Four-way entry, drawn exploded
Four-way entry means forks can enter from all four sides. A block pallet does it by design; a stringer pallet does it with notches.
- Size
- Any
- Build
- Block or notched stringer
- Entry
- All four sides
- Grade
- A, new
- Trades
- Busy docks, automated lines
Two ways to get four sides
| Route | How it works | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Block build | A 3 by 3 grid of blocks leaves the space between them open on every side | More wood, more nails |
| Notched stringers | A profile is cut out of each stringer so a fork can pass sideways | Weaker stringers; limited load |
What the dock gets
Dock work changes once a pallet can be approached from any side. A pallet no longer needs to be turned before it is lifted, which saves a pass at the cross-dock and removes a source of damage.
One source says four-way pallets are usually heavier, bigger and more durable than two-way ones. That is a tendency, not a rule: a notched stringer pallet is still lighter than a block one.
What it costs
More wood means a higher price per pallet and more weight on the trailer. If most pallets are lifted from one direction, the extra openings are paid for and never used.
A block build is explained on its own page: the block pallet. The plain alternative is two-way.
Notching, and what it costs the stringer
A notch removes wood from the stringer exactly where a load sits. A notched stringer pallet is therefore weaker than an un-notched one of the same size, and often has a lower rating. If the load is heavy, a block build gives four-way entry without that trade.
Automation and four-way entry
Automated guided vehicles and pallet shuttles go in from whichever side the system has been programmed for. A four-way pallet lets the system choose, and so the stock has to meet the specification the integrator wrote. Send that specification with a request.
Other builds are drawn on the stringer and two-way pages.
Short summary
Four-way means openings on every side, a sturdier pallet and a dock that is free to lift from anywhere. The choice pays when pallets move fast and from all angles.
A note on forklift behaviour
Even a four-way pallet is lifted most safely when the forks are spread wide and enter squarely. Entering at the corner puts a point load on a block or a notch, and that is where cracks begin. The pallet's openings give freedom, but a driver's habits still matter.
A four-way pallet in a trailer
Because the openings face all four sides, a pallet jack can pull a pallet from the rear of a trailer or from the side door. Trailers loaded through side doors benefit most.
Where four-way entry pays off
Four-way entry helps most in tight docks, in trailers loaded from the side and in warehouses where a pallet jack approaches from whichever side is free. It saves turning the pallet, which saves time on every move.
The cost is a more complex pallet, with blocks or notched stringers, and a price that reflects it. If the pallet only ever moves in one direction, the extra entry points are a cost with no return.
Checking the openings
Measure the opening height of a four-way pallet before buying. A pallet jack needs enough clearance to slide its forks in, and an opening that is too low or blocked by a stray board defeats the purpose of the design.
Source: Wikipedia, "Pallet" (read 10 November 2026).
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