Trade guide

Mixed pallet wholesale orders: buying several FMCG lines on one pallet

Published 1 November 2026  ·  7 min read  ·  Buying

Most buyers want twenty products, not twenty pallets. A mixed pallet — several different lines built onto one pallet base — lets you order a broad range in modest quantities and still ship it as a proper pallet. Done well, it gets you past the order minimum without overstocking any single line. Done badly, it arrives crushed, mislabelled or impossible to check at the dock.

Single-line, layer and mixed pallets

The closer you stay to full layers, the cheaper and sturdier the pallet. Our guide to minimum order quantities explains why picking by the case costs more than shipping whole layers or pallets.

How a mixed pallet should be built

• Heavy and liquid at the bottom. Drinks, detergents and tins go on the base; light or crushable goods such as crisps, tissues or boxed cosmetics go on top.
• Square and flush. Cases should not overhang the pallet edge, and each layer should be level before the next goes on. Overhang is where damage starts.
• Food and chemicals kept apart. Household chemicals should not sit above or against food. Many receiving warehouses require them on separate pallets; ask for that if you buy both.
• Wrapped and protected. Stretch wrap, and corner boards or a top sheet where the load is tall or uneven.
• Within your height and weight limits. Carriers and warehouse racking each set a maximum pallet height and weight. Tell your supplier your limits before the pallet is built.

Paperwork that makes a mixed pallet checkable

A single-line pallet is easy to count. A mixed one is not, unless the paperwork is right. Ask for a packing list per pallet that shows every line on it with the number of cases, and a pallet label that identifies the pallet and says it is mixed. If you need batch numbers or best-before dates on the list, say so when you order — see remaining shelf life on wholesale orders. Outer cases with readable EAN barcodes make receiving much faster.

Mixed pallets and transport

One or two mixed pallets usually travel as groupage, sharing a truck with other shippers’ freight, so they are handled more often and need to be built to survive it. Several mixed pallets together can fill a part load or a full truck; the pallet and truckload maths shows how pallet count and weight decide the freight cost. Alcohol is subject to excise rules wherever it travels, so mention it in the enquiry if you want beer, wine or spirits on a mixed pallet — see excise duty on beer and spirits.

Checking a mixed pallet on delivery

Count by line, not just by pallet. Compare each product and case count against the packing list before you sign, and note any shortage or damage on the CMR consignment note while the driver is still there — our guide to CMR damage claims explains why that matters. Photograph the pallet before unwrapping it.

How to order a mixed pallet

1. List the products you want with the quantity in cases, not units.
2. Ask for the case and layer configuration of each line, then round lines up to full layers where it makes sense.
3. Give your pallet height and weight limits, and whether food and non-food must be separated.
4. Say how you want the paperwork: packing list per pallet, batch and best-before details if needed.
5. Confirm the Incoterm and delivery address, so transport can be priced with the goods.

Ordering a mixed pallet from us

Send your list of products and case quantities with your delivery address. Picking several lines onto one pallet takes more work than shipping single-line pallets, and the quote reflects that; we can also suggest where rounding a line to a full layer would lower the cost. Anything specific — separated food and non-food, height limits, paperwork details — tell us what you need and we will confirm in writing. Payment is by bank transfer in EUR or USD: a 20–50% deposit, with the balance before release.

Related reading: minimum order quantities, groupage shipping from Poland, and EPAL pallet exchange.