Table of Contents
Reviewed and updated by ICD - Week 30/2026
Common plastic pallet terms translate directly to English: pallet nhua = plastic pallet, pallet lien khoi = one-piece pallet, pallet lap ghep = assembled pallet, pallet mat kin = closed-deck pallet, pallet mat ho = open-deck pallet, tai trong = load capacity. Use these on export documents and enquiries.
In the logistics and warehousing industry, the term “pallet nhua” is used to refer to plastic load boards for resting and transporting goods. The correct English term for “pallet nhua” is “plastic pallet”. This is the most accurate term and is widely used in technical documents and international trade.
| Vietnamese | English |
|---|---|
| Pallet nhua | Plastic Pallet |
| Pallet go | Wooden Pallet |
| Pallet sat | Iron Pallet |
| Pallet giay | Paper Pallet |
| Pallet nhua HDPE | HDPE Pallet |
| Pallet nhua 3 chan | Three-legged Pallet |
| Pallet nhua coc | Cup Plastic Pallet |
| Pallet nhua ke kho | Floor Plastic Pallet |
| Pallet nhua chong tran | Spill Containment Pallet |
| Pallet nhua 1 mat | Single Face Pallet |
| Pallet nhua 2 mat | Double Face Pallet |
| Pallet nhua lot san | Flooring Plastic Pallet |
| Pallet nhua lot san khau | Stage Plastic Pallet |
| Pallet nhua loi thep | Steel Core Plastic Pallet |
| Pallet nhua mat kin | Solid Deck Plastic Pallet |
More pallet-industry terms explained in English
- Plastic Pallet: Widely used across many industries thanks to being durable, light and easy to clean. Suitable for international goods transport because it is not affected by wood-quarantine regulations.
- HDPE Pallet: Often used in the food, pharmaceutical and chemical industries thanks to chemical resistance and high durability.
- Three-legged Pallet: Often used in warehouses and factories with medium-to-light load requirements, easy to move and stack.
- Cup Plastic Pallet: Used in industries needing high stability during movement, such as pharmaceuticals, food and chemicals.
- Floor Plastic Pallet: Used for warehouse flooring, protecting goods and keeping the storage area clean.
- Spill Containment Pallet: Used in the chemical and petroleum industries to prevent spills, protecting the environment and worker safety.
- Single Face Pallet: Used in industries requiring high hygiene such as food and pharmaceuticals, making cleaning and maintenance easy.
- Double Face Pallet: Designed for high loads, suitable for storing heavy goods, easy to stack and move.
- Flooring Plastic Pallet: Used to line warehouse floors, protecting goods and keeping the storage area clean.
- Stage Plastic Pallet: Used at events and stages to ensure safety and easy movement of equipment.
- Steel Core Plastic Pallet: Used in heavy industries, with high load capacity and durability.
- Solid Deck Plastic Pallet: Suitable for storing small goods prone to falling, easy to clean and preserve.
- One-way Pallet: Used for one-way shipments, typically in export or single-trip transport, with no requirement to return the pallet to the origin.
Understanding pallet-industry terms in English not only improves communication and management but also facilitates international trade. Plastic pallets, with their superior durability, light weight and reusability, are increasingly becoming the preferred choice across many industries.
See more articles about plastic pallets here: see more here
See the full plastic pallet range.
See also: what plastic pallets are and their types to understand each type before looking up the English terms.
See also: what is a pallet | the HS code for plastic pallets
Essential Plastic Pallet Terms: A Quick Reference Glossary
Sourcing plastic pallets from Vietnamese suppliers or specifying pallets for international shipments requires fluency in the English terminology used in technical datasheets, purchase orders and inspection reports. The table below covers the ten terms buyers and logistics managers encounter most often, with a plain-language definition and the practical context that matters on the warehouse floor or at the port.
| Term | Definition and practical context |
|---|---|
| Rackable / Non-rackable | A rackable pallet is engineered to span rack beams under load - its dynamic load rating (typically 1,000-2,000 kg) is tested with the pallet supported only at two points. A non-rackable pallet is rated for floor-stacking or flat surface only; placing it on rack beams causes it to sag or crack. Always confirm rack compatibility before ordering if pallets will enter a selective or drive-in racking system. |
| Dynamic load / Static load | Dynamic load is the maximum weight the pallet carries while in motion - being lifted by a forklift or pallet jack. Static load is the weight it can hold at rest on a flat surface, typically 3-5 times higher than the dynamic rating. A pallet rated 1,500 kg dynamic / 6,000 kg static means: fine for 1,400 kg moving loads, but do not exceed 1,500 kg when lifting with a forklift. |
| Solid deck / Open deck / Perforated deck | The deck is the load-bearing top surface. A solid deck has no gaps - required for small-part cartons, bags of powder, or cleanroom environments. An open deck has cut-outs between runners, reducing weight and cost while allowing air circulation - suited to beverages, drums and cartons. A perforated deck sits between the two, with small holes for drainage and sanitation in food or pharmaceutical cold chains. |
| Stringer pallet / Block pallet | Structural terms for how the deck is supported. A stringer pallet uses three parallel boards (stringers) running the full length - two-way entry only (forklift enters from two sides). A block pallet uses nine corner, edge and centre blocks - four-way entry, easier to handle with hand pallet trucks, and generally stronger under rack loading. Most high-grade plastic pallets use a block-style moulded base. |
| GMA pallet / ISO pallet | The two dominant size standards. A GMA pallet (Grocery Manufacturers Association) measures 1,219 x 1,016 mm - the North American standard used for US-bound export. An ISO pallet measures 1,200 x 1,000 mm - the European and international standard aligned with ISO 6780. Using the wrong size for a customer’s racking or trailer causes wasted space and potential safety issues; confirm the destination market standard before placing an order. |
| Flush deck / Chamfered edge | A flush deck pallet has a top surface that is level with the outer edge - maximising usable load area and preventing product overhang. A chamfered edge (also called a lead-in chamfer) is a 45-degree angled bevel on the underside of the deck entry point. The chamfer guides a hand pallet jack’s forks smoothly under the deck without jamming, reducing operator effort and pallet wear in high-cycle warehouses. |
| HDPE / PP | HDPE (high-density polyethylene) and PP (polypropylene) are the two resins used for most injection-moulded plastic pallets. HDPE is more impact-resistant in cold temperatures (down to -30 degrees C) and slightly more flexible - preferred for cold chain and outdoor storage. PP is stiffer and lighter, with higher rigidity at ambient temperature - preferred for rackable applications in climate-controlled warehouses. ICD Vietnam’s plastic pallets are available in both HDPE and PP grades. |
| Four-way entry / Two-way entry | Four-way entry pallets allow forklifts and pallet jacks to insert forks from all four sides - maximising flexibility in tight warehouse aisles and cross-docking operations. Two-way entry pallets only allow access from two opposing sides. For narrow-aisle warehouses or automated pallet conveyors, four-way entry is nearly always specified; two-way entry is acceptable where forklift approach direction is fixed and predictable. |
| Nestable pallet | A nestable pallet is designed so that empty pallets stack inside each other (nest), rather than stacking flat on top. This reduces the return-trip footprint by 50-70% compared with non-nestable pallets. A stack of 10 nestable pallets typically occupies the same height as 3-4 conventional stacked pallets. The trade-off is lower load capacity - nestable pallets are generally rated under 1,000 kg dynamic and are not rackable. |
| Virgin resin / Recycled resin | Virgin resin pallets are moulded from new, unprocessed plastic. They deliver consistent mechanical properties, pass food-contact and pharmaceutical-grade requirements, and carry predictable load ratings. Recycled resin pallets use post-industrial or post-consumer plastic. They cost 15-30% less but have variable impact resistance and are not accepted for direct food contact or GMP-regulated facilities. Specify virgin resin whenever the pallet will contact food packaging or enter a regulated supply chain. |
Understanding these ten terms before issuing a purchase order eliminates the most common specification mismatches - wrong size, wrong load rating, or wrong material grade for the application. For a technical recommendation matched to your racking system, load weight and industry requirements, contact ICD Vietnam at 0983 797 186 or visit the plastic pallet catalogue.
Now that you know the English terminology, see our nestable plastic pallets guide for specs and when to use them.
Frequently asked questions
What is “pallet nhua” in English?
Plastic pallet.
How do you say “pallet lien khoi” and “lap ghep”?
One-piece (monolithic) pallet and assembled pallet.
What is “tai trong tinh / tai trong dong”?
Static load and dynamic load capacity.
