New & custom pallets, built to your exact spec.
When reused won't do the job, we build it fresh. Odd sizes, heavy loads, block or stringer, and ISPM-15 heat-treated export platforms — engineered around your product.
Spec a custom build
Tell us what you've got or what you need. Every field marked * is required — we reply within one business day.
Four reasons to build instead of reuse
ISPM-15 shipments
International freight needs heat-treated, stamped wood. We build to the ISPM-15 standard so your load clears customs.
Odd sizes
Your product doesn't fit a 48×40? We cut the footprint to match — no wasted overhang, no cramped load.
Heavy & point loads
Machinery, stone, drums — we add stringers, thicker deck boards and blocks to carry concentrated weight.
Clean / uniform
Pharma, food and retail-facing loads that demand new, consistent, uncontaminated lumber every time.
Block vs. stringer — how they differ
The frame under the deck decides how a pallet handles, how much it carries, and how a forklift can enter it. Both are excellent; the choice is about your load and handling.
| Stringer pallet | Block pallet | |
|---|---|---|
| Frame | 3 parallel stringer boards | 9 solid blocks |
| Fork entry | Two-way (four-way if notched) | True four-way |
| Strength | Good — the North American workhorse | Higher, more rackable |
| Best for | Economical domestic freight | Heavy loads, automation, euro/global |
| Relative cost | Lower | Higher |
What you can specify
A custom pallet is a set of choices. Here are the levers we pull to match your product, load and freight path — mix and match, and we'll recommend the most economical combination that still meets your requirements.
| Option | Choices | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Footprint | Any size — from compact 32×32 to oversized 60×48+ | Eliminate overhang and wasted deck; fit racking and containers |
| Construction | Stringer or block | Fork entry, strength and cost |
| Deck | Flush or wing; solid, spaced or double-face | Surface support and stacking behavior |
| Board thickness | Standard to heavy-duty | Load capacity and durability |
| Treatment | Untreated or ISPM-15 heat-treated (HT) | Required for international export |
| Fasteners | Nails, screws, ring-shank | Hold, reuse life, and shake resistance |
Not sure what to pick? Send a photo and your load weight — spec'ing it is our job. Illustrative build pricing runs ~$18–$45+ each; request a quote for exact pricing.
From spec to loaded truck
Tell us the job
Load weight, product size, freight path (domestic or export), and quantity. Photos help.
We spec & quote
We recommend construction, size and treatment, then send firm pricing and a lead time.
We build
Your pallets are cut and assembled to spec — heat-treated and stamped if export-bound.
Custom, without the overkill
New & custom pallet FAQ
When should I buy new instead of recycled pallets?
Choose new or custom when a recycled unit can't meet the job: an odd footprint that isn't in the reused stream, a heavy or concentrated point load, strict cleanliness or appearance requirements, or an international shipment needing fresh ISPM-15 heat-treated lumber. For standard domestic freight, recycled almost always wins on price.
What's the difference between stringer and block pallets?
Stringer pallets use three parallel boards (stringers) as the frame and are typically two-way (or notched four-way) fork entry — economical and the North American default. Block pallets use nine solid blocks for true four-way entry, are stronger and more forklift-friendly, and are the global/euro standard. We build both; the right one depends on load, handling and budget.
Can you build ISPM-15 heat-treated pallets for export?
Yes. Export shipments require wood packaging that's heat-treated and stamped to the ISPM-15 standard. We build to that spec and mark it accordingly so your load clears customs. See our heat treatment guide for how the certification works.
How much do custom pallets cost?
New and custom builds typically run about $18–$45 or more each, driven by size, wood volume, board thickness, block vs. stringer construction and heat treatment. Larger runs bring the per-unit price down. These are illustrative figures — request a quote for exact pricing on your spec.
What's the lead time on a custom order?
It depends on quantity and whether the design needs heat treatment, but most custom runs are quoted with a firm lead time up front. Share your spec and deadline in a quote and we'll tell you exactly when it ships.
Do I need engineering drawings to order?
No. A photo of your product or existing pallet, your load weight, and your desired footprint are usually enough for us to spec a build. If you do have drawings, even better — send them along.
The full menu of choices
A custom pallet is engineered from four decisions: what it's made of, how it's framed, how the deck is laid out, and how the forks get in. Here's the full menu — pick what your load needs, and we'll steer you to the most economical combination that still meets spec.
| Spec area | Options | Pick it when… |
|---|---|---|
| Wood species | Hardwood (oak, mixed) · Softwood (SYP, SPF, pine) | Hardwood for max load/abuse; softwood for weight & cost |
| Fasteners | Standard nails · Ring-shank / spiral · Screws | Ring-shank or screws for more trips and shake resistance |
| Deck config | Solid · Spaced · Double-face · Flush or wing | Solid for small items; spaced to cut weight/cost |
| Fork entry | Two-way · Notched four-way · True four-way (block) | Four-way where forklifts approach from any side |
| Board thickness | Standard → heavy-duty | Thicker boards for heavier or concentrated loads |
| Treatment | Untreated · ISPM-15 heat-treated (HT) | HT is required for any international export |
Illustrative build pricing runs ~$18–$45+ each depending on these choices — request a quote for exact pricing.
Building pallets that clear customs
Any solid-wood packaging crossing an international border must comply with ISPM-15 — the global standard that requires wood to be heat-treated (or fumigated) to eliminate pests, then stamped with a certifying mark. Ship non-compliant wood and the whole load can be held, treated at your expense, or refused at the border.
We build export pallets from fresh lumber, run them through heat treatment (HT), and apply the compliant stamp so your freight moves without a customs snag. If you're unsure whether a shipment needs it, the safe answer is usually yes for international — the full rundown, including how to read the mark, lives on our heat treatment & ISPM-15 guide.
How fast a custom run turns around
Every custom order ships against a firm lead time we quote up front — no vague promises. What drives it is straightforward: quantity, whether the design needs heat treatment, and the complexity of the build. As a rough guide:
| Order profile | What affects timing | Relative lead time |
|---|---|---|
| Standard footprint, untreated, small run | Just cut & assemble | Shortest |
| Custom size, untreated, medium run | Setup for a new footprint | Moderate |
| ISPM-15 export build | Adds heat-treatment & stamping | Longer |
| Large recurring run | Scheduled, best per-unit price | Planned to a cadence |
Have a hard deadline? Put it on your quoteand we'll tell you exactly when it ships before you commit.
The honest comparison
We'll be the first to point you at recycled pallets when they fit — they're cheaper and greener. But some jobs genuinely call for fresh lumber. Here's where the line falls:
| Your situation | Better choice |
|---|---|
| Standard 48×40, domestic freight, best price | Recycled |
| Footprint not in the reused stream | New / custom |
| Heavy or concentrated point load | New / custom (engineered) |
| Pharma, food or retail cleanliness spec | New |
| International export shipment | New, ISPM-15 stamped |
| Uniform appearance across a large run | New |
Three builds we're often asked for
ISPM-15 shipper
48×40 block, softwood, four-way entry, standard deck, heat-treated and HT-stamped for international freight.
Machinery skid
Oversized hardwood stringer, extra stringers, heavy deck boards, ring-shank fasteners for a concentrated point load.
Odd-size retail
Custom sub-40-inch footprint, softwood, spaced deck to trim weight — sized to eliminate overhang in tight racking.
Custom build details
What wood species do you build with?
Most custom pallets are built from mixed hardwood (like oak) or softwood (like southern yellow pine and spruce-pine-fir), chosen for your load and budget. Hardwood carries more weight and takes more abuse; softwood is lighter and more economical and is easy to heat-treat for export. Tell us the load and freight path and we'll recommend the species that meets it for the least cost.
Can you build to a specific board thickness or capacity rating?
Yes. Deck-board thickness, stringer dimensions, block size and fastener type are all specifiable, so we can engineer a pallet to a target static and dynamic load. Give us your product weight and whether the load is distributed or concentrated (a point load), and we'll size the members to carry it with a safe margin.
Do you offer stamped, certified export pallets?
Yes. For international freight we build to the ISPM-15 standard and apply the heat-treatment (HT) stamp so your wood packaging clears customs. The mark certifies the wood was treated to kill pests — see our heat treatment guide for how it works and what it looks like.
Is there a minimum order for custom pallets?
We quote runs of many sizes, and per-unit price improves as quantity climbs because setup and cutting are amortized across more pallets. Small specialty runs are possible; large recurring runs get the best rate. Share your quantity and cadence on a quote and we'll price it honestly either way.
Before you order, check these
Have an unusual pallet to build?
Send us the spec — or a photo of the load — and we'll engineer it and quote it.