Lowe's Packaging Guidelines

Can pallets be stacked?

Yes, pallets can be stacked. Pallets can be double-stacked for shipment by Truckload Carrier or Intermodal Rail Carrier, with a maximum product height of 49" plus the 5" height of the wooden pallet, and the maximum weight per pallet is 2500 lbs. Additionally, pallets should be stretch wrapped a minimum of four times and not use damaged or unsafe pallets.

Source: Lowe's Supply Chain Domestic Palletization and Shipping Guidelines - Sep 1, 2020

Can SKUs be mixed on a single pallet?

SKUs should not be mixed. Unitize like items (same SKU) together on the same pallet by the quantity ordered.

Source: Lowe's Supply Chain Domestic Palletization and Shipping Guidelines - Sep 1, 2020

Can SKUs be mixed within a single carton?

SKUs should not be mixed within a single carton. For cases with mixed contents, the carton should be marked with a 4 x 6 label/placard indicating "MIXED CONTENTS" without an ITF-14 barcode on the outside of the shipping unit.

Source: Lowe's Packaging Barcode Guidelines - Apr 28, 2021

What are the allowed pallet types for shipping?

Lowe's allows only Grade A solid wood pallets for shipping. GMA wooden pallets with 4-way entry and dimensions of 40" x 48" are required. Grade B or worse pallets and corrugate pallets are not permitted.

Source: Lowe's Supply Chain Palletization and Shipping Guidelines - Sep 1, 2022

What are the max and min dimensions for shipping cartons?

For Breakpack cartons, the longest dimension must be less than 26", the second longest less than 15", and the shortest less than 10.2". For Inner Packs, the dimensions must be less than or equal to 22"L x 14"W x 9"H, with a max cube of 0.35. For Conveyable cartons, specific conveyable guidelines must be met.

Source: Lowe's Supply Chain Packaging Guidelines - Sep 1, 2022

What are the max and min weights for shipping cartons?

Minimum weight is 1 pound and maximum weight is 70 pounds for shipping cartons.

Source: Lowe's Domestic Packaging Guidelines - Aug 1, 2020

What are the min max weight requirements for shipping pallets?

The maximum weight per pallet is 2500 lbs. For heavyweight mini-pallets, it is recommended for weights more than 100 lbs. There is no specific minimum weight requirement mentioned for pallets.

Source: Lowe's Supply Chain Palletization and Shipping Guidelines - Sep 1, 2022

What are the requirements for Bills of Lading when it comes to pallet (freight) or carton (parcel) shipments?

Lowe's requires that all vendors use the VICS Bill of Lading. It must clearly identify shipment contents and show all purchase orders included in the shipment. The consignee information must include Lowe's company name, location number (e.g., "LOWE'S HOME IMPROVEMENT # 0489"), and address. For mixed loads containing palletized and un-palletized freight, it must be tendered as "Said to contain # pallets plus # cartons" or "# pallets plus # loose pieces" depending on the contents. For vendor prepared cross-dock orders, a Supplement to Bill of Lading is needed, listing all Purchase Order Numbers on the trailer and pallet count for each order. Bills of lading labels should be clear and placed to identify shipment contents accurately.

Source: Lowe's Supply Chain Palletization and Shipping Guidelines - Sep 1, 2022

What are the requirements for carton or pallet labels and their placement?

Carton labels should follow the Carton Labeling Templates document for content requirements. Pallet labels must include a valid 12of5 for pallet quantity if pallet quantity is greater than 1. GS1-128 pallets labels should be placed on two sides of the pallet in the upper right-hand corner facing the front and rear of the trailer.

Source: Lowe's Domestic Packaging Guidelines - Aug 1, 2020

What are the requirements for inner packs and cases?

Master Carton Maximum Dimensions are 26" along Longest Dimension, 15" along 2nd Longest Dimension, and 10.2" along Shortest Dimension. Inner Pack Maximum Dimensions are 22" Length, 14" Width, 9" Height. Inner Packs must be capable of being separated from the Master Carton for shipment to an individual store. Banding is not recommended, and staples should not be used on Master Cartons or Inner Packs. Inner Packs must be labeled with a valid I2of5 bar code representing the total number of sellable units contained in each Inner Pack.

Source: Lowe's Domestic Packaging Guidelines - Aug 1, 2020

What are the requirements for placing labels on cartons being shipped?

Information should be printed directly on the master carton on all visible carton panels (four sides and top). The ITF-14 barcode, important for identifying the contents, should be included, and 14 human readable digits should be printed beneath the code. Lowe's does not currently require cartons to be labeled with a GS1-128 barcode. There is a preference for soy or water-based inks, and the ink quality must withstand 100 strokes without scuffing or fading. Refer to the Carton Labeling Templates document for labeling content requirements.

Source: Lowe's Supply Chain Packaging Guidelines - Sep 1, 2022

What is the max pallet height allowed when shipping?

The maximum pallet height allowed for Less-Than Truckload shipments is 92.050 inches, which includes a maximum product height of 87 inches plus a 5 inch height of the wooden pallet.

Source: Lowe's Supply Chain Domestic Palletization and Shipping Guidelines - Sep 1, 2020