Plastic gaylords
A plastic gaylord is a plastic pallet container made to the footprint of a corrugated gaylord, so it takes the box's place on the line without anything else changing. Most are collapsible, and they are generally rated 1,500 to 2,500 lb.
Specifications
| Line | Imperial | Metric | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Usual build | Collapsible pallet container | – | 1 |
| Capacity range | 1,500 to 2,500 lb | 680 kg to 1,134 kg | 1 |
| Common footprints | 30 x 32, 40 x 48, 45 x 48, 56 x 48, 64 x 48, 70 x 48, 78 x 48 in | – | 1 |
| Heights offered | 16 to 50 in, by footprint | 406 mm to 1,270 mm | 1 |
| Example: 48 x 40 x 32 in model | 1,500 lb, folds to 13.5 in | 680 kg, 343 mm | 2 |
| Example trailer count | 240 collapsed, 90 assembled per 53 ft | – | 2 |
Metric figures are converted from the maker's imperial figures (1 in = 25.4 mm, 1 lb = 0.4536 kg, 1 US gal = 3.785 L) and rounded. Sources last reviewed 14 November 2026.
Footprints it comes in
- 48 x 40 in, the gaylord footprint
- 48 x 45 in
- 32 x 30 in
- 56 x 48 in
- 64 x 48 in
- 70 x 48 in
- 78 x 48 in
Options
- Collapsible or rigid
- Collapsible if the empties travel; a rigid one-piece container if they stay in the plant.
- Solid or vented walls
- Solid for washdown and fine product, vented for airflow.
- Lid
- A corrugated gaylord gets a cap; the plastic one gets a moulded lid that seats on the rim.
- Doors
- A drop door if the bottom third gets picked by hand.
Why the trade has two names for it
Buyers call it a plastic gaylord because it replaces the corrugated gaylord they already know. Makers and distributors list it as a pallet container or bulk container. It is the same thing, and if you search either name you will land on the same family of containers.
Does it fit where the box went?
Usually. The common corrugated footprint is 48 x 40 in, and plastic containers come on that footprint in heights from 16 to 50 in. Check two things before you order: the outside height, because a moulded rim and base add inches the box didn't have, and the fork entry, because a plastic base takes forks differently than a wood pallet under a box.
What changes when you switch
You buy it once instead of every trip, you can wash it, and a collapsible one comes back folded. We set that out side by side in plastic vs corrugated gaylords, including when the box is still the better buy.
Questions about plastic gaylords
- Can I put a liner in a plastic gaylord?
- Yes, a bag liner sized to the inside dimensions keeps powders and pellets in and the walls clean. Quote it with the container.
- How long does one last?
- That depends on the loop, the handling and the forklift drivers more than the plastic. Makers don't give a single figure, and we won't invent one; damaged parts such as latches can usually be replaced.
- Will my labels stick?
- Plastic walls take placards and card holders better than adhesive labels, which come off in washing. Ask for card holders if you label every trip.
- Is it recyclable?
- Yes, at the end of its life.