Mục lục
- Why hand pallet truck dimensions matter
- Standard low-lift hand pallet truck dimensions
- Special hand pallet trucks for non-standard pallets
- High-lift hand pallet trucks and mast height
- How to match truck size to your pallet
- Hand pallet truck dimension table by capacity
- Sizing by aisle: the minimum-width formula
- Frequently asked questions about hand pallet truck dimensions
- Contact and hand pallet truck quote from ICD
Hand pallet truck dimensions decide whether the truck fits the pallet and the aisle. The two standard fork widths are narrow (550 mm) and wide (685 mm), with fork lengths of 1150-1220 mm, a lowered fork height of 85 mm, and a raised height of about 200 mm. Match the fork width to the gap between the pallet stringers, the fork length to your aisle, and the lowered height to the pallet entry. This guide gives the exact measurements, a full spec table by capacity, and the aisle formula so you order the right Xilin truck the first time.
Why hand pallet truck dimensions matter
The wrong size means the forks will not slide under the pallet, or the fork width is too wide for the pallet stringers, or the truck cannot turn inside a container or a narrow aisle. The four measurements to check before buying are: overall fork width, fork length, lowered fork height, and the truck height when raised. Getting them right keeps the truck working at full capacity, protects the pallet, and prevents the hydraulic unit from overloading on an off-centre load.
Standard low-lift hand pallet truck dimensions
The low-lift hand pallet truck is the most common material-handling unit. In Vietnam it comes in two standard fork widths, set by the dimensions of the plastic and wooden pallets in use.
Narrow-fork hand pallet truck
The narrow-fork version has an overall width of 550 mm and a fork length of 1150 mm. The inside gap between the two forks runs 220-230 mm. This spec suits small pallets under 1 metre and warehouses with very narrow aisles. It is highly manoeuvrable when loading inside a truck body or container where turning space is tight.
Wide-fork hand pallet truck
This is the most widely used international standard, fitted to 2.5-tonne and 3-tonne hand pallet trucks. The overall fork width is 685 mm and the fork length is typically 1220 mm, with an inside gap of 350-365 mm between the forks. It is fully compatible with export-standard pallets and single-deck plastic pallets of 1.1 metres and up. The wider fork footprint gives high stability with no wobble when moving bulky or heavy loads up to 3000 kg.
Common low-lift dimension summary
| Parameter | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Common capacity | 2.5 t / 3 t / 5 t |
| Lowered fork height | 85 mm |
| Raised fork height | 200 mm |
| Single fork width | 150-160 mm |
| Wheel material | PU on steel core or white nylon |
Special hand pallet trucks for non-standard pallets
Beyond the standard versions, warehouses often handle special pallets that need a matching truck size.
Super-low truck for paper or thin-entry pallets
Many European loads or carton-paper pallets have a very low entry. A standard truck with an 85 mm lowered height cannot slide in. A super-low hand pallet truck with a lowered height of just 35 mm or 51 mm is then the only solution. Because it sits so low, its raised height also reaches only about 90-140 mm.
Extra-long fork truck for bulky goods
For pipes, sheet metal, plywood, or for lifting two pallets at once, an extra-long fork truck is needed. Fork length can reach 1.5 m, 1.8 m, 2 m, or even 2.5 m. Note that an extra-long truck has a very large turning radius and needs a genuinely spacious warehouse.
Short-fork compact truck for very tight spaces
The opposite of the long-fork model, the compact hand pallet truck has a fork length of only 500-800 mm. It is the right tool inside a narrow truck body, in a building lift, or in very small electronics-component stores.
High-lift hand pallet trucks and mast height
Unlike low-lift units, buyers of high-lift hydraulic hand stackers must watch the lift height so the truck can place loads on racking safely.
Common lift heights
High-lift hand stackers usually offer standard lift heights of 1.6 m, 2 m, 2.5 m, and a maximum of 3 m. One critical figure is the overall truck height when lowered. If the truck is taller than the warehouse door or lift ceiling, you cannot move it into the work area no matter how high it lifts.
Fork width and support legs: narrow or straddle?
A high-lift stacker has adjustable forks, usually 320-740 mm wide. The key point is the support legs underneath. A narrow-leg stacker only works with single-deck pallets. For double-deck pallets you must choose a straddle-leg stacker whose legs open wide around the pallet, so the truck does not tip when lifting high.
How to match truck size to your pallet
To avoid buying a truck you cannot use, follow ICD Vietnam’s field procedure:
- Single-deck pallet: the most common type, with no bottom cross-rail. Most low-lift 2.5 t or 3 t trucks, or a standard high-lift stacker, will work.
- Double-deck pallet: has a bottom cross-rail. A standard low-lift truck still works, but a high-lift stacker must be the straddle-leg type. A narrow-leg stacker would jam its legs into the cross-rail, damaging the pallet and risking safety.
- Measuring tip: measure the gap between the two centre stringers of the pallet. If the gap is over 380 mm, choose the wide 685 mm fork for stability. If the gap is under 300 mm, the narrow 550 mm fork is the safe choice.
Hand pallet truck dimension table by capacity
Use this table to compare the main Xilin hand pallet trucks available at ICD Vietnam:
| Rated capacity | Fork (W x L) | Overall length | Overall width | Handle height | Fork height (low-raised) | Truck weight | Turning radius |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 tonne | 540 x 900 mm | 1450 mm | 540 mm | 1190 mm | 85-200 mm | 52 kg | 1480 mm |
| 2 tonnes | 540 x 1150 mm | 1620 mm | 540 mm | 1190 mm | 85-205 mm | 67 kg | 1610 mm |
| 2.5 t (standard) | 540 x 1150 mm | 1620 mm | 540 mm | 1214 mm | 85-205 mm | 72 kg | 1610 mm |
| 2.5 t short fork | 540 x 880 mm | 1380 mm | 540 mm | 1186 mm | 85-205 mm | 65 kg | 1350 mm |
| 2.5 t wide fork | 685 x 1220 mm | 1730 mm | 685 mm | 1214 mm | 85-200 mm | 78 kg | 1720 mm |
| 3 tonnes | 540 x 1150 mm | 1620 mm | 540 mm | 1214 mm | 85-205 mm | 76 kg | 1610 mm |
| 5 tonnes | 685 x 1220 mm | 1770 mm | 685 mm | 1214 mm | 85-205 mm | 92 kg | 1760 mm |
Sizing by aisle: the minimum-width formula
To check a truck fits your aisle, use the minimum right-angle stacking aisle formula:
Minimum aisle = Turning radius + Pallet length + Safety clearance (200 mm)
- 1000 x 1200 mm pallet + standard 2.5 t truck: 1610 + 1200 + 200 = 3010 mm (minimum aisle 3.0 m)
- 1100 x 1100 mm pallet + 2.5 t short-fork truck: 1350 + 1100 + 200 = 2650 mm (aisle 2.65 m)
- 1200 x 1600 mm bulky pallet + 5 t truck: 1760 + 1600 + 200 = 3560 mm (needs 3.6 m+)
A common mistake: a warehouse designed with 2.5 m aisles but fitted with a standard 2.5 t truck cannot turn and has to reverse out, costing about 30 percent more handling time.
Frequently asked questions about hand pallet truck dimensions
1. Will a 685 mm wide truck fit a 1-metre-wide pallet?
Usually no. A 1-metre pallet tends to have a narrow gap between the stringers, so the 685 mm fork of a 3-tonne truck catches on the pallet stringer and cannot slide fully into the load centre. Choose the 550 mm narrow fork for small pallets.
2. Can a 1.6 m high-lift truck pass through a 1.8 m warehouse door?
Check the truck height when lowered. A 1.6 m high-lift stacker usually has a mast about 2 m tall for hydraulic stability, so it will not clear an 1.8 m door even though its lift rating is lower.
3. Can a hand pallet truck fit in a building lift?
Yes, if you choose a compact short-fork truck of about 800 mm. Check the lift floor rating first so the combined weight of truck and load does not exceed the limit.
4. What is the standard lowered fork height?
A standard low-lift hand pallet truck has a lowered fork height of 85 mm and a raised height of about 200 mm. For thin-entry or paper pallets, a super-low truck drops to 35-51 mm.
5. How do I measure a pallet to pick the fork width?
Measure the gap between the two centre stringers. Over 380 mm: use the wide 685 mm fork. Under 300 mm: use the narrow 550 mm fork. This keeps the truck stable and prevents catching on the pallet.
Contact and hand pallet truck quote from ICD
ICD Viet Nam Industrial Production Company Limited
North: Floor 3, Thang Long A1 Building, Bau Hamlet, Thien Loc Commune, Hanoi - 0983 797 186 / 090 345 9186 / 090 5859 186
South: 551/212 Le Van Khuong, Tan Thoi Hiep, District 12, Ho Chi Minh City - 098 6784 186
Email: sales@icdvietnam.com.vn · Zalo: Chat on Zalo now
ICD distributes Xilin hand pallet trucks with a 2-year warranty. Send your pallet base dimensions and aisle width, and our technical team measures on site and quotes the right fork width and length for your warehouse. Browse the hand pallet truck range or the 2.5-tonne BF-III hand pallet truck.
