Measure the pallet openings and load before choosing a truck. This guide explains how fork width, length and entry clearance affect fit, including the difference between the current standard 550 × 1150mm and wide 685 × 1200mm models.
External fork width
The external width is the distance across the outside edges of the two forks. Most of our trucks are listed at 550mm external width; the wide-fork 3000kg truck is 685mm. The 550mm width is sized for the fork pockets of the two pallets most UK businesses use:
- UK standard pallet, 1200 × 1000mm – entered from the 1000mm side or the 1200mm side.
- Euro pallet (EUR/EPAL), 1200 × 800mm – entered from the 800mm side (the short face) for the standard configuration.
A wider fork configuration – 685mm external width, with 1200mm forks – suits wider pallets, plastic pallets with wide-set blocks and loads that need more support across their width. That is the wide fork 3000kg pallet truck, which is in the range now. If you have an unusual pallet, measure the distance between its bottom boards and blocks before you buy any truck.
Fork length: 1150mm and 1200mm
Fork length sets how much of the pallet is supported and how much room the truck needs to turn. The trucks in the range are listed at two lengths:
| Fork length | Truck | Rated capacity | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1150mm | 2000kg trucks, and the standard and Premium 3000kg trucks | 2000kg or 3000kg | Full-size UK and Euro pallets, general warehouse use |
| 1200mm | Wide fork 3000kg truck (685mm external width) | 3000kg | Wider pallets, plastic pallets with wide-set blocks, loads needing more support across the width |
Standard 1150mm forks
The general-purpose length. 1150mm forks support a 1200mm pallet almost to the far edge, so the load is stable and the truck turns in a normal aisle. This is the fork on our 3000kg standard pallet truck in all four colours, on the Premium 3000kg truck and on both 2000kg trucks. If you have no reason to choose otherwise, choose this – see 3000kg pallet trucks.
Shorter forks
A shorter fork carries half pallets, quarter pallets and display pallets without projecting beyond the load, and a shorter truck turns in a confined stockroom, in the back of a van or a Luton box, and in a lift. The trade-off is less support under a full 1200mm pallet, which is why shorter forks are generally paired with a lower rating. The lengths listed above are the ones we carry – see the pallet truck range.
Longer forks
A 2000mm fork carries two 1000mm-deep pallets end to end, or one long load such as timber, tubes, profiles, doors or worktops, and it needs considerably more room to turn – nearly a metre more length than a standard truck – so check the aisle and the doorway swing before ordering. Compare the load length against the fork length listed on each truck, and ask for a quote if you need a length that is not listed.
Other fork configurations
Used trucks come in the sizes they were built in, and those sizes vary by maker and age – forks wider or shorter than a current new truck are common, and some carry a parking brake. Always read the fork dimensions on a used listing rather than assuming a standard size.
How to measure before you buy
- Pallet size – length and width of the pallet, and which side the truck will enter from.
- Fork pocket width – the clear distance between the pallet's blocks or stringers on the entry side. The forks must fit inside it with clearance.
- Pallet depth in the direction of the forks – the forks should support most of it. 1150mm forks under a 1200mm pallet is right; 800mm forks under a 1200mm pallet is not.
- Turning space – truck length is forks plus the pump unit and handle. Allow the length of the truck plus the operator at the end of every aisle it serves.
- Doorways, lifts and vehicles – a short-fork truck fits where a standard one will not.
Frequently asked questions
What fork width do I need for a Euro pallet?
A 550mm external width with a 230mm gap is the standard size for Euro pallet fork pockets. Fork length is a separate decision: measure the pallet depth in the direction the forks will enter and compare it with the fork length listed on each truck.
Are 685mm wide forks better?
Only for pallets and loads that need them – wide-block plastic pallets, some export pallets and wide loads. On a standard wooden pallet, 550mm is the correct size.
Can I use a long reach truck as a normal pallet truck?
Yes, but it needs more room to turn and the forks will project 800mm beyond a standard pallet, which is a trip hazard in a busy aisle. Use it where the length is needed.
Does fork length change the capacity?
No – each truck has its own rating, listed on its product page. The 2000kg trucks are rated 2000kg, and the standard, Premium and wide fork 3000kg trucks are rated 3000kg. The 2000kg vs 3000kg guide explains how to choose the rating.
Browse by capacity: 2000kg pallet trucks and 3000kg pallet trucks, or see all pallet trucks.