Made-to-Order Wooden Pallets: Custom Sizes for Export

When you ship special cargo, heavy machinery or export-bound products, a standard wooden pallet (1200x1000mm or 1000x1000mm) is not always the right fit. ICD Vietnam supplies made-to-order wooden pallets with custom-engineered designs, full ISPM 15 compliance, and fast lead times of 5-7 days. This guide walks through the ordering process, the information you need to prepare, and the expected cost so you can plan your shipment efficiently.

When Do You Need a Made-to-Order Pallet?

Standard pallets cover around 80% of ordinary shipping situations. You should consider a custom pallet when:

• Oversized or irregular cargo: Production machinery, industrial equipment, long or wide goods that do not fit a standard footprint.
• Special load requirements: Loads exceeding 1,500kg need a heavier stringer/bearer structure to remain safe in transit.
• International export: Goods that require ISPM 15 compliant pallets (the international phytosanitary standard) to clear customs smoothly.
• Specific forklift access: Some warehouses use 4-way entry instead of 2-way entry, which changes the position of the fork openings.
• Warehouse space optimization: Custom dimensions allow more efficient stacking and save storage footprint.

The Custom Pallet Ordering Process at ICD Vietnam

We commit to a fast, transparent process from your first enquiry through to delivery:

Step 1: Enquiry and Initial Consultation

Call our team or send an email with a brief outline of your needs (dimensions, load capacity, quantity). We advise on the most suitable solution and send a free quotation the same day.

Step 2: Provide Detailed Specifications

You supply the required information (see the checklist below). If you have a technical drawing or a photo of the product that will sit on the pallet, send it along so our team can design more accurately.

Step 3: Free Design

An ICD engineer drafts a pallet design to your exact requirements (bearer structure, fork-opening positions, board thickness, and so on). You receive the drawing to confirm or request revisions.

• Confirmation: Once you approve the design, we re-confirm the pallet quantity, price and expected delivery date.

Step 4: Production

With an MOQ of 100 units, production time depends on complexity and quantity:

• 100-300 units: 5-7 days
• 300-500 units: 7-10 days
• Over 500 units: agreed individually

Production is closely monitored to ensure the quality of every single pallet.

Step 5: Quality Inspection and Delivery

Every custom pallet is 100% inspected before dispatch. We deliver nationwide, 24-48 hours after completion for inner-city locations, and prepare export documentation as needed. A VAT invoice is provided for your accounting if required.

Information to Provide When Ordering a Custom Pallet

So we can design a pallet that fits 100%, please prepare the following details:

Detail	Example / Note
Pallet deck size (L x W)	e.g. 1400 x 1200mm (measured from outer edges)
Overall height	e.g. 150mm (including stringer/bearer)
Maximum load (kg)	e.g. 2000kg (total weight of goods + pallet)
Forklift entry type	2-way (default) or 4-way
ISPM 15 required?	Yes (for export) or No
Preferred timber	Pine (default), acacia (more durable), or custom
Order quantity	Minimum 100 units
Required delivery date	A specific date or "as soon as possible"
Drawing / product photo	If available, please send for accurate design

Tip: If you are unsure about some parameters (for example load capacity or timber type), just contact us. The ICD team will help you choose the right specification based on 15 years of experience. Comparing options first? See pine vs acacia pallets to weigh price against durability.

Custom Pallet Cost vs Standard Pallet

A custom pallet costs more than a standard one for the following reasons:

Cost Driver	Impact
No mass production	Higher timber offcut waste; cannot reuse surplus cuts from other batches
Bespoke drawing per order	Design, CAD and revision costs are built into the price
Longer production time	Timber cut piece by piece to a unique drawing, higher labour cost
Strict quality inspection	100% inspection of each pallet rather than batch sampling

Expected price increase: A custom pallet typically costs 30-60% more than a standard pallet, depending on design complexity. You receive a detailed quote as soon as you provide your specifications.

Worked example: If a standard 1200x1000mm pallet is priced at VND 350,000/unit (a FOB Vietnam reference point; USD pricing on request), a custom 1400x1200mm pallet may range from VND 455,000 to VND 560,000/unit (a 30-60% increase), depending on complexity.

For Manufacturers: Calculating Load and Choosing the Right Timber

If you are a manufacturer or warehouse manager, here is a quick guide to specifying the right custom pallet:

1. Calculate Load Capacity Accurately

• Maximum product weight: Work out the weight of one batch (including packaging and boxes).
• Batches per pallet: How many product batches sit on one pallet? Multiply accordingly.
• Add 10-20% safety margin: For safe operation, do not run a pallet at 100% of its rated load.
• Example: If one batch weighs 150kg and you stack 10 batches = 1,500kg. Adding a margin, you would specify a maximum load of 1,800kg.

2. Choose the Timber Type

• Pine: The common, economical option, suited to loads of 500-1,500kg. Service life of 2-3 years when stored in a dry warehouse.
• Acacia: More durable than pine, carries 1,500-2,500kg, with better moisture resistance. Suited to high-humidity warehouses or long export transit.
• Combination or custom: Some workshops choose acacia stringers with a pine deck to balance price, durability and cost.

For Exporters: Custom Pallets That Meet ISPM 15

If you are an exporter, the ISPM 15 standard (International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures) is a mandatory requirement. Pallets that do not meet ISPM 15 are rejected at customs clearance.

ICD Vietnam supplies custom pallets that are 100% ISPM 15 compliant. This means:

• Heat-treated timber: All timber is kiln-dried or heat-treated to regulation to eliminate pests and pathogens.
• ISPM 15 stamp: Each pallet carries an official stamp visible on its surface (the HT mark plus the VN country code). See our guide on how to read the IPPC stamp.
• Certificate included: We provide an ISPM 15 certificate with each batch, helping you clear customs in any destination country.

Additional cost: ISPM 15 pallets add roughly 15-25% over standard (non-ISPM 15) pallets, depending on the timber treatment process. The cost is well worth it to avoid the risk of cargo rejection or penalties at port.

To understand the requirement in more detail, see our explainer on the ISPM 15 heat-treatment standard and the difference between HT and MB treatment.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the minimum order quantity?

The minimum order quantity (MOQ) at ICD Vietnam is 100 units. For volumes below 100 units we discuss your case individually to see whether it can be accommodated (a setup fee may apply).

2. Can the production lead time be shortened?

Standard production time is 5-7 days. If you need it urgently, we can consider adding labour to shorten this to 3-4 days, with an additional cost of 10-20%. Contact the ICD team to discuss the details.

3. Can the design be changed after ordering?

Yes, but it must be done before production starts (within the first 24 hours). Once production has begun, changes increase costs and may delay delivery. We recommend reviewing the drawing carefully before confirming the order.

4. How long does nationwide delivery take?

Once the pallets are completed, delivery takes 24-48 hours within major cities (Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City). For other provinces it depends on distance, typically 2-5 days. We provide nationwide delivery at reasonable freight rates, and we coordinate export logistics for international buyers on request.

Request a Quote

Ready to specify your custom pallets? Send us your dimensions, load and quantity and we will return a free same-day quotation (USD/FOB Vietnam on request). Contact ICD Vietnam to request a quote or submit an RFQ, or browse our full range of wooden pallet types to compare specifications first.

• Northern Vietnam: +84 983 797 186 / +84 90 345 9186 / +84 90 5859 186
• Southern Vietnam: +84 98 6784 186
• Email: Sales@icdvietnam.com.vn
• Zalo: https://zalo.me/719060935915885643