Plastic
Pallets
A buyer's guide to plastic pallets for the Baltimore area. Request a free quote and a partner supplier follows up with options.
When Plastic Pallets Make Sense
Closed-Loop Use
Plastic pays off when pallets come back and get used again: between two of your own sites, to a regular customer who returns them, or inside one plant. A pallet that is reused many times spreads its higher purchase cost over more trips. If pallets leave and never return, wood is usually the better fit.
Washdown and Damp Areas
Plastic does not absorb water, rot or grow mold the way wood can, and most designs can be washed or rinsed. That makes them a common choice for wet floors, outdoor staging and areas where wood would be slow to dry.
Automated and Racked Handling
Molded pallets hold the same dimensions from one to the next and have no nails or splinters. Conveyors, pallet shuttles and some racking setups run more smoothly with uniform pallets. Check the rated load for rack use with the supplier.
Export Shipments
ISPM 15 covers wood packaging, so a solid plastic pallet does not need a heat-treatment or fumigation stamp. Confirm the rules for the destination country with your carrier or broker, and mention export use in your quote request.
Plastic
Versus Wood
Neither material wins everywhere. Wood is cheaper to buy, easy to repair and widely available, so it dominates one-way shipping. Plastic costs more up front and is harder to fix, but it can stay in service across many trips when it is handled well.
Many Baltimore-area buyers use both: wood for outbound freight, plastic for internal moves or returnable loops. You can ask for quotes on both in one request.
Washable, Uniform, Reusable
Resists moisture and pests, keeps its dimensions, and is often lighter to handle. Higher purchase cost, and it can be slippery unless it has anti-slip features.
Repairable, Common, Flexible
Easy to repair, available in many grades and sizes, and suited to one-way use. Needs an ISPM 15 stamp for international shipping and absorbs moisture.
Nestable Designs
Nestable pallets stack into each other when empty, which saves space when you ship or store them returned. They are usually lighter-duty than rackable models, so check the rating for your use.
Rackable Designs
Rackable pallets have reinforced decks or runners so they can sit on rack beams without sagging. Tell the supplier the beam spacing and the weight of the heaviest load.
Closed Versus Open Deck
A closed deck gives a flat surface and is easier to rinse. An open deck is lighter and drains water. Choose by what you load and how you clean.
Entry and Size
Like wood, plastic pallets come with two-way or four-way entry and in sizes such as 48x40 and 1200x1000. Match the footprint to your racking, trailers and any customer requirement.
Surface and Grip
Smooth plastic can be slick under wrapped loads. Ask about anti-slip surfaces, raised rims or inserts, and about stretch wrap or strapping for loose stacks.
Used and Reground
Some partner suppliers may carry used plastic pallets, which cost less than new. Ask for the condition and any cracks, and whether the resin is virgin or recycled.
Choosing
Plastic Pallets
What to think about before you request a quote, and what to tell a partner supplier so the quote fits.
Decide Whether the Pallet Will Come Back
The most useful question is whether you will get the pallet back. In a closed loop, such as moving goods between your own buildings or to a customer who returns pallets, a plastic pallet can be used again and again. In an open loop, where freight goes out and the pallet is not returned, the higher purchase price is hard to justify, and wood or a pooled arrangement tends to be simpler.
Be honest with yourself about return rates. Pallets left at customer docks, taken by carriers or mixed into someone else's stack do not come back. If you expect some loss, say so in your request and ask the supplier what they would suggest.
Match the Pallet to the Load and the Handling
Plastic pallets are rated for different conditions: loaded on the floor, stacked, or held on rack beams. A model that is fine on the floor may bend on a rack. Give the supplier the heaviest loaded weight, how the pallet is stored, and the equipment that moves it, such as forklifts, pallet jacks or conveyors.
Also mention temperature and surroundings. Cold rooms, hot sun and chemicals can affect some resins. If pallets will be washed, tell the supplier how, so you get a design that drains and rinses well.
Export, Mixed Loads and Disposal
For shipments leaving the country, plastic avoids the wood-packaging marking rules because it is not wood. Receiving countries and carriers can have their own requirements, so confirm before you ship. Baltimore's port makes export a real consideration for many local buyers, and a plastic pallet can simplify paperwork for those loads. Check current regulations for your route.
At the end of life, ask about take-back or recycling. Whether a supplier can take worn pallets depends on the resin and on who is in the network at the time. It is easier to ask up front than to find a solution after the pallets are cracked.
What to Include
in Your Request
The more detail you give, the more useful the quote. Pricing is by quote from partner suppliers and depends on size, quantity and design.
About the Pallet
- •Footprint, such as 48x40, 48x48 or 1200x1000
- •Two-way or four-way entry
- •Open or closed deck, nestable or rackable
- •New or used, and any colour or branding wishes
- •Anti-slip features, if wrapped or loose loads are involved
About Your Use
- •Heaviest loaded weight and how it is stored: floor, stacked or racked
- •Equipment: forklift, pallet jack, conveyor or automated line
- •Washing, cold storage, outdoor use or other conditions
- •Quantity, and whether you want delivery or pickup through a supplier
- •Export use, and whether you want take-back or recycling of worn pallets
Ask for Plastic and Wood Quotes Together
If you are not sure which material fits, request both. A partner supplier can follow up with options and explain the trade-offs for your use. Requests come from the Baltimore area, and availability depends on partner suppliers.
Wood pallets sent abroad need an ISPM 15 stamp from an accredited program, so ask the supplier for ISPM 15 stamped pallets when you request wood for export.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does a plastic pallet make more sense than wood?
Plastic tends to suit closed-loop use, where the same pallets circulate between your sites or a known partner and come back to you. It also suits washdown areas, damp or cold storage, and automated lines that need consistent dimensions. For one-way shipments wood is usually the easier choice.
Do plastic pallets need an ISPM 15 stamp?
ISPM 15 is a standard for wood packaging, so a pallet made entirely of plastic is not covered by the heat-treatment or fumigation marking. Check the destination country and your carrier before shipping, and note that any wood parts in a mixed design are a separate question.
How are plastic pallets cleaned?
Most can be washed or pressure-rinsed, and smooth, closed-deck designs have fewer places for debris to collect. Ask the supplier about the resin and the cleaning methods that suit the model you are considering.
What should I tell a supplier about load requirements?
Give the heaviest loaded weight, whether pallets will sit on the floor, on a rack or be stacked, and the forklift or pallet jack type. Load ratings differ between models and between floor, rack and stacked use, so ask for the rating that matches how you will actually use them.
Are plastic pallets good for cold storage?
Some designs are made for low temperatures and others can become brittle in the cold. Tell the supplier the lowest temperature the pallets will see and ask which model and resin suit it.
What sizes are available?
Common footprints such as 48x40 (GMA), 48x48, 42x42 and 1200x1000 are widely made in plastic. Custom sizes may be possible through some suppliers. Mention your racking and trailer dimensions when you request a quote.
What are the main downsides compared with wood?
Plastic usually costs more up front, can be slippery without anti-slip features, and is harder to repair in the field. Wood is easy to repair and widely available. Plastic is worth considering when the pallet will be reused many times.
Can plastic pallets be recycled at end of life?
Many plastic pallets are made of recyclable resin, but whether a worn pallet can be taken back depends on the resin and on partner suppliers in the area. Ask about take-back when you request a quote.
Can I request plastic and wood pallets together?
Yes. Say in your request that you want quotes on both, and a partner supplier can follow up with options. Availability depends on partner suppliers in the Baltimore area.