New Pallets
When your application demands pristine condition, exact specifications, or international shipping compliance, our new pallets deliver. Built from Pacific Northwest lumber at our Eugene facility, every pallet meets or exceeds NWPCA manufacturing standards.
Get New Pallet Pricing
Specify your size, material, and quantity for a detailed quote. Heat treatment and custom stenciling available on all orders.
When Does a New Pallet Make Sense?
Used pallets cover the majority of domestic shipping needs at a lower cost. But there are real-world scenarios where only a new pallet will do. Understanding when to invest in new versus recycled helps you optimize both cost and performance across your supply chain.
International export is the most common reason. The ISPM-15 standard requires that all wood packaging material crossing international borders be heat treated to 56 degrees Celsius at its core for a minimum of 30 minutes. While some used pallets carry a valid HT stamp, the surest way to guarantee compliance is with a freshly manufactured, heat-treated pallet stamped with our ISPM-15 certification mark.
Food, pharmaceutical, and clean-room environments often require new pallets for hygiene reasons. Retail display applications where the pallet will be seen by end consumers are another case where the clean, consistent look of new lumber matters. And if you need a non-standard size or heavy-duty load rating, building new ensures every board is spec-matched to your requirement.
Choose New When You Need:
Export Compliance
ISPM-15 heat-treated and stamped for international shipping to any country that enforces phytosanitary regulations.
Clean & Consistent Look
Fresh lumber with uniform color, no staining, and no repair marks. Ideal for retail floor display and customer-facing applications.
Exact Load Ratings
Engineered to support precise dynamic and static load requirements. Every board is selected for the correct grade of lumber.
Food & Pharma Compliance
New wood with no contamination history meets the strict requirements of FDA-regulated and SQF-certified facilities.
Automated Systems
New pallets are dimensionally consistent, critical for automated conveyor systems, AS/RS, and robotic palletizers that have tight tolerance requirements.
Lumber Options
We build new pallets from two primary material categories. The right choice depends on your load weight, exposure conditions, and budget.
Softwood Pallets
Our softwood pallets are built from locally sourced Douglas fir and pine, the most abundant and sustainable timber species in the Pacific Northwest. Softwood pallets are lighter in weight than hardwood, making them the preferred choice for air freight and applications where overall shipping weight matters.
Douglas fir is an exceptionally strong softwood with one of the highest strength-to-weight ratios of any North American lumber species. It resists splitting and takes nails well, resulting in a pallet that holds together under repeated use.
Hardwood Pallets
Hardwood pallets are built for durability and longevity. We use oak and maple sourced from responsibly managed forests. Hardwood is denser and more resistant to impact, making these pallets ideal for heavy loads, multi-trip use, and applications where the pallet will spend time in racking systems under sustained weight.
The higher density of hardwood means these pallets weigh more, but they can be reused significantly more times than softwood equivalents. For companies that manage a pallet pool and want maximum lifecycle value, hardwood is the smart long-term investment.
ISPM-15 Heat Treatment
The International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures No. 15 (ISPM-15) is the global standard for treating wood packaging materials used in international trade. Its purpose is to prevent the spread of invasive insects and plant diseases through wood-boring pests that can hide inside untreated lumber.
Our heat treatment process raises the core temperature of the lumber to a minimum of 56 degrees Celsius (132.8 degrees Fahrenheit) for at least 30 consecutive minutes. This kills any insects, larvae, or pathogens present in the wood without the use of any chemicals, making it safe for food-contact and environmentally responsible.
Every heat-treated pallet we produce is stamped with our official ISPM-15 certification mark, which is recognized by customs authorities in over 180 countries. If you are exporting goods from the United States, HT-stamped pallets ensure your shipment clears customs without delays or rejections.
HT Process Steps
Kiln Loading
Pallets are loaded into our certified heat treatment kiln with proper spacing for uniform airflow.
Core Heating
The kiln raises lumber core temperature to 56C minimum. Temperature probes embedded in sample boards verify compliance.
Hold Period
Temperature is maintained for a minimum of 30 minutes at the core. We typically run 45-minute holds for safety margin.
Cooling & Stamping
Pallets cool naturally, then receive our official IPPC/ISPM-15 stamp with our facility code and treatment designation.
Documentation
Each batch is logged with temperature records. We can provide heat treatment certificates for your shipping documentation.
Manufacturing Standards
NWPCA Compliant
All pallets are built to National Wooden Pallet and Container Association standards for dimensional accuracy, fastener placement, and structural performance.
Precision Cut Lumber
Every board is cut on calibrated equipment to tight tolerances. Consistent deck board width and stringer depth ensure pallets perform predictably in your system.
Ring-Shank Nails
We use ring-shank (annular thread) nails that resist withdrawal forces far better than smooth-shank nails, preventing deck boards from loosening over time.
Chamfered Lead Boards
Lead boards (the entry boards where forklifts engage) are chamfered to allow smooth fork entry and reduce the risk of boards catching and splitting during handling.
Moisture Content Control
Lumber moisture content is monitored to ensure it falls within the 19-25% range optimal for nailing and structural performance. Excess moisture is addressed before assembly.
Quality Control Audit
Random samples from each production run are weighed, measured, and load-tested to verify they meet the specifications agreed upon in your order.
New vs. Used: Quick Decision Guide
| Scenario | New | Used |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic one-way shipment | — | Recommended |
| International export | Recommended | — |
| Warehouse racking (long-term) | Recommended | — |
| Seasonal agricultural shipping | — | Recommended |
| Automated conveyor / palletizer | Recommended | — |
| Retail floor display | Recommended | — |
| General manufacturing | — | Recommended |
| Food/pharma clean environment | Recommended | — |
| Budget-constrained project | — | Recommended |
| Branded / printed pallet | Recommended | — |
Not sure which is right for you? Talk to our team and we will help you find the most cost-effective option for your specific use case.
Lumber Species Guide for New Pallets
The wood species you choose affects everything: load capacity, weight, cost, longevity, and even how the pallet performs in automated systems. Here is a detailed breakdown of every species we build with.
| Species | Type | Density (lb/ft3) | Janka Hardness | Bending Strength (psi) | Nail Holding | Decay Resistance | Cost Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Douglas Fir | Softwood | 32 | 660 lbf | 12,400 | Excellent | Moderate | $$ |
| Southern Yellow Pine | Softwood | 36 | 690 lbf | 12,800 | Good | Low-Moderate | $$ |
| Hem-Fir | Softwood | 28 | 500 lbf | 9,800 | Good | Low | $ |
| Spruce-Pine-Fir (SPF) | Softwood | 27 | 490 lbf | 9,400 | Good | Low | $ |
| Red Oak | Hardwood | 44 | 1,290 lbf | 14,300 | Very Good | Low | $$$ |
| Hard Maple | Hardwood | 44 | 1,450 lbf | 15,800 | Very Good | Low | $$$$ |
| White Birch | Hardwood | 39 | 910 lbf | 12,200 | Good | Low | $$$ |
| Yellow Poplar | Hardwood | 29 | 540 lbf | 10,100 | Good | Low | $$ |
Data sourced from the USDA Forest Products Laboratory Wood Handbook (FPL-GTR-190). Actual properties vary with moisture content, grade, and growth conditions.
Species Selection Recommendations
For Lightest Weight
Choose SPF (Spruce-Pine-Fir) or Hem-Fir. These are the lightest softwoods available and ideal when freight weight matters, such as air cargo, parcel shipments, or applications where employees must manually handle pallets frequently.
For Maximum Strength
Hard Maple or Red Oak provides the highest bending strength and impact resistance. These species are the right choice for heavy loads (3,000+ lbs), long-span racking, and pallet pools that demand maximum cycle life.
For Best Value
Douglas Fir delivers the best strength-to-cost ratio in the Pacific Northwest. It is locally abundant, strong for its weight, and priced competitively. This is our most popular species for general-purpose new pallets.
For Export / Heat Treatment
All species accept ISPM-15 heat treatment equally well. However, softwoods heat through faster due to lower density, which can slightly reduce processing time and cost. Douglas Fir and SYP are the most commonly specified species for export pallets.
Manufacturing Tolerances & Specifications
Consistency is critical, especially for automated handling systems. Every new pallet we manufacture is built to the following tolerance specifications unless tighter tolerances are agreed upon for your custom order.
| Dimension / Parameter | Standard Tolerance | Automation-Grade Tolerance | How We Verify |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall length | +/- 1/4" | +/- 1/8" | Tape measure and jig check on every 10th pallet |
| Overall width | +/- 1/4" | +/- 1/8" | Tape measure and jig check on every 10th pallet |
| Pallet height (assembled) | +/- 3/16" | +/- 1/8" | Caliper measurement on first article and random audit |
| Deck board thickness | +/- 1/16" | +/- 1/32" | Pre-cut verification at the saw, post-assembly spot check |
| Stringer depth | +/- 1/8" | +/- 1/16" | Cut-to-length on calibrated radial arm saw |
| Diagonal difference (squareness) | < 3/8" | < 3/16" | Diagonal tape measurement on assembled pallet |
| Deck board spacing | +/- 1/4" | +/- 1/8" | Spacer jig during nailing ensures consistent gaps |
| Nail placement | Within 1/2" of spec | Within 1/4" of spec | Pneumatic nailer jig with fixed guide positions |
| Chamfer depth (lead boards) | 3/8" to 1/2" | 3/8" +/- 1/16" | Router jig with fixed depth stop |
| Moisture content | < 25% | < 19% | Pin-type moisture meter, 3 readings per pallet |
Load Testing & Performance Data
Every new pallet design we manufacture is validated against industry-standard load testing protocols. Here is how our standard 48" x 40" new pallets perform under testing.
Load Capacity Ratings
Maximum uniformly distributed load while the pallet is being moved by forklift or pallet jack.
Maximum uniformly distributed load while the pallet sits on a flat floor surface with no movement.
Maximum uniformly distributed load while the pallet is supported only at its edges on racking beams.
Maximum load while the pallet rides on roller or chain conveyors supported at the edges only.
Testing Protocols We Follow
Our New Pallet Warranty & Quality Guarantee
What We Guarantee
Dimensional Accuracy
Every pallet will meet the dimensional tolerances specified in your order confirmation. If any pallet falls outside tolerance, we replace it at no charge.
Structural Integrity
Our new pallets are warranted against manufacturing defects in materials and workmanship for the first trip cycle. Any pallet that fails under rated load conditions due to a manufacturing defect will be replaced.
Heat Treatment Certification
All HT-stamped pallets are guaranteed to meet ISPM-15 requirements. If a shipment is rejected at customs due to our heat treatment stamp, we will cover the re-treatment cost and provide replacement pallets.
Moisture Content
Pallets specified as kiln-dried will test below 19% moisture content at time of delivery. Standard pallets will test below 25%. We provide moisture readings on request.
Making a Warranty Claim
Report the Issue
Call or email within 7 days of delivery with photos and a description of the defect. Note the quantity of affected pallets.
Inspection
Our quality team will review the photos and may request to inspect the pallets on-site. For clear-cut manufacturing defects, we often approve claims from photos alone.
Resolution
Approved claims are resolved with replacement pallets delivered at no cost, or a credit applied to your account. Turnaround for replacement delivery is typically 3 to 5 business days.
Exclusions
Our warranty covers manufacturing defects only. It does not cover damage caused by overloading beyond rated capacity, improper handling (forklift impact, drops), exposure to chemicals not specified at time of order, or normal wear and tear during use. Pallets modified after delivery are excluded from coverage.
Order New Pallets Today
Typical lead time is 3 to 7 business days for standard sizes, 5 to 14 days for custom builds. Rush orders may be available—call to discuss.