Plastic Pallets
When durability and hygiene matter most. Our plastic pallets are built to last and easy to clean.
Bakersfield Pallet Co. stocks a wide selection of new and used plastic pallets from leading manufacturers. Whether you need lightweight nestable pallets for export or heavy-duty rackable pallets for automated warehousing, we have the right solution. Visit us at 3240 Patton Way, Bakersfield, CA 93308 to view our inventory in person.
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Why Choose Plastic?
Plastic pallets are the premium choice for industries where hygiene, consistency, and longevity are critical. They are impervious to moisture, resistant to chemicals, and cannot harbor bacteria in the way wood grain can.
While the upfront cost is higher than wood, plastic pallets can last 10 times longer in closed-loop systems, making them extremely cost-effective over their lifespan.
Modern plastic pallets are manufactured from recycled resins, making them an environmentally responsible choice. At end of life, plastic pallets are 100% recyclable — they are ground into pellets and re-molded into new products. Our Sustainability Director, Wren Castellano, works closely with our plastic pallet suppliers to ensure our inventory includes options made from post-consumer recycled (PCR) content.
Plastic pallets are also the only pallet type that is completely exempt from ISPM-15 international shipping regulations. Since they contain no wood, there is no risk of harboring wood-boring pests, and no heat treatment or fumigation is required. This can save significant time and cost for businesses that ship internationally.
Moisture Proof
Will not absorb water, oils, or chemicals. Ideal for wash-down environments and outdoor storage. Plastic pallets maintain their structural integrity and weight regardless of humidity or exposure to liquids.
Consistent Weight
Unlike wood pallets that vary with moisture content, plastic pallets maintain the same weight throughout their life. This is critical for automated systems that rely on precise weight measurements for conveyor and sorting operations.
No Splinters or Nails
Eliminates the risk of product damage or worker injury from loose boards, splinters, or protruding fasteners. Smooth surfaces protect packaged goods and reduce workplace safety incidents.
Easy to Sanitize
Can be pressure-washed, steam-cleaned, or chemically sanitized to meet food-grade and pharmaceutical standards. Non-porous surfaces prevent bacterial growth and contamination between loads.
Long Lifespan
Average lifespan of 10+ years in a managed system. Some customers report 200+ trips per pallet. The total cost of ownership is often lower than wood when factoring in longevity and reduced replacement costs.
ISPM-15 Exempt
Plastic pallets do not require heat treatment for international shipping, as they cannot harbor wood pests. This eliminates treatment costs, documentation requirements, and the risk of shipment delays at customs.
Plastic Material Types
Plastic pallets are primarily manufactured from two types of resin: High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) and Polypropylene (PP). Each material offers distinct performance characteristics suited to different applications.
HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene)
The most common plastic pallet material
HDPE is the workhorse of the plastic pallet industry. It offers an excellent balance of strength, durability, and chemical resistance. HDPE pallets perform well across a wide temperature range and are highly resistant to impact damage. Most injection-molded and rotationally-molded plastic pallets are made from HDPE.
Material Properties
Best Applications
Cold storage and freezer environments, food processing, pharmaceutical manufacturing, chemical storage, outdoor applications, export shipping, and any environment requiring broad chemical resistance.
PP (Polypropylene)
Higher heat resistance, lighter weight
Polypropylene pallets offer higher heat resistance and stiffness compared to HDPE, making them ideal for applications involving high temperatures or autoclaving. PP is slightly lighter than HDPE and has excellent fatigue resistance, meaning it maintains its strength over many repeated load cycles. However, PP is more brittle at low temperatures.
Material Properties
Best Applications
High-temperature environments, autoclave sterilization (medical/lab), pharmaceutical clean rooms, environments with repeated flexing or hinging, and applications where minimal weight is critical for shipping cost reduction.
Nestable, Stackable & Rackable Designs
Plastic pallets come in three primary structural designs. The right choice depends on your storage system, handling equipment, and whether you need to optimize for return logistics or heavy-duty racking.
Nestable Pallets
Best for: Export, one-way shipping, space savings
Nestable pallets have a single-deck design with tapered feet or legs that allow empty pallets to nest inside one another. This dramatically reduces the space needed to store and transport empty pallets — up to 60% less space compared to non-nestable designs.
Ideal for one-way export shipping, lightweight loads, and businesses that need to minimize empty pallet storage space.
Stackable Pallets
Best for: Closed-loop, moderate loads, floor storage
Stackable pallets have a two-deck design (top and bottom decks connected by structural elements) that allows loaded pallets to be stacked on top of each other without additional support. This makes them ideal for floor storage in warehouses without racking.
Ideal for closed-loop distribution, floor-stacked warehouses, and operations that need moderate load capacity with good return logistics.
Rackable Pallets
Best for: Racking systems, AS/RS, heavy loads
Rackable pallets are the heaviest-duty plastic pallet design. They feature reinforced structural elements (often with internal steel reinforcement) that allow them to span rack beams without excessive deflection. Essential for pallet racking, push-back systems, and automated storage.
Essential for selective racking, drive-in racking, pallet flow systems, and automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS).
Plastic vs. Wood: Weight & Cost Analysis
While plastic pallets cost more upfront, the total cost of ownership often favors plastic for closed-loop and multi-trip applications. Here is a side-by-side comparison of a standard 48x40 pallet across both materials.
Weight Comparison (48x40)
Varies with moisture content and lumber species
Heavier due to additional block material
Lightest option — 60% less than wood
Comparable to lighter wood pallets
Similar to wood block due to reinforcement
Lifecycle Cost Analysis (48x40, per trip)
Cost analysis is approximate and based on typical usage patterns. Actual costs vary based on handling conditions, load weights, and system management. Contact us for a detailed cost comparison tailored to your specific operation.
Color-Coded Plastic Pallets
One of the unique advantages of plastic pallets is the ability to manufacture them in specific colors. Color coding allows warehouses and distribution centers to visually identify pallet purpose, product category, destination, or hygiene zone at a glance — without reading labels or scanning barcodes.
Color-coded pallet systems are particularly popular in food processing facilities where different colors designate different zones (raw materials, cooked products, allergen zones) and in pharmaceutical operations where segregation is required by regulation.
We stock plastic pallets in the most commonly requested colors and can source custom colors for larger orders. Color is molded into the entire pallet body — it does not chip, peel, or fade like paint or labels.
Common Color Applications
General purpose, most widely used. Black pallets are the standard for most industries and are typically the most affordable option.
Commonly used in food and pharmaceutical industries. Blue is the most popular non-black color and is often associated with hygienic environments.
Used for allergen zones, quarantine areas, or to flag pallets that need special handling. Red is an attention-getting color for safety-critical applications.
Often designated for organic products, recycled materials, or environmentally certified supply chains. Also used in produce distribution.
Clean room environments, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and any application where contamination must be immediately visible.
Used for export pallets, temporary staging areas, or to designate pallets that are in a return cycle and should not be loaded.
Hygiene & Sanitation Advantages
For industries regulated by the FDA, USDA, HACCP, or GMP standards, the hygienic properties of plastic pallets are a significant advantage over wood. Here is a detailed look at why plastic is the preferred material for clean environments.
Non-Porous Surface
Plastic has no grain, pores, or crevices where bacteria, mold, or fungi can establish colonies. Wood pallets, by contrast, have a porous structure that can trap moisture and organic matter, creating ideal conditions for microbial growth. This is the single most important hygiene advantage of plastic pallets.
Full Wash-Down Capability
Plastic pallets can be pressure-washed at temperatures up to 180°F (82°C) without damage. They can also be steam-sterilized, chemically sanitized with chlorine or quaternary ammonium compounds, or run through automated pallet washing systems. Cleaning cycles take minutes, not hours.
No Splinters or Particulates
Wood pallets shed splinters, sawdust, and wood fibers that can contaminate products and packaging. Plastic pallets produce zero particulates under normal use, making them suitable for clean rooms and particle-sensitive environments.
Chemical Resistance
HDPE and PP pallets resist a wide range of chemicals including acids, bases, alcohols, and many solvents. This means cleaning chemicals do not degrade the pallet surface, and chemical spills do not compromise structural integrity or create contamination risks.
No Insect Harborage
Wood pallets can harbor insects, larvae, and wood-boring pests — which is why ISPM-15 treatment exists. Plastic pallets are biologically inert and cannot sustain insect populations, eliminating this contamination vector entirely.
Odor Resistance
Wood pallets absorb and retain odors from chemicals, food products, and environmental sources. Plastic pallets do not absorb odors and can be cleaned to a neutral state after every use, preventing cross-contamination between different product types.
Industry-Specific Plastic Pallet Options
We carry plastic pallets designed for the specific requirements of regulated and specialized industries. Each option below addresses the unique challenges of its target sector.
Pharmaceutical
Rackable HDPE, Blue or White
Clean room compatible, autoclavable (PP option), FDA-approved resin, zero particulate shedding, precise dimensional tolerances for automated systems, fully enclosed bottom deck to prevent contamination from above in racking.
Food Processing
Stackable or Rackable HDPE, Blue
USDA/FDA compliant, wash-down rated to 180°F, anti-microbial additive available, ventilated deck options for cold storage airflow, HACCP-compatible color coding, compatible with metal detectors (no metal components).
Beverage
Rackable HDPE, Black
High static load capacity for stacked cases, beverage-specific deck configurations, compatible with automated palletizing systems, moisture-proof for cooler and freezer environments, reinforced for heavy concentrated loads.
Automotive
Rackable HDPE, Black or Custom
Heavy-duty construction for metal parts, oil and fluid resistant, anti-static options for electronic components, available in automotive-standard 48x45 size, steel-reinforced for maximum racking capacity.
Chemical
Stackable HDPE, Various Colors
Chemical-resistant resin formulation, spill containment lip option, compatible with drum and IBC configurations, 48x48 size available for standard drum patterns, color coding for hazmat segregation.
Retail & Display
Nestable HDPE, Custom Colors
Lightweight for in-store handling, smooth finished surface for retail environments, available in brand-specific colors, quarter-pallet and half-pallet display sizes, compatible with retail pallet jacks and hand trucks.
Complete Application Guide
Plastic pallets are the recommended solution for any application where hygiene, longevity, weight consistency, or pest-free shipping is a priority. Here is a comprehensive list of applications where our customers choose plastic over wood.