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Sam’s Club General Pallet Criteria

Sam’s Club now requires all domestic programs to ship on 48-by-40-inch 9-block pallets rented from approved pallet pooling providers: iGPS, CHEP, PECO, or RM2. Standard stringer pallets, GMA pallets, and corrugated/paperboard pallets are no longer accepted.

Please note, in early 2025, Sam’s Club reiterated and clarified its pallet standards, with greater emphasis on pallet cleanliness, stringer integrity, and structural consistency. Their pallet criteria can be found below but vendors are still encouraged to confirm this information directly with Sam’ Club to ensure the most up to date information.

Pallet Standards:
For domestic orders, the required delivery method into a Sam’s Club DC is on a 9-block pallet. For direct import orders consult with Sam’s Club Global Sourcing Packaging team for appropriate pallet usage.

• Pallet must be a 9-Block pallet. Standard stringer and GMA pallets are not acceptable. Sam’s Club suppliers have the option of leasing a pooled pallet from any number of service providers, or purchasing a one-way white wood pallet. Sam’s Club does not endorse or recommend any specific pallet manufacturer or pooling service. All pallets
• Fees or charge-backs will be assessed if pallets fail to meet Sam’s Club pallet requirements.
• Product may be stored in a standard rack on a supplier’s pallet for an extended period of time. Pallets are required to support the weight of the product shipped on them.
• 9-Block pallet/IGPS maximum loaded weight is 2,500 lbs.
• Stringer pallets, GMA, CHEP Europe, or corrugated/paperboard pallets are not allowed
• Staple stock “PO Type 20 items” are required to be palletized. All other PO Type Items are preferred to be palletized.

Minimum Pallet Standards: 
Requirements for all pallets. 

• Pallets are required to accommodate a standard pallet jack and/or power forklift equipment with adequate top board spacing so forklift blades will not impact freight. 
• Odd sized pallets are not allowed. Product must ship on a 48” x 40” full 9-block pallet. 
• Must be of sound material and free of knots.

Additional requirements for block pallets: 

• 48”x40” Full Pallet with true four-way entry. 
• Top deck must be constructed of four 40” x 5.5” and five 40” x 3.5” boards. 5/8” Thickness. Maximum spacing between the top deck board is 1.5″. 
• Three 5.5” x 48” top stringer boards are required. 5/8” Thickness. 
• (9) solid wood blocks are required. Three 3.75” x 5.5” x 3.5” and six 7.5” x 5.5” x 3.5”. 
• Bottom deck must be constructed of two 40” x 5.5” and three 37” x 5.5” boards. 5/8” Thickness.

These Sam’s Club pallet requirements apply to 9-block pallets used in domestic shipments. Suppliers who do not wish to provide their own pallets may rent acceptable 9-block pallets from approved pooling companies: iGPS, CHEP, PECO, or RM2. For more details on Sam’s Club packaging standards and pallet criteria please download this document.

Pallet pooling programs take responsibility for procuring and maintaining a supply of pallets for vendors of any size. The pallets provided by pallet pooling companies tend to be sturdier than stringer pallets, helping to prevent product damage as well as equipment damage and employee injury. One particular alternative pallet material stands above the rest when it comes to maximizing these advantages.

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Unitized Construction	iGPS pallets have a fastener-free construction that prevents nails and screws from damaging products or coming loose and reducing pallet integrity.
High Load Capacity	Sam’s Club requires pallets to support up to 2,500 lbs. The iGPS plastic pallet can support 5,000 pounds of dynamic load.
Greater Sustainability	Plastic pallets are made from fully recyclable materials and boast cradle-to-cradle recyclability. This helps preserve forests and keeps plastic in use and out of the environment.
Track and Trace	iGPS plastic pallets support GS1 tracking through both barcodes and embedded RFID chips, allowing the movement of pallet loads to be easily tracked and recorded.
Lightweight Construction	iGPS pallets weigh approximately 50 pounds, helping reduce wear and tear on material handling equipment and lowering greenhouse gas emissions. This aligns with Walmart’s sustainability pledge to cut emissions.
Hygienic	iGPS plastic pallets can be easily cleaned and don’t easily mold or mildew like wood pallets do. Plastic pallets can even be sanitized for specialized hygienic use.

Plastic pallets are simply stronger, cleaner, and more sustainable than wood stringer or block pallets. Heavy-duty plastic pallets from iGPS easily meet Sam’s Club updated 2025 pallet requirements as well as the pallet guidelines specified by parent company Walmart.