Can imported pallets be double-stacked?
Yes, if the complete loaded pallets can withstand the proposed stack and the warehouse and carrier accept the arrangement after assessing the risks. A pallet rating alone cannot establish whether the cartons underneath will cope. Ask Cambridge China Bridge to obtain the factory's packing specification and supporting test evidence.
Make the decision for the complete load
Treat double-stacking as a proposed use to assess, rather than a default permission attached to an imported pallet. As a practical precaution, use a pallet-use and stacking risk assessment to examine the actual goods, packaging, support surfaces, handling and people exposed. Record separate conclusions for warehouse storage and vehicle delivery.
Send the warehouse and carrier the loaded weight, dimensions, photographs and proposed stacking arrangement before approving factory packing. Ask who will review the evidence and authorise the arrangement. For timber sourcing and treatment checks, use our wooden pallets and crates guide.
Check pallet strength and carton compression
Ask the pallet maker to explain what its load rating covers: floor support, lifting or racking, the load distribution and the intended stacking arrangement. Obtain the drawing and test report for the actual construction. A rating for a supported pallet does not establish the strength of cartons carrying another loaded pallet.
Ask the carton supplier for compression evidence using the filled cartons, packing pattern and expected storage conditions. Specify the board construction, closures, internal supports and any load-spreading sheet. A paper specification or an empty-carton result leaves questions about the assembled load. Use our packaging test guide when planning trials.
Follow the load down to the bottom
Include the upper pallet's own weight and its goods when assessing the extra load on the lower cartons. Check where the upper pallet's baseboards or blocks contact the cartons. Narrow contact areas, gaps, overhang and misaligned cartons can concentrate pressure instead of sharing it across the load.
Ask a competent tester to reproduce the proposed arrangement and support conditions. Agree how to assess crushing, pallet bending, leaning and deformation during the intended storage period. Photograph the lower cartons and pallet before and after the trial. Stretch wrap can hold goods together, but do not treat it as proof of compression strength.
Account for storage and arrival condition
HSE recommends periodic stack checks because stability depends on load type and shape, humidity and temperature. For your assessment, describe the expected storage environment and duration, including damp arrival conditions, condensation or cold storage. Ask whether the supporting test evidence represents those conditions.
At receipt, check for softened cartons, crushed corners, leaning loads, broken boards and loose joints before applying the approved arrangement. Keep suspect loads out of double-stacking pending review. Agree who checks stored stacks and what triggers unloading or reassessment, including changes to cartons, pallet construction or packing pattern.
Get approval for storage and delivery
Obtain written acceptance from the recipient for the named load and stacking arrangement, with any limits on storage conditions, duration and handling. Keep it with the packing specification and risk assessment. Approval for floor storage should not be treated as approval for vehicle transport or racking.
HSE loading guidance says loads must be suitably packaged and loading should allow safe unloading. Ask the carrier to assess restraint, load distribution and access for removing the upper pallet at the destination. If evidence or acceptance is missing, book unstacked delivery or revise the packaging. Coordinate the receiving arrangements through our palletised delivery guide.
Frequently asked questions
Does a pallet load rating allow double-stacking?
Not by itself. Check what the rating covers and whether the lower cartons can support the upper loaded pallet under the proposed conditions.
Can stretch wrap make pallets safe to double-stack?
Do not use wrapping as proof of stacking strength. Obtain evidence for the filled cartons, pallet construction and actual arrangement.
Can pallets approved for storage be stacked in a lorry?
Ask the carrier for a separate assessment covering restraint, load distribution and safe unloading. Warehouse approval alone does not answer those questions.
What should I ask the factory for before shipping?
Request the pallet drawing, load-rating conditions, filled-carton compression evidence, packing layout and photographs. Send these to the warehouse and carrier for review.