Direct answer
Choose the receiver’s accepted design, then check the real load and route.
For a domestic US grocery flow that may be a specified 48 × 40 inch design; for an EPAL exchange it may be an authentic EPAL load carrier; for export it may need compliant treatment and marking. These are different requirements and should not be collapsed into “standard wooden pallet.”
Step 1
Write the pallet specification before requesting a price
- Outside length, width, height and tolerances.
- Stringer or block construction, deck-board arrangement and entry directions.
- New, remanufactured or repaired status and permitted repair methods.
- Actual load, support, rack or conveyor condition and handling equipment.
- Moisture, cleanliness, protruding-fastener and damage acceptance criteria.
- Required pool, license, customer approval or export mark.
Use the sourced size reference for footprints, then obtain the full drawing from the receiver, pool or supplier.
Step 2
Apply ISPM 15 only where its scope and the lane require it.
ISPM 15 reduces pest risk from wood packaging material made from raw wood in international trade. It includes pallets and dunnage, while processed wood such as plywood is excluded under the standard’s scope. Countries implement the standard through their own import rules, so confirm the destination and transit requirements.
For US imports, APHIS says covered wood packaging must be pest-free, debarked, treated or fumigated as permitted, and marked with the official ISPM 15 mark. A normal “HT” text added by an unapproved party is not a substitute for the official program mark.
HT addresses phytosanitary treatment. It does not certify cleanliness, chemical history, structural capacity, ownership or suitability for DIY, food contact or indoor use.
Step 3
Replace grade labels with acceptance criteria
“Grade A,” “Grade B,” “premium” and “combo” can differ among suppliers. Define what can be measured: missing or broken boards, repair plates, block or stringer damage, protruding nails, odor, visible contamination, moisture, mold policy and dimensional tolerance.
OSHA requires stored materials to be stable and secure against sliding or collapse. A pallet condition check is part of that system; a grade label alone is not enough.
Sourcing tasks
Use the page that matches the job
Primary sources
Standards and safety references
- IPPC — ISPM 15, Regulation of wood packaging material in international tradeChecked 11 August 2026.
- USDA APHIS — importing ISPM 15-compliant wood packaging materialChecked 11 August 2026.
- EPAL — official load-carrier overviewChecked 11 August 2026.
- OSHA 1910.176 — materials handling and secure storageChecked 11 August 2026.
Common questions
FAQ
Does every wooden pallet need an ISPM 15 mark?
No. ISPM 15 concerns raw-wood packaging material moving in international trade. Domestic use, processed-wood components and individual trade lanes can have different rules.
Does an HT mark make pallet wood safe for DIY?
No. HT describes a phytosanitary heat treatment, not the pallet’s ownership, load history, contamination, structural condition or suitability for food, indoor or children’s use.
What size is a wooden pallet?
Wood is a material, not a footprint. Common examples include 48 × 40 inches and EPAL 1 at 1200 × 800 mm, but the receiver or pool specification controls.
Are Grade A, B and C definitions universal?
No. Supplier grade labels vary. Put measurable board, repair, contamination and tolerance requirements in the purchase order.
The page no longer says every pallet crossing a border must carry the same treatment, no longer treats HT as proof of DIY safety, and no longer presents supplier grade letters as universal standards.