Heat treated pallets for export shipments
Heat treated pallets carry the IPPC mark that countries enforcing ISPM 15 require on solid wood packaging. We deliver HT pallets in standard 48x40 and custom sizes to shippers in seven Southeast metros, with freight in the price.
Veteran-owned and Memphis-based. Delivered pricing on one invoice.
Who needs heat treated pallets
ISPM 15 is the international standard for wood packaging that crosses a border. If your goods leave the country on solid wood pallets, skids or crates, the importing country can require that wood to be treated and marked. Packaging that is not compliant can be refused at the border, which delays the shipment.
For loads that stay in the US, heat treatment is usually a customer choice rather than a border rule. Some shippers ask for HT on every pallet so one spec covers both domestic and export lanes.
What the IPPC stamp means
Every heat treated pallet carries the IPPC mark. Some people call it the IPPC seal. It has four parts:
| Part of the mark | What it tells you |
|---|---|
| IPPC symbol (the wheat ear) | The packaging was treated under the international standard |
| Country code, such as US | The two-letter ISO code for the country where it was treated |
| Producer or treatment number | The certified facility that treated or built it, assigned under the national program |
| Treatment code HT | Heat treated: the wood core held at 56°C (133°F) for at least 30 minutes |
Other approved codes are MB (methyl bromide), DH (dielectric heating) and SF (sulfuryl fluoride). In the US, the program is run by the American Lumber Standard Committee for USDA APHIS.
Heat treatment vs methyl bromide
Both are approved under ISPM 15. Heat treatment uses no chemicals, which is why it is the method most buyers specify. Methyl bromide fumigation is limited in some places: the EU, for example, allows it inside the EU only under temporary emergency authorizations.
When in doubt, specify HT. It is what we supply.
Standard and custom HT pallets
Most export orders are standard 48x40 HT pallets. Custom pallets can be heat treated too: non-standard sizes, block builds and pallets for heavy or oversized freight.
Plywood, OSB and other processed wood made with glue, heat or pressure is exempt from ISPM 15. A pallet with a plywood deck on solid wood stringers is still regulated, because the solid wood has to be treated.
Plastic and corrugated pallets are outside the standard because they aren't wood.
How to order HT pallets
Send the spec
Size, new or recycled, fork entry, load weight and how many a week or month.
Get a delivered price
Quotes come back within two business days, with freight in the price.
Approve a sample if needed
For custom HT builds, a first-article sample can be approved before full production.
Set the schedule
One load or a standing order. We confirm the delivery window before the truck is booked.
Delivered across seven Southeast metros
Looking for heat treated pallets near me? We deliver HT pallets in Memphis, Nashville, Little Rock, Birmingham, Atlanta, Charlotte and Columbia, SC, and the areas around them.
Get an HT pallet quoteCommon questions
What does HT mean on a pallet?
HT means heat treated. The wood was heated until its core reached 56°C (133°F), held there for at least 30 minutes, and stamped with the IPPC mark.
Is the IPPC seal the same as the HT stamp?
Yes. People call it the IPPC seal, stamp or mark. HT is the treatment code inside that mark.
Do domestic shipments need heat treated pallets?
ISPM 15 covers wood packaging that crosses a border. For loads that stay in the US, HT is usually something your customer asks for rather than a border rule.
Do plywood pallets need to be heat treated?
Pallets made entirely of plywood or other glued, processed wood are exempt. If the pallet has solid wood blocks or stringers, that wood still has to be treated.
Can you heat treat custom sizes?
Yes. Custom HT builds are made by partner pallet plants to your drawing, and a first-article sample can be approved before full production.
Get a delivered price
Pricing comes back within two business days, with freight in the price.
Buying several things? Send one invoice for a free cost review.