A mini pallet is a small round, square, or oblong frame typically made of plastic and used to safely store and transport objects such as boxes and pot plants. The mini pallet serves the same purpose as its full size warehouse sibling in that it keeps stored objects off the ground and makes lifting with pallet jacks and hand trucks easy and safe. Mini pallets are used in a wide variety of environments including manufacturing plants, retail outlets, and domestic storage. The mini pallet is available in a selection of sizes and shapes suitable for a wide range of storage requirements.
Storage pallet systems of all sizes serve the dual purpose of keeping stored articles off the floor or shelf and making loading with pallet jacks, fork lifts, or hand trucks easy. This precludes damage from moisture or spills and means the goods need no maneuvering when being lifted and transported. Pallets are generally flat frames with a ridge around the bottom surface which leaves the lower interior hollow. This allows for the load bed of a hand truck or the load arms of a pallet jack to be inserted under the pallet and its load without having to lift, tip or move, the goods. Full size pallets typically store goods stacked in tiers such as cases of beverages, cartons, bags of fertilizer, or feeds and drums.
The mini pallet is typically intended for lighter duty storage applications in factories, retail outlets, and the home. They can be ideal for storing stacks of cartons or boxes and make an ideal accessory for moving heavy pot plants. Many factories place goods coming off assembly or production lines onto mini pallets to be moved to storage in batches. Garden supply stores and plant nurseries often use mini pallets to store stacks of fertilizer, seed and plant food bags, and heavy pots and outdoor decor items. General retailers also used the mini pallet to stack crates of soft drinks and canned goods in their stores.
These small storage units are available in a wide range of sizes, shapes, and load ratings, thereby making them practical and flexible storage accessories. Pallets are available in square and oblong shapes suitable for general storage and round shapes ideal for stacking pots, drums, or barrels. The average mini pallet is approximately 13 x 10 inches (350 x 260 mm) in area and 1.5 inches (40 mm) high with a load bearing capacity of 500 to 1, 000 pounds (226–454 kg). Most mini pallets are made of high impact plastic although wooden varieties are also fairly common.