The side picture is what a typical stringer pallet may look like. The stringers are the boards located between the top deck boards and the bottom deck boards. The pallets name is derived from these boards, which are actually called the stringer boards.

The stringer boards are either solid or notched depending on the application. If the stringer boards are notched as shown it allows for a partial 4-way entry into the pallet. It is only a partial 4-way entry pallet because you can only get under the pallet with a pallet jack from the front and not the side. You can however get under the pallet from all four directions with a forklift, which is why it is called a partial 4-way entry pallet. If the stringer boards are solid with no notches, it is referred to as a 2-way entry pallet. This means you can only get under the pallet from the two sides.

The stringer pallet is the most commonly used pallet in the United States. Currently, the most widely used stringer pallet is the 48 x 40. This particular size pallet is used for many different kinds of products and can be mass-produced at a phenomenal rate. It is important to note that on a stringer pallet the length is noted first and is the stringer board length. The length of the deck board is the number that is noted second. Example: The number 48 is the length of the stringer and the 40 is the length of the deck board, thus the pallet is called a 48 x 40.

There are hundreds of different size stringer pallets and there are many factors that determine which size or type of pallet is right for your product or application. The amount of weight to be put on the pallet, the type of moving equipment, the kind of automation equipment, the particular product, the cost, and the type of racking or storing system are all important aspects to consider when selecting a pallet