Do I need heat-treated pallets for domestic U.S. shipping?

No. ISPM-15 only applies to wood packaging crossing international borders. For shipments inside the U.S., a standard recycled 48x40 pallet is fine.

What does the HT stamp mean?

HT means the wood was heat treated to a 56°C core temperature for at least 30 minutes to kill pests, as required by ISPM-15 for export.

Can you supply ISPM-15 / heat-treated pallets?

We source heat-treated, ISPM-15-marked pallets through partners rather than stocking them. Tell us your size, quantity, and destination and we will arrange it.

Pallet guide

Heat-treated & ISPM-15 pallets explained

If you ship internationally, you have probably been asked for "heat-treated" or "ISPM-15" pallets. It is a pest-control rule for wood packaging that crosses borders, marked with a stamp. Here is what the standard means, when you actually need it, and how to read the mark.

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What is ISPM-15?

ISPM-15 (International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures No. 15) governs solid-wood packaging — pallets, crates, and dunnage — used in international trade. Because raw wood can carry insects and disease, most countries require export wood packaging to be treated and marked so it cannot spread pests across borders.

It applies to the wood packaging, not your product. Plywood, OSB, and other processed materials are exempt; solid-wood pallets are exactly what the rule targets.

Heat treatment (HT) vs. fumigation

The most common way to meet ISPM-15 is heat treatment: the wood is heated until its core reaches 56°C (133°F) for at least 30 continuous minutes, which kills pests without chemicals. The older alternative, methyl bromide fumigation (MB), is being phased out and is banned in some regions, so heat treatment is now the norm.

Heat treatment is not the same as kiln drying. Kiln drying (KD) is about moisture content; HT is about reaching a pest-killing temperature. A pallet can be both, but the ISPM-15 stamp is what proves the treatment.

How to read the IPPC stamp

A compliant pallet carries the IPPC "wheat" mark stamped or branded into the wood. It includes the IPPC logo, a two-letter country code, a unique facility/certification number, and a treatment code:

HT — heat treated.
MB — methyl bromide fumigation (being phased out).
DH — dielectric heating.
DB — debarked (often shown alongside the treatment code).

When do you actually need it?

Domestic U.S. shipments do not need ISPM-15 — a standard recycled 48x40 is fine. You need heat-treated, ISPM-15-marked pallets when wood packaging crosses an international border (the U.S. and Canada exempt wood moving between the two countries). Requirements vary by destination, so confirm with your freight forwarder or the importing country before you ship.

IPPC stamp treatment codes

Code	Means	Notes
HT	Heat treated	Core 56°C for 30+ minutes — the common method
MB	Methyl bromide	Fumigation — being phased out / restricted
DH	Dielectric heating	Microwave-type heating
DB	Debarked	Shown with the treatment code

Questions

Do I need heat-treated pallets for domestic U.S. shipping?No. ISPM-15 only applies to wood packaging crossing international borders. For shipments inside the U.S., a standard recycled 48x40 pallet is fine.
What does the HT stamp mean?HT means the wood was heat treated to a 56°C core temperature for at least 30 minutes to kill pests, as required by ISPM-15 for export.
Is heat-treated the same as kiln-dried?No. Kiln drying is about moisture; heat treatment is about reaching a pest-killing temperature. A pallet can be both, but only the ISPM-15 stamp proves treatment.
Can you supply ISPM-15 / heat-treated pallets?We source heat-treated, ISPM-15-marked pallets through partners rather than stocking them. Tell us your size, quantity, and destination and we will arrange it.

Get in touch

Need pallets, or want to sell some?

Send the size, quantity, pickup or delivery location, timing, and photos if you are selling or requesting pickup.

470-502-6432 palletwithus@gmail.com