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Which pallets do big retailers accept? What's actually published

Pooled or whitewood, block or stringer, exchange or not: what major US retailers' public supplier documents say about pallets, with dates.

The short version

Most large US retailers and distributors receive on 48x40 four-way pallets, but the required grade and construction differ, and pooled-pallet acceptance isn't universal.

Requirements live in supplier portals, change often, and can vary by distribution center and category. Check your current routing guide and your buyer before you change what you ship on.

What public documents say

• Sam's Club (Structural Packaging Standards, July 2026): block, CHEP, PECO or iGPS pallets; stringer and GMA pallets are rejected. More
• Kroger (General Procurement Guidelines, revised May 2022): pooled pallets (CHEP, PECO, iGPS) first, whitewood second, no pallet exchange. More
• CVS (Routing Guide, July 2026): GMA Grade A hardwood whitewood; CVS is a non-participating distributor for all pooled pallet companies. More
• Costco: no public document; trade press since 2011 reports block pallets only, mostly pooled. More
• Walmart, Target, Lowe's, The Home Depot: current pallet rules are in login-only supplier portals. Check there.

Why it matters for your pallet account

A customer that doesn't participate in a pool won't return pooled pallets through it. Under most pool agreements the shipper reports the transfer, and a receiver being a non-participant doesn't remove that obligation. Shipping pooled pallets there usually ends up as a loss.

More guides

General information, not advice about any specific contract. Your agreement with the pallet company sets the actual fees and deadlines.