An open-deck plastic pallet (also called a grid, mesh, vented or perforated plastic pallet) has a top deck moulded as an open grid, so water, dust and cold air pass straight through, and it is lighter and cheaper than a closed-deck pallet of the same size. ICD Vietnam carries 130 open-deck models, most of them in HDPE, with three-runner, six-runner, nine-leg and double-faced bases. The most common sizes are 1200×1000 mm and 1100×1100 mm, typically rated at 1,000 kg dynamic and 4,000 kg static, with new pallets from about 100,000 VND to 1,850,000 VND each. ICD delivers across Vietnam and quotes by model, size and quantity.
1. Open deck vs closed deck: what actually differs
Both types come in the same sizes, base styles and entry points. The difference is the top: an open deck leaves square cells open, while a closed-deck plastic pallet is one unbroken flat sheet. That small difference decides which goods the pallet suits, how fast it cleans and how much more it costs.
| Criterion | Open deck (grid) | Closed deck (solid top) |
|---|---|---|
| Top surface | Open grid, water and dust fall through | Flat, continuous, no gaps |
| Drainage, airflow | Good, cold air passes through the load | Water pools on top and must be wiped |
| Cleaning | Quick hose-down, some corners between ribs | Wipes clean fast, few hidden corners |
| Best for | Cartons, crates, wet goods, cold-store loads | Sacks, powders, small parts that could fall through |
| Three-runner 1200×1200 mm price at ICD | 485,000-730,000 VND | 850,000-960,000 VND |
| Four-way cross-runner 1200×1000×150 mm | 600,000-730,000 VND | 780,000 VND |
| Models available at ICD | 130 | 16 |
If your goods are cartons, crates or packed cases, an open deck is usually the more economical choice. If one pallet type has to serve a whole warehouse with mixed goods, compare all lines on the overview of ICD’s plastic pallet range.
2. Choosing the base: three-runner, six-runner, nine-leg or double-faced
The base decides how the pallet sits on the floor, which trucks can enter and whether it runs on a conveyor. The table groups the 53 models whose base type is specified (out of 127 new models in this category), using each model’s own specifications.
| Base type | Models | Dynamic load (kg) | Static load (kg) | New price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Three-runner | 30 | 800-1,800 | 2,000-6,000 | 180,000-1,250,000 VND |
| Three-runner with cross base | 6 | 500-1,000 | 2,000-4,000 | 500,000-750,000 VND |
| Six-runner | 6 | 500-1,000 | 2,000-4,000 | 490,000-740,000 VND |
| Nine-leg, nestable cup feet | 6 | 500-800 | 1,000-2,000 | 100,000-325,000 VND |
| Double-faced grid | 5 | 1,000-1,500 | 4,000 | 1,100,000-1,500,000 VND |
Three-runner pallets are the largest group. The three runners run the length of the pallet, so it sits firmly on floors and racking; forklifts enter from four sides, while pallet jacks usually enter from the two ends along the runners (a few models, such as EMV1111 and the 1400×1400 mm size, state four sides for low pallet jacks). This group also covers the widest load range, from 800 kg to 1,800 kg dynamic. Three-runner models with both open and closed decks are collected under three-runner plastic pallets.
Six-runner pallets have six bottom boards that spread the load over the floor and rollers, which suits conveyors, automated stores and heavy goods stored on the floor. Three-runner pallets with a cross base weigh more than plain three-runner pallets of the same size (14.5 kg against 11.5-12 kg at 1100×1100 mm), meaning more plastic in the body; they suit general stores and production floors.
Nine-leg pallets with cup feet are the cheapest in the group and take pallet jacks from all four sides. The hollow feet let empty pallets nest inside each other, saving space on return trips and in storage, at the cost of a much lower load rating than the other bases.
Double-faced grid pallets can be used either way up, support stacked loads well and can be flipped once one face wears. They cost about twice as much as a single-faced pallet of the same size, so they only pay off when goods are stacked several tiers high. The comparison is covered in double-face vs single-face plastic pallets.
3. Common open-deck pallet sizes
Of the 130 models in this category, 1200×1000 mm accounts for 36, 1100×1100 mm for 23, 1200×800 mm for 12, 1200×1200 mm for 10 and 1300×1100 mm for 9. The most common height is 150 mm (80 models), followed by 120 mm and 160 mm. ICD also has large sizes from 1400×1200 mm to 1960×1960 mm for oversized loads.
The 1200×1000, 1200×800 and 1100×1100 mm sizes all appear in the ISO 6780 pallet size set: 1200×800 mm is the European (EUR) footprint and 1100×1100 mm is common across Asia. Pick the size from your load, your racking and the destination. The full lookup table is in standard plastic pallet dimensions.
4. Same 1100×1100×150 mm size, different prices: why
At the same size, ICD’s open-deck pallets range from 215,000 VND to 1,100,000 VND. Three things drive the gap: the base type, the amount of plastic in each pallet and the resin.
| Model at 1100×1100×150 mm | Weight | Dynamic / static (kg) | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black PP export pallet | not stated | 800 / 2,000 | 215,000 VND |
| Black three-runner EMV1111 | not stated | 1,000 / 3,000 | 295,000 VND |
| Blue three-runner EMV1111 | not stated | 1,000 / 3,000 | 445,000 VND |
| HDPE six-runner | 9.5-12 kg | 1,000 / 4,000 | 490,000-620,000 VND |
| HDPE three-runner | 11.5-12 kg | 1,000 / 4,000 | 600,000-620,000 VND |
| Heavy-duty three-runner with cross base | 14.5 kg | 1,000 / 4,000 | 750,000 VND |
| HDPE double-faced grid | 21 kg | 1,000 / 4,000 | 1,100,000 VND |
The same EMV1111 three-runner model costs 295,000 VND in black and 445,000 VND in blue; the gap comes mainly from the resin, as the black version is made from recycled plastic. Between models of the same size and load, price follows weight: the 9.5 kg six-runner model costs 490,000 VND and the 12 kg one 620,000 VND. Send the model, quantity and delivery point for an exact quote.
5. Read the load ratings before you order
Each model lists two figures. Dynamic load is the weight the pallet carries while a forklift is moving, 1,000 kg for most models. Static load is the weight when the pallet sits still on a flat floor, 4,000 kg for most. If the goods will be moved, size them against the dynamic load, not the static load.
The third figure is racking load, the weight when the pallet rests on two beams. Many models do not publish it, so ask ICD before ordering if the pallets will go on racking. The three load types are explained in static load vs dynamic load of pallets.
6. HDPE or PP, black or blue
104 of the 130 models in this category are HDPE; the rest are PP, PPC or HD/PP blends. HDPE is tough and resists impact even below zero, so it is the main material for cold storage. Standard PP is stiff but brittle below 0°C and suits dry and chilled stores above 0°C. PPC is a PP copolymer that improves that cold brittleness.
Blue is the most common colour (39 models), followed by black (32 models). Colour is not a substitute for the resin specification: the same model can come in black, blue or recycled blue at different prices. Food areas that undergo hygiene audits usually avoid dark pallets. More on this in virgin plastic pallets: properties and when to use them.
7. Where open-deck pallets work best
Open decks earn their place where goods are wet or need airflow. Seafood and frozen-meat stores need cold air to pass through the load and thaw water to drain to the floor. Fruit and vegetable stores need ventilation so produce does not sweat. Production floors and general stores choose open decks because they are light, cheap and shed dust.
For freezer stores from -18 to -25°C, choose an open deck in HDPE or HDPE blended with PPC, not standard PP. The requirements of each sector are summarised in plastic pallets for seafood and agriculture.
8. When not to choose an open deck
In three cases a closed deck does better. Sacked goods and powders need a flat surface that supports the whole base of the bag and stops spilled powder falling to the floor. Small parts, screws and loose components can drop through the grid. Multi-level racking holding wet goods needs to stop water dripping onto the level below.
Racking itself does not depend on open or closed deck. What matters is the model’s racking load, the beam span and how long goods stay on the rack. When the racking load is not enough, consider a steel-core pallet as described in plastic pallets for racking systems.
9. Five details to include in a quote request
Send these five details so ICD can quote the right model and price:
- Load dimensions and the pallet size you want.
- Weight per load and how it is moved: forklift, pallet jack or conveyor.
- Whether the pallets go on racking, and if so the beam span.
- Store temperature: ambient, chilled or frozen.
- Quantity, delivery point and any colour or virgin-resin requirement.
10. Related articles on open-deck pallets
- Plastic pallets for cold storage
- How to clean plastic pallets correctly, step by step
- What HACCP is and how it relates to plastic pallets
- What a column-base plastic pallet is and when to use it
- GMP in the pharmaceutical industry and which pallets comply
11. Frequently asked questions about open-deck plastic pallets
1. What is an open-deck plastic pallet?
It is a plastic pallet whose top deck is moulded as an open grid rather than a flat sheet. The open cells let water and dust fall to the floor and cold air pass through the load, and they make the pallet lighter and cheaper than a closed-deck pallet of the same size. Other names are grid, mesh, vented or perforated plastic pallet.
2. Open pallet vs closed pallet: which carries more weight?
Load depends more on the base type and the amount of plastic than on the deck style. At ICD, most open-deck models are rated at 1,000 kg dynamic and 4,000 kg static (a few PP models state 3,000 kg); closed-deck three-runner models in the same group are rated at 1,000-1,200 kg dynamic and 4,000 kg static.
3. How much does an open-deck plastic pallet cost?
New pallets at ICD run from about 100,000 VND (small nine-leg, nestable) to 1,850,000 VND (large 1960×1960 mm). A three-runner 1200×1000×150 mm pallet costs from 600,000 VND to 730,000 VND depending on base type, resin and weight.
4. What is a four-way mesh plastic pallet, such as 1200 x 1000 x 150 mm?
It is an open-deck pallet that forklifts can enter from all four sides. At 1200×1000×150 mm, ICD’s three-runner pallets with a cross base cost 600,000-730,000 VND, against 780,000 VND for the closed-deck version.
5. Is there a heavy-duty open-deck pallet?
Yes. The heaviest-rated open-deck models are three-runner pallets, up to 1,800 kg dynamic and 6,000 kg static. For racking loads beyond what a plastic pallet carries on its own, use a steel-core pallet.
6. What is the most common open-deck pallet size?
1200×1000 mm and 1100×1100 mm, 150 mm high. Together these two sizes make up almost half of ICD’s open-deck models.
7. Can open-deck plastic pallets be used in cold storage?
Yes, and they are the most used type in cold stores because cold air passes through the deck and thaw water drains to the floor. For stores below 0°C, choose a model in HDPE or HDPE blended with PPC.
8. Can sacks be stored on an open-deck pallet?
Yes, especially light sacks stored for a short time. For heavy sacks, powders or goods whose base must stay clean, a closed deck supports the load more evenly and stops powder falling through the grid.
9. Is a ventilated plastic pallet box the same as an open-deck pallet?
No. A ventilated pallet box is a large container with vented walls for loose goods. This category covers only one-piece plastic pallets with an open grid deck; a steel mesh pallet is a different product again.
12. Contact ICD for an open-deck pallet quote
ICD Vietnam Industrial Production Co., Ltd
Northern Vietnam: Floor 3, Thang Long A1 Building, Thon Bau, Thien Loc, Hanoi - 0983 797 186 / 090 345 9186 / 090 5859 186
Southern Vietnam: 551/212 Le Van Khuong, Tan Thoi Hiep, District 12, Ho Chi Minh City - 098 6784 186
Email: sales@icdvietnam.com.vn
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