Used 45 x 45 plastic pallets
Used 45 x 45 plastic pallets are the CP9 chemical standard, 1140 by 1140 mm, used for bags, boxes and drums and cut to cube well in a container. We grade each lot by wear and state what it was built to carry.
- Footprint
- 45 x 45 in (1140 x 1140 mm)
- Standard
- CP9 chemical
- Example rating (STK 754)
- Dynamic 3,100 lb, static 6,300 lb
- Deck area
- 14.1 sq ft
What CP9 means
CP9 is a chemical-industry pallet standard, 1140 x 1140 mm, which is 45 x 45 in. It exists because the chemical trade moves bags, boxes and drums in square patterns and wants a footprint that cubes well in a container. A used 45 x 45 plastic pallet slots into that trade without anyone changing a rack.
| Load | Fits the square how | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Bags | Stacked in a square or pinwheel pattern | Closed deck keeps loose bag corners from dropping |
| Boxes | Square pattern, edges inside the deck | Overhang invites fork strikes |
| Drums | Fewer per layer than on 48 x 48 | Check which footprint the drum count needs |
| Container loads | Square footprints cube well | Cubing depends on the container, not just the pallet |
The rating to compare against
One published 45 x 45 stackable (STK 754) lists 3,100 lb dynamic and 6,300 lb static. That is far below the 30,000 lb static of the 48 x 48 and one-piece 48 x 40 examples, which is the point: the footprint tells you nothing about the rating. Always ask for the rating of the actual pallet.
- Same footprint, very different ratings
- Used lots carry the rating of their make, not of their size
- If the rating is missing, the lot is described as unrated
Used lots at this size
Used supply of 45 x 45 depends on who is retiring a chemical line. The request form takes the footprint and the use, and we say in the reply whether a matching lot can be described. We do not publish counts.
| Footprint | Deck area | Compared with GMA |
|---|---|---|
| 45 x 45 (this page) | 14.1 sq ft | 105% 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 |
| 43 x 43 | 12.8 sq ft | 96% of a 48 x 40 |
| 42 x 42 | 12.3 sq ft | 92% of a 48 x 40 |
A chemical standard and its neighbours
The 45 x 45 is the CP9 chemical-industry footprint for bags, boxes and drums. Because it sits next to 43 x 43 and 48 x 48 in the size list, a mixed lot can hide the wrong ones. Measure three pallets from different stacks and write down the readings. A bag-and-drum buyer should also ask what the pallets carried before, since residue and smell are a bigger concern in this trade than a scuffed runner.
Drums, bags and boxes
On a 45 x 45, drums sit in a four-up pattern with small gaps, bags stack in interlocked layers and boxes can overhang slightly if the pattern is poor. Test the pattern on a sample, and watch for overhang, which exposes cartons to damage at the edge. Ask the desk for pallets that match the load you intend.
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
- Rating confirmed against the load
- Deck: chemical stains and odour noted
- Resin noted
Words used on this page
- CP9
- A chemical-industry pallet standard, 1140 x 1140 mm.
- Dynamic load
- Weight a pallet carries while moving on a forklift, pallet jack or conveyor.
- Stackable
- Loaded pallets can sit on top of each other, up to the static rating.
- Runners
- Bottom rails that touch the floor or rack and carry the load.
- Fork pocket
- Opening in the pallet where the forks go.
What the sources say
- 48 x 48 plastic pallets hold four 55-gallon drums without overhang; 48 x 45 matches North American auto parts bulk containers. nelsoncompany.com
- Static capacity is the highest of the three ratings; racking is often the lowest; dynamic is always lower than static. nelsoncompany.com
- Rehrig Pacific's 40 x 48 rackable pallet weighs 44.2 lb with a dynamic rating of 4,000 lb, static 10,000 lb and edge rack 2,000 lb. rehrigpacific.com
- PHS lists 48 x 40 stackable plastic pallets with dynamic ratings of 2,500 to 5,000 lb and static ratings of 3,000 to 30,000 lb. phsinc.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 45 x 45 the same as 1140 x 1140?
Yes, 1140 mm is 45 in, rounded.
Can 45 x 45 pallets be mixed with 48 x 45?
They are different footprints. 48 x 45 matches North American automotive bulk containers, while 45 x 45 is the CP9 chemical standard.
Is the rating the same as 48 x 48?
No. The published examples are very different, and a used lot carries the rating of its own make.
Ask for a lot
Pick a footprint and a grade. The reply describes a matched lot in writing.