Used 42 x 42 plastic pallets
Used 42 x 42 plastic pallets are a square footprint that ranks second among all pallet sizes produced in the US, and one plastic supplier lists a nestable at this size as a best seller. We describe each used lot by wear.
- Footprint
- 42 x 42 in (1067 mm square)
- US rank, all materials
- Second most produced
- Plastic supplier note
- Listed as a nestable best seller
- Deck area
- 12.3 sq ft
What the ranking tells you
Second in the US across wood, plastic and every other material means a great many racks, trailers and loading lines already handle 42 x 42. It does not mean plastic 42 x 42 pallets are plentiful. One supplier lists a nestable at this size as a best seller, and that is the only plastic fact this page can source.
- The rank is for all materials, not plastic alone
- The nestable best seller note comes from one supplier
- Used plastic supply is matched per request, never assumed
Nestable squares in use
Nestable pallets fit into one another when empty and cut empty-pallet storage space by up to 75 percent. A square nestable at 42 x 42 stores compactly between uses, and used ones are bought by buyers who return pallets to a known site. That makes closed-loop buyers the natural audience.
| Question | Why it matters at 42 x 42 |
|---|---|
| Nestable or stackable? | Nestables store compactly empty, but stack differently when loaded |
| Static rating? | Governs how the bottom pallet of a stack behaves |
| Closed loop? | A uniform lot of one maker is easier to manage |
| Racking? | Lighter nestables are generally not rated for racking |
Numbers worked out here
| Footprint | Deck area | Compared with GMA |
|---|---|---|
| 42 x 42 (this page) | 12.3 sq ft | 92% of a 48 x 40 |
| 48 x 40 | 13.3 sq ft | 100% of a 48 x 40 |
| 48 x 48 | 16.0 sq ft | 120% of a 48 x 40 |
| 45 x 45 | 14.1 sq ft | 105% of a 48 x 40 |
| 43 x 43 | 12.8 sq ft | 96% of a 48 x 40 |
A nestable square
The 42 x 42 is known as a nestable footprint, and a nested stack saves a great deal of floor and trailer space. The saving depends on the nest increment, which is the height each additional pallet adds to a stack, and on whether the pallets in a lot are all one model. Ask for the increment and the maker, and check that the lot is not a blend of nestable and rigid models that will not stack together.
Square and nested
A square nestable pallet has an advantage on narrow trucks: it can be turned any way without changing the pattern. Check that every pallet in the lot belongs to the same model, because models that look alike may not nest, and a mixed stack can lock together and need force to separate.
Questions to put to any seller
- Where did these pallets work, and what did they carry?
- How were they sorted, and who walked the lot?
- Are any welded, riveted or fitted with replacement parts?
- Can the maker's plate be photographed on several pallets?
- Will the description be sent in writing before payment is discussed?
Planning around the seasons
- Cold months bring brittle resin, so handle gently and avoid sharp drops.
- Warm months soften decks, so shorten stacks and keep loads in shade.
- Harvest, holiday and promotion peaks use pallets faster, so order earlier.
- Wet seasons add weight in the ribs, so allow a drying day before indoor use.
- Plan returns and exports for the weeks when dock space is free.
Walk-around checklist
The same four stops for every lot, in order. Tick each as you go.
- 1Deck: flat, continuous and seated on a table without rocking
- 2Corners: fork-strike gouges are surface scuffs, not through-chips
- 3Runners: whole along their length, no deep gouges
- 4Fork pockets: open on the sides the footprint is used with
- Nestable cones or legs undamaged
- Nested stack height measured
- Maker uniform across the lot
Words used on this page
- Racking load
- Weight a pallet carries bridging an open span in unsupported racking. Often the lowest rating.
- Nest increment
- How much height each extra nested pallet adds to a stack.
- Welding repair
- Plastic is hard to glue, so cracked parts are normally welded.
- Nestable
- Empty pallets stack inside one another, cutting empty storage space by up to 75 percent.
- Fork pocket
- Opening in the pallet where the forks go.
What the sources say
- HDPE is the most common resin in plastic pallets; PP is more rigid and the page recommends it for unsupported racking. nelsoncompany.com
- Nestable pallets can cut empty-pallet storage space by up to 75 percent. blog.containerexchanger.com
- Rehrig Pacific's 40 x 48 standard-duty nestable pallet weighs 26.5 lb with a static rating of 10,000 lb and dynamic 3,000 lb. rehrigpacific.com
- Rehrig Pacific offers the standard-duty nestable with recycled content of up to 90 percent in black, and describes it as 100 percent recyclable. rehrigpacific.com
How a request works
- Pick the footprint, then the grade you can live with.
- Say what the pallets will carry and how many you need.
- Read the written lot description that comes back.
- Agree the lot before anything moves.
The four grades, in a line each
- Like new. A few trips only. Clean, no cracks, no missing parts, deck and runners flat.
- Used and clean. Many trips, scuffs and colour variation, but whole and usable for general-purpose or closed-loop work.
- Repaired. A cracked or chipped part welded or swapped. Some designs use snap-lock parts for repair.
- Mixed lot. Mixed makers, colours and sizes sold by the truckload, sorted by footprint.
Questions people ask
Is 42 x 42 common in plastic?
One supplier lists a nestable at this size as a best seller, and the size is second most produced in the US across all materials.
What is the nest increment?
It is how much height each extra nested pallet adds to a stack. A standard-duty 48 x 40 nestable example lists 2.50 in.
Can it go on racking?
Nestable and lighter pallets are generally not rated for racking. Check the model.
Ask for a lot
Pick a footprint and a grade. The reply describes a matched lot in writing.