Plastic pallet boxes: sizes, volumes and load capacity
In briefIn the data sheets we consulted, a 1200×1000 plastic pallet box holds 610-905 litres and carries 500-700 kg. How many you can stack depends on static stacking (stack at rest) and dynamic stacking (stack being moved). ROLL does not make pallet boxes and this page is for information only.
A plastic pallet box is a pallet with walls: here you will find the sizes, volumes and load capacities of a few models. ROLL does not make or sell pallet boxes; we work on pallets and accessories for reels. We wrote this page because people looking for plastic pallets often look for pallet boxes too, and the data sheets are read by the same rules. The figures come from the data sheets of four models by European manufacturers, quoted as examples. Data sheets can change, so check the values with the manufacturer before you order.
Pallet box, bulk container, bin: the names
They all refer to the same object. In English you will see pallet box, bulk container or bulk bin. In agriculture 'bins' usually means boxes for harvesting fruit and vegetables. Large collapsible boxes are also called foldable large containers or, in German, Großladungsträger.
Underneath it has runners or feet, like a pallet. Forklifts and pallet trucks pick it up with the forks just like a pallet. If you need the differences between runners and feet, see the guide to plastic pallet types.
Sizes and volumes compared
The most common footprints are pallet footprints: 1200×1000 and 1200×800. In the models we consulted, height ranges from 79 to 98 cm. Base pallet sizes are explained in pallet sizes.
| Model (manufacturer) | Footprint mm | Height mm | Volume | Tare | Load capacity | Static stacking | Dynamic stacking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BIG BOX, rigid (Transoplast) [1] | 1200×1000 | 790 | 670 L | 45.5 kg | 500 kg | 4,500 kg | 1,000 kg |
| SB3, rigid (Craemer) [2] | 1200×1000 | 790 | 610 L | 39-42.5 kg | 700 kg | n/a | n/a |
| CB1, rigid (Craemer) [3] | 1200×800 | n/a | 470 L | 34.5 kg | 700 kg | 5,000 kg | 1,200 kg |
| 1309 F3, collapsible (Transoplast) [4] | 1200×1000 | 978 | 905 L | n/a | n/a | 7,000 kg | 1,500 kg |
'n/a' means the published data sheet does not give the value. For the 1200×800 box, the footprint is taken from the 1200 and 800 mm side views, and the 5,000 kg is given as 'additional load' [3]. Another manufacturer mentions boxes of up to 1,150 litres, without linking the figure to a model [5].
Internal dimensions matter more than external ones. The 670-litre rigid box measures 1200×1000×790 mm outside and 1110×910×610 mm inside [1]. Of its 79 cm height, 61 cm are left for the load: runners, reinforced base and top rim take the rest.
Load capacity and stacking: three different figures
A pallet box data sheet gives three values that are often confused.
- Load capacity: how much you can put inside one box. For the 670-litre rigid box it is 500 kg [1], for the other two rigid boxes in the table 700 kg [2][3].
- Static stacking: how much weight the bottom box of a stack at rest on the floor can carry. The 670-litre rigid box states 4,500 kg [1].
- Dynamic stacking: how much weight can sit on top while the box is being lifted or moved. For the same model it is 1,000 kg [1].
The sum is simple. The 670-litre rigid box, when full, weighs at most 45.5 + 500 = 545.5 kg. With 4,500 kg static, eight full boxes fit on top of the bottom one (4,500 / 545.5 = 8.2). The data sheet for the 905-litre collapsible box states the rule plainly: 7,000 kg '8 on 1' static and 1,500 kg '1 on 1' dynamic [4]. So with a forklift you move at most two boxes at a time, one on top of the other.
These values apply at room temperature with a distributed load. The data sheets for the three rigid boxes give a service range of −30 to +40 °C, with short peaks up to +90 °C [1][2][3]. How load capacity changes with heat and with concentrated loads is explained in the guide to plastic pallet load capacity.
Rigid or collapsible
A rigid pallet box is moulded in a single piece. The 470-litre 1200×800 box, for example, is described as injection moulded in one piece [3]. No hinges to break, no gaps where dirt collects.
A collapsible pallet box has hinged walls. When empty it folds down: the collapsible box in the table goes from 978 to 470 mm in height [4]. One manufacturer claims up to 70% space saving on empty return transport for one of its models [5].
A collapsible box pays off when you pay for the empty return. If the boxes circulate within the same plant, a rigid box generally costs less and lasts longer. Some collapsible boxes have side drop doors so you can take parts out without emptying the box from the top: the collapsible box in the table has two, one on each side [4].
Solid or vented base
A solid base holds liquids and residues. The 670-litre rigid box also has 1-inch and 2-inch drain fittings [1]. It suits oily parts, swarf and products that drip.
A vented base and walls let air and water through: the choice for freshly harvested fruit and vegetables. Many models come in both versions, like the 610-litre rigid box in the table [2].
The choice also affects fire protection. A 2021 paper from the German manufacturers in pro-K explains that the VdS CEA 4001 guideline puts plastic containers in category HHS4, the most severe. They only drop to HHS3 if they are single-walled and let water through: after 20 mm/min of water, no more than 10 mm may remain in the container [6]. The same paper points out that flame retardants do not change the calorific value of the plastic [6]. If you store a lot of pallet boxes in a sprinklered warehouse, talk to your insurer before you choose. The FM, NFPA and VdS rules for pallets are in the guide to plastic pallet fire safety.
Food, chemicals, waste
For food, the manufacturer's declaration is what counts, model by model. The 670-litre rigid box is made of HDPE declared suitable for food, and the manufacturer also publishes a PPWR declaration of conformity [1]. For cleaning between uses, the methods in the guide to plastic pallet washing apply. The 610-litre rigid box is made of food-grade polyethylene and declares conformity with DIN EN 13626 [2]. What to ask your supplier is in the guide to hygienic and food-grade pallets.
Colours help to separate departments and uses, for example raw and cooked, or waste and product. The 670-litre rigid box comes in six colours [1]. The same box is also used to collect scrap metal and spent batteries [1]: for chemicals, ask for the polymer's resistance chart for the product you put in it.
What it costs
We found few published prices. As an order of magnitude, a rigid 1200×1000 pallet box generally costs a few hundred euros (roughly €200 to €400), excl. VAT; quantity, colour and accessories move the price. To compare different quotes, use the cost per trip, as explained in the guide to plastic pallet prices: a box that lasts twice as long can cost more and still work out cheaper.
Pallet box or pallet with collars
If the load does not need fixed walls, you can use a pallet with removable side walls and a lid: take the walls off and you have a flat pallet again. A pallet box stays stiffer, stacks better and washes in one piece.
Frequently asked questions
How many litres does a 1200×1000 plastic pallet box hold?
It depends on the height and the shape of the walls. In the data sheets we consulted, a 1200×1000 box 790 mm high holds 610-670 litres, while a collapsible box 978 mm high reaches 905 litres. Always check the internal dimensions: thick walls and a reinforced base take volume away compared with the external footprint.
How many full pallet boxes can be stacked?
Divide the static stacking figure in the data sheet by the gross weight of a full box: the result is how many boxes the bottom one can carry, on the floor and at rest. For example, one rigid 1200×1000 box states 4,500 kg static stacking and a 500 kg load capacity. During handling the dynamic figure applies, which is much lower: 1,000 kg for the same model.
Collapsible or rigid pallet box: which is better?
A collapsible box pays off when boxes travel back empty and the return trip costs money: folded, it takes up less than half its height, and one manufacturer claims up to 70% space saving. A rigid box is a single moulding, has fewer parts to break and is generally easier to wash. If the boxes stay in a single plant, a rigid box is usually enough.
Are plastic pallet boxes suitable for fruit, vegetables and food?
Many models are declared suitable for food, for example boxes in HDPE or in food-grade polyethylene. Suitability only applies if the manufacturer declares it for that model and that colour: ask for the declaration of compliance for food contact. For fruit and vegetables, vented versions that let air through are often used.
Solid or vented base: what is the difference?
A solid base holds liquids and residues, which is useful for oily parts or products that drip. A vented base lets water and air through. This matters for fire protection too: according to the 2021 pro-K paper, the VdS CEA 4001 guideline puts plastic containers in a less severe risk category only if they are single-walled and let water through.
Does ROLL sell plastic pallet boxes?
No. ROLL designs packaging for reels and rolls and does not make or sell pallet boxes. This page summarises the data sheets of a few European manufacturers to help you read a quote. To buy pallet boxes, go directly to a manufacturer or distributor.
Sources
- Transoplast: BIG BOX pallet box 1200 × 1000 × H 790 mm, solid, 3 runners (data sheet)
- GS1 Germany PINE: SB3 Palettenbox von Craemer GmbH (data sheet)
- Craemer: CB1 pallet box (product data sheet)
- Transoplast: Foldable large container 1309 F3, 1200 × 1000 × H978 mm, perforated (data sheet)
- Utz Group: Pallet boxes, KLAPA and PALOXE
- pro-K, Positionspapier Brandschutz bei Kunststoff-Ladungsträgern (March 2021)
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