculation flips. Buying EPAL pallets you will never recover means wasting money and resources. In that case, the ISPM 15 one-way pallet is the rational choice.
You deliver regular customers who return your pallets — directly or through the exchange convention? The EPAL is made for exactly that. The one-for-one system keeps the administration simple: you hand over a compliant EPAL for every EPAL you receive, anywhere in Europe.
With 1,500 kg dynamic and 4,000 kg static capacity, the EPAL carries loads that one-way pallets cannot take. If your goods exceed 800 kg, an EPAL (or a CP chemical pallet) is the safe choice. Dynamic vs static load explained →
The standardised dimensions and rigorous construction of the EPAL guarantee compatibility with conveyors, automated pallet trucks and palletising systems. A one-way pallet with approximate dimensions can jam an entire line.
An EPAL pallet in good condition conveys a professional image. Its reusability and repairability are concrete CSR arguments — especially in the context of the EU Deforestation Regulation and CSRD sustainability reporting.
This is use case number one. You ship to North America, Asia, North Africa — or to the UK since Brexit? The pallet will not come back. Use a one-way pallet treated ISPM 15, compliant and economical. Our export guide →
For goods under 500 kg, a light or semi-heavy pallet is more than enough. There is no point paying the premium of an EPAL if the load does not demand it.
No regular flow? Volumes low or irregular? The one-way pallet avoids tying up capital in a stock of exchange pallets.
If your goods risk contaminating the pallet (chemicals, paint, soiling products), a one-way pallet you never have to recover and clean is the better option.
The companies with the best-run logistics do not choose between EPAL and one-way — they combine both by flow:
EPAL for internal flows, regular customers and exchange loops.
One-way for export, occasional customers and no-return shipments.
This mixed approach optimises cost while keeping quality where it matters.
DirectPAL supplies both. EPAL pallets in grade 1 or grade 2 — sorted and checked lot by lot — and one-way pallets in every build strength, ISPM 15 included. We advise you on the optimal mix for your flows, in French or English. Full truckload across the EU; below 300 pallets, pickup at one of our 3 depots in the Paris region. Request a quote →
Technically yes, but it is risky. Boards of 15 mm or less deform quickly, and the pallet is not designed to be repaired. Beyond one use, the risk of breakage rises considerably. For multi-rotation, use an EPAL.
Not always in the market at large — but at DirectPAL, all our one-way pallets are delivered with ISPM 15 treatment included and the IPPC mark. It is a point to verify imperatively if you export outside the EU or to the UK.
If it has been checked and, where necessary, repaired by an EPAL-licensed operator, yes. The compliance criteria are identical. A grade 1 second-hand EPAL is in near-new condition and carries the same loads as a new pallet.
Per unit, yes — our published ranges above speak for themselves. But on a regular flow with returns, the EPAL works out cheaper overall thanks to its 10 to 15 life cycles. Reason in cost per rotation, not in unit cost.
Full specifications, grades, identification. Everything about the most used pallet in Europe.
Light, semi-heavy, heavy and perimeter-base. Formats and load ratings in detail.
Interactive decision tree and comparison table of all the families.