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What is a 5-runner plastic pallet?

What five runners mean, where the base works, and what to confirm before you buy

Published October 21, 2026

By John Anderson, Owner of Verde Trader

10+ years buying and selling used industrial packaging.

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A 5-runner plastic pallet has five runners under the deck. The number is only a count, so on its own it does not tell you how the runners are laid out, which sides can be entered, or what the pallet is rated to carry. Runner count and 4-way entry are separate questions. For the neighboring bases, see our guides to 4-runner and 3-runner pallets.

I have spent more than 10 years buying and selling used industrial packaging, so I look at pallets the way a buyer does: how they are built, how they are handled, and what they are rated to carry. This page explains how a 5-runner base is built, how it compares with 2-runner, 3-runner, 4-runner and 6-runner bases, and what to confirm before you buy one.

The short version

Build: A pallet with five runners under the deck, made in open-deck and closed-deck versions. Makers print the runner count, but the pages reviewed do not say how the five are arranged.
Entry: Varies by model. Some listings show 4-way entry and others do not say.
Typical range: Covers models in 1200 x 1000 mm (about 47 x 39 in) and 48 x 40 in. Weight about 30 to 62 lb, dynamic 2,200 to 8,800 lb, static 8,800 to 30,000 lb.
Rating note: Rack ratings are a fraction of static ratings: about 900 to 4,400 lb across the same models. The top figure belongs to a closed-deck model, and open-deck models reach about 3,300 lb.
Best fit: Loads that a specific model's printed dynamic, static and rack ratings cover, including rack storage on models rated for it. Those ratings and the entry type decide the fit more than the runner count does.

How a 5-runner plastic pallet is built

A 5-runner pallet is named for its runner count, which is the one part of the build that makers state consistently. The pages reviewed do not say how the five runners are arranged, so this guide does not describe a layout. They do show a deck on top of the runners, made as either an open deck or a closed deck.

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Listings show polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP). Full-size models stand about 6 inches tall (150 to 167 mm), and heavier models tend to carry higher static and rack ratings, from about 30 lb at the light end to about 62 lb at the heavy end.

Some models list added profiles or rods. Where a base appears with and without them, the version with them prints the higher rack rating, or the only one, and weighs about 4 to 8 lb more.

The tables below split the printed ratings by pallet size. Static, dynamic and rack ratings are explained in our guide to how much weight plastic pallets can hold.

1200 x 1000 mm(about 47 x 39 in)
Height	5.9 to 6.6 in150 to 167 mm
Weight	30 to 62 lb13.5 to 28 kg
Static	8,800 to 17,600 lb4,000 to 8,000 kg
Dynamic	2,200 to 8,800 lb1,000 to 4,000 kg
Rack	900 to 4,400 lb400 to 2,000 kg

48 x 40 in(1219 x 1016 mm)
Height	5.9 in150 mm
Weight	46 to 61 lb20.6 to 27.5 kg
Static	16,500 to 30,000 lb7,500 to 13,600 kg
Dynamic	2,800 to 5,000 lb1,250 to 2,270 kg
Rack	2,200 to 3,100 lb1,000 to 1,400 kg

Printed ratings for full-size models, with kilograms converted to pounds and rounded. Open-deck models in the 1200 x 1000 mm size top out near 3,300 lb on rack. The 48 x 40 in table rests on fewer models.

In the 1200 x 1000 mm size, printed dynamic ratings run from 2,200 to 8,800 lb, a fourfold spread under the same runner count.

How a 5-runner base compares with other bases

Runner count is shorthand for how a base is built, and the base shapes how a pallet is entered, stored and racked. The table sets the 5-runner base beside the other full-size bases a buyer might be weighing. It describes each design and does not rank them.

Swipe sideways to compare the other designs.

Plastic pallet bases compared
Feature	5-runner	2-runner	3-runner	4-runner	6-runner	Nine-legged
Build	Five runners under the deck	Two parallel runners under the deck	Three parallel runners under the deck	Two designs: a nestable body, or a frame of runners around the edge	Two sets of three runners, crossing each other	Nine legs instead of runners
Entry	4-way where stated; some listings do not say	Not stated in the listings checked	2-way if solid, 4-way if notched	4-way where stated	4-way where stated	4-way where stated
Weight	About 30 to 62 lb	About 27 to 39 lb	About 24 to 52 lb	About 17 to 59 lb	About 31 to 68 lb	About 21 to 33 lb
Dynamic load	2,200 to Where a 5-runner pallet works Where a 5-runner pallet works depends on the model. The fits below come from what makers say on their pages for 5-runner models, so read them as common uses rather than guarantees for any one pallet. Settings where a 5-runner pallet fits Racked storage All but one of the models checked list a rack rating, and several makers describe their models for use in high racks. For how rack ratings are read, see our guide to rackable pallets. Conveyors and automated handling Several makers list roller conveyors for some models, and some models are described for automated high-rack warehouses or automated processes. Loads from light to heavy Makers position these models across a wide span. Some pages describe lightweight to medium loads or industries that do not need heavy-duty pallets, while others describe big bags, bagged goods and heavy loads. Hygiene-sensitive work Some models are described for hygiene-sensitive work, with closed-deck models among them. Pages use wording that runs from semi-hygienic to food, pharmaceutical and chemical industries, and several mention easy cleaning. Pools and closed loops Some makers describe models for closed loops, pools and distribution, and some for high-rotation use. Some pages also list export. Uses are what makers list for some of their models in the 1200 x 1000 mm (about 47 x 39 in) and 48 x 40 in sizes. They are not a rating for every 5-runner pallet. Several makers list the same model for both high racks and conveyors, so one pallet can cover a loop that includes both. Where a 5-runner pallet falls short Most of the shortfalls come down to what a listing leaves out and how its ratings are set. Ratings are printed figures, and most pages do not say how a rating was tested. Figures from different makers are therefore not a like-for-like comparison, even when the models look alike. Limits to weigh Entry is often not stated Makers state 4-way entry for half of the models checked. Most of the rest state nothing, and one maker's wording about rack and conveyor use can be read more than one way. None of the pages for the 48 x 40 in models checked states an entry type. Rack is the lowest rating In every model checked that lists a rack rating, it is the lowest of the three ratings or ties for lowest. It runs from about a third of the dynamic rating up to the same figure, and from about 8 to 31 percent of the static rating. Conveyor and rack use is not always listed Some models are described for non-automated processes, and some for industries that do not need high racking capability. Some pages state no use at all. Empties take room Makers list about 390 to 570 pallets per full trailer, depending on the model and trailer type. Nestable designs pack empties more tightly, as our guide to nestable plastic pallets explains. Counts and ratios come from the 24 full-size models checked: 20 in 1200 x 1000 mm (about 47 x 39 in) and 4 in 48 x 40 in. Trailer counts come from the pages that list them, and individual models vary. Entry, test conditions and conveyor or rack use are three points a 5-runner page can leave unsaid. What to check before you buy The usual buying checks, such as reading the three load ratings, deck style and food-grade needs, are in our guide to what to check before you buy plastic pallets. A 5-runner pallet adds a few of its own. The checks below cover what the 5-runner label leaves open. Where a seller can put the answers on a spec sheet or in writing, keep them with the order. Checklist for a 5-runner pallet Underside and runner count Ask for an underside photo or a sample, and count the runners. Some makers sell the same pallet with 3 or 5 runners, so the count on the listing is worth confirming against the photo. Exact model, size and version Get the model name or article number. Then confirm the footprint, which is either 1200 x 1000 mm (about 47 x 39 in) or 48 x 40 in, and whether the version has added profiles or rods. Ratings belong to one version, and a version with added profiles or rods can list a higher rack rating and a higher weight. Entry Ask which sides of the pallet can be entered and by which equipment. If the listing does not say, treat entry as unconfirmed. Rack support If the pallets will go into racking, ask how the pallet sits on the beams when the rack rating applies and compare that with your racks. A rack rating is not printed for every model, so do not assume one. Equipment fit If the pallets will run on conveyors or in automated storage, ask the seller to confirm that exact model for that use. Several maker pages mark their load figures with an asterisk but print no footnote, so a rating can reach you without the conditions behind it. Frequently asked questions about 5 runner plastic pallets How do I read a model code such as OD-5R or CD-5R? Some makers build the model code from the deck and the runner count. In those catalogs, OD means an open deck, CD means a closed deck, and a number followed by R gives the runners, so OD-5R is an open deck with five runners and CD-5R is a closed deck with five runners. Not every maker uses this pattern, so read a code against the maker's own model page. Do 5-runner plastic pallets have anti-slip decks or rims? Some models do. Listings describe anti-slip features such as rubber inserts, grommets, plugs or strips on the deck, and rims that help hold a load or keep empty pallets in place when stacked. Some of these are options that are added or retrofitted, so it depends on the version. Are 5-runner pallets designed to handle fork contact? Several makers describe features meant for forklift handling, such as rounded corners or chamfered edges on both sides of the runners. These are described in words on the model's page rather than rated, so there is no figure to compare. Are 5-runner pallets made from recycled plastic? Some makers describe their 5-runner models as reusable and made from recycled plastic, and some say the pallets are recycled at the end of their life. Material and recycled content vary by model, and a page that does not state the material does not say either way. What conditions do load ratings assume? Where a maker prints its test conditions, ratings assume an evenly distributed load at about 68 F (20 C). The static rating assumes the pallet on flat ground, and the dynamic rating assumes it carried on a forklift. The rack rating assumes the pallet resting on two supports for more than 100 hours, and the same note says results can vary with the loading method, the temperature and the storage time. For how the three ratings differ, see our guide to how much weight plastic pallets can hold. Sources This page draws on manufacturer product pages and spec sheets, one test standard and one pallet pool guide. Ranges cover full-size models only, in 1200 x 1000 mm (about 47 x 39 in) and 48 x 40 in. Kilogram figures are converted to pounds and rounded. Counts and ratios, such as how many models state 4-way entry, are tallied from the pages below. Pages were accessed October 2026. Industry standards and research (what is defined) ASTM D1185: Standard test methods for pallets and related structures employed in materials handling and shipping. Test methods (current listing D1185-98a(2025)). Its scope names skids, bases, platforms and bins, which is the wording the skid paragraph relies on. A test method, not a definition of any base design. Manufacturer specifications Cabka: Eco i5 OD-5R; Eco i5.1 OD-5R; Eco i5.2 OD-5R; Eco i7.1 OD-5R; Endur i7 OD-5R; Endur i7 CD-5R; Endur i9 OD-5R; Endur i9.1 OD-5R. 5-runner models and their same-page 3-runner versions in 1200 x 1000 mm: weight, entry, loads and some use wording. Entry is printed once per page, and some tables carry an asterisk with no footnote text. Craemer: E3-5 data sheet; E3-5 news page; CR3-5; CR4-5; D3-5; TC3-5; TC3-5 flyer. Weight, loads, "in racking" figures, use wording and, for E3-5 and TC3-5, 4-way entry. The CR3-5, CR4-5 and D3-5 pages state no entry. CR4-5 is 48 x 40 in. The data sheet and flyer print test conditions, and some product pages mark load tables with a footnote that is not shown. Tosca: PPP5 1210 spec sheet; DIC/MP3 1210 page. Weight, loads and use wording. Entry reads "2-ways in rack and 2 ways on a conveyor belt", which does not name 4-way. No test conditions are printed. Greystone: WDP 48x40 5-runner. 48 x 40 in, weight in pounds, and static, dynamic and rack ratings with and without three rods. States no entry and no use, and prints rack as N/A for the version without rods. Other bases in the comparison table: the 2-runner, 3-runner, 4-runner, 6-runner and nine-legged figures are carried over from our 4-runner guide, which lists the pages behind them. They were not re-derived for this page. Terminology and background iGPS: Plastic Pallets: Your Definitive Guide. Three-runner and nine-legged pallets being technically skids, notched runners for 4-way entry and solid for 2-way, six-runner pallets also called cruciform or picture frame with two sets of three runners, nine legs letting pallets nest. General guidance, and it does not mention 5-runner pallets. No standard or pool guide checked defines the term 5-runner, and none of the maker pages reviewed says where the five runners sit. Ratings are as printed, and only some documents print the conditions they were tested under. About this page Written by the Verde Trader operations team. We buy and sell used plastic pallets and have handled more than 8,000 orders through mid-2026. 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