What information should I send for a forklift fork quote?

Send the truck model and serial, capacity-plate photograph, carriage class, fork dimensions, mounting photographs, load and pallet dimensions, required quantity, and working environment. This lets the supplier confirm fitment rather than quoting only by tonnage.

Home » Forklift Fork Dimensions by Class: Length, Width & Capacity Chart

Forklift Fork Dimensions by Class: Length, Width & Capacity Chart

If you are replacing worn or bent forks, measure the fork arms and carriage before you search by tonnage. A replacement fork must match the carriage class and hook profile, section size, length, rated capacity, and load-center requirement. This page covers fork-arm dimensions and replacement fitment, not the overall dimensions of a forklift truck.

Quick answer: Start with the truck data plate and the old fork marking. Record carriage class, fork thickness × width, fork length, load center, and rated capacity. Use the reference chart below to narrow the request, then have the supplier confirm the exact hook, heel, locking-pin, and capacity details before ordering.

Abstract

This guide narrows forklift fork dimensions to the replacement decision. Start with 3 measurements, then confirm the carriage class, load center, and capacity from the truck data plate. ISO 2328 covers hook-on fork-arm and carriage mounting dimensions up to 10,999 kg (ISO, 2011), but the standard does not replace a model-specific fitment review.

Key Takeaways

Match the carriage class and hook profile before matching tonnage.
Record length, width, thickness, load center, and capacity as one specification.
Use the chart to prepare a quote, then confirm the truck data plate and supplier drawing.

Forklift fork dimensions chart by capacity

The table contains 8 screening rows for common replacement-fork requests. ISO 2328:2011 covers hook-on fork-arm and carriage mounting dimensions for trucks up to 10,999 kg (ISO, 2011), but it does not make every fork in a tonnage band interchangeable. Treat each row as a starting point for an inquiry, not as permission to install a fork without checking the truck nameplate. (ISO, 2023 confirmation)

Nominal truck class	Common reference section, thickness × width	Common load-center marking	Common length options
1.0T	32 × 100 mm	500 mm	36, 42, 48, 54, 60 in
1.5–1.8T	35 × 100 mm	900/500 mm	36–72 in
2.0T	40 × 100 mm	1000/500 mm	36–72 in
2.5T	40 × 122 mm or 45 × 100 mm	1250/500 mm	42–72 in
3.0T	45 × 122 mm	1500/500 mm	42–96 in
3.5–4.0T	50 × 122 mm	2000/500 mm	42–96 in
4.5–5.0T	50 × 150 mm	2500/500–600 mm	48–96 in
6.0–8.0T	60–80 × 150–170 mm	3000–4000/600 mm	48–96 in

The number printed on a fork is more useful than a generic "2-ton fork" search result. If the old fork, truck data plate, and supplier table do not agree, pause the order. The correct replacement is determined by the complete fitment set, not by tonnage alone.

How to read forklift fork dimensions
ITA fork classes and carriage fitment
Fork length and load-center selection
Replacement-fork measurements before ordering
Fork details that need supplier confirmation
Replacement forklift fork checklist
FAQ

How to read forklift fork dimensions

Fork dimensions normally describe the fork arm using 3 primary measurements: length, width, and thickness. In a supplier message, write the order as a complete specification, for example: "fork arm, 1520 mm long, 100 mm wide, 40 mm thick, hook-on Class 2A, capacity and load center to be confirmed" (ISO, 2011). Do not assume that "100 × 40" tells the supplier which measurement is width and which is thickness. ISO 2328 treats mounting dimensions as a separate fitment issue, which is why the section size alone cannot identify a replacement.

1. Section size: thickness × width

Measure the straight section near the heel, not only the worn or tapered tip. Thickness affects bending resistance and wear allowance; width affects the fit between the fork and the load, as well as the available carriage clearance. A replacement that fits the carriage but is thinner than the original may not preserve the intended capacity.

2. Fork length

Measure from the front face of the heel to the end of the tip. Do not measure from the back of the hook. The required length depends on pallet depth, load shape, clearance at the rear of the load, and the truck’s rated load center. A longer fork is not an automatic capacity upgrade. It can move the load center forward and reduce the truck’s effective capacity. The common mistake is to choose the longest fork that reaches the pallet. The trade-off is more reach versus a farther load center, so choose the shortest fork that fully supports the load and then confirm the revised rating.

3. Load-center marking and capacity

The truck nameplate is the controlling document for safe operation. OSHA’s forklift nameplate example shows capacity stated at a specified load center and explains that load size, position, weight distribution, and attachments affect capacity. Read the nameplate before using a fork chart, and check the attachment configuration if a side-shifter, rotator, extension, or other attachment is installed.

ITA fork classes and carriage fitment

ITA or ISO-style class references describe the relationship between the fork hooks and the carriage. They are not simply another way to state truck tonnage. ISO 2328:2011 is the current published edition shown by ISO and was confirmed current in 2023; its scope connects mounting dimensions with rated capacity and fork-arm type. (ISO, 2023 confirmation)

What to verify	Why it matters
Carriage class	The hook profile and mounting dimensions must match the carriage.
Mounting height	A mismatch can prevent the hooks from seating correctly.
Heel and hook profile	Similar-looking forks may not engage the carriage safely.
Locking-pin position	The pin must engage the carriage notch or retaining point.
Carriage bar condition	Wear, grooves, or deformation can make a new fork fit badly.

Class 2, Class 3, and Class 4 forks should not be treated as interchangeable because a truck is "close" in capacity. If the class marking is missing, record the carriage height and hook dimensions and ask the supplier to confirm the class from photographs or a drawing. The old fork’s appearance is not enough evidence for a safe class decision.

Fork length and load-center selection

Choose the shortest length that fully supports the palletized load while keeping the load center within the truck’s rated configuration. OSHA’s nameplate example rates a truck at 5,000 lb with a 24-inch load center (OSHA), showing why the load-center number belongs in the selection decision. The load should be supported by both forks and remain stable during travel. (OSHA, current eTool)

Use this sequence:

Measure the pallet or load depth.
Identify the required fork penetration and any rear clearance limit.
Read the truck’s rated load center from the data plate.
Check whether the proposed fork length or attachment moves the load center forward.
Ask the truck or fork supplier to confirm the revised capacity for the actual setup.

OSHA explains that the capacity assumes the load’s center of gravity is at the load center shown on the label. If the load center changes, the stated capacity may no longer apply. Do not use a simple proportional calculation as a substitute for the truck manufacturer’s capacity chart or a qualified inspection.

Replacement-fork measurements before ordering

Prepare these 10 fields before contacting a supplier. OSHA requires operators to know the truck specifications shown on the nameplate, so the capacity plate is part of the fitment evidence rather than an optional attachment to the inquiry. (OSHA, current eTool)

Field	Buyer action	Confirmation needed
Truck make, model, and serial	Copy from the truck plate or service record	Supplier or OEM
Rated capacity and load center	Photograph the complete data plate	Supplier/OEM capacity review
Carriage class	Read the fork marking or measure the carriage	Supplier fitment confirmation
Fork length	Measure heel-to-tip	Match to pallet and application
Fork width and thickness	Measure the straight heel section	Confirm section and clearance
Hook/heel profile	Photograph the front and rear of one fork	Supplier drawing or sample check
Locking-pin position	Measure location and take a close photo	Supplier fitment confirmation
Quantity	State one fork, one pair, or fleet quantity	Quote and matching-pair check
Application	Describe pallet, load shape, environment, and impact	Capacity and material review

Send the supplier the data plate, one full-fork photograph, a heel close-up, and the measurements in millimeters. This reduces the risk of receiving a fork that matches a nominal tonnage but fails at the carriage or load-center stage.

Fork details that need supplier confirmation

Some decisions cannot be made from a generic chart. Confirm them before payment when the truck has a non-standard carriage, an attachment, an unusual pallet, or a severe impact environment. ISO 2328 is specifically about mounting dimensions, so a supplier drawing is the right evidence when a hook or carriage does not match the reference table. (ISO, 2011)

Hook-on versus pin-mount

Hook-on forks engage the carriage through upper and lower hooks. Pin-mounted or shaft type forks use a different mounting arrangement. Do not order one type based only on the fork length or section size. Send the mounting-side photograph and request a drawing if the type is unclear.

Special applications

Sleeve, extension, port, mining, and other special forks change the load path or the operating conditions. They belong in a separate application review, not in a generic standard-fork promise. If the job requires a special fork, confirm attachment weight, load center, surface conditions, impact, corrosion, and inspection requirements before selecting a material or profile.

Material and steel grade

Steel grade is a procurement detail after fitment and capacity are established. A grade name alone does not prove that a fork is suitable for a particular truck. Ask for the manufacturer’s material and test documentation when the application or purchasing standard requires it. Do not use a material section to replace the carriage, capacity, and load-center checks above.

Replacement forklift fork checklist

Before requesting a quote, confirm all 10 items below. OSHA states that rated capacities must not be exceeded and that capacity depends on the truck configuration and load conditions, so the checklist is a safety handoff as well as a purchasing aid. (OSHA, current regulation)

Record the truck make, model, and serial number.
Photograph the capacity plate, including load center and attachment notes.
Identify the carriage class or mounting dimensions.
Measure fork length from heel to tip.
Measure fork width and thickness at the heel.
Photograph the hook, heel, and locking-pin details.
Describe pallet/load depth and the actual application.
State the required quantity, including whether a matched pair is needed.
Request supplier confirmation for capacity and mounting fit.
Assign installation and post-installation inspection to a qualified person.

If one of the first six fields is unknown, do not request a final "drop-in replacement" price yet. Send the unknown field to the supplier as a fitment question. For sourcing process help, see How to Source Forklift Parts Correctly.

FAQ

These 5 questions cover the same measurement and replacement job as the chart. OSHA’s nameplate guidance says that load center, load position, and attachments affect the stated capacity, so the answers below keep the focus on fitment evidence rather than a generic "standard fork" claim. (OSHA, current eTool)

Forklift fork size identification

Read the fork marking and truck data plate, then measure length, width, and thickness at the heel. Confirm the carriage class, hook profile, locking-pin position, rated capacity, and load center. A nominal "2-ton" label is not enough to identify a replacement fork.

Fork size compatibility

No. Fork arms vary by carriage class, section size, length, rated capacity, load center, mounting type, and application. Two forks with the same length may still be incompatible because their hooks, heels, or locking-pin positions differ.

Class 2 fork specification check

Class 2 is a carriage reference, not a complete order specification. Confirm the exact mounting height, hook profile, section size, length, capacity, load center, and locking pin against the truck and supplier drawing before ordering.

Longer fork and load-center check

Only after checking the new load center and the truck’s revised capacity. A longer fork may be suitable for a deeper pallet, but it can move the load center forward or create clearance and handling problems. Ask the truck or fork supplier to confirm the setup.

Fork quotation information

Send the truck model and serial, capacity-plate photograph, carriage class, fork dimensions, mounting photographs, load/pallet dimensions, required quantity, and working environment. This gives the supplier enough information to confirm fitment rather than quoting only by tonnage.

Conclusion

The reliable way to select replacement forks is to match 6 parts of the fitment set: dimensions, carriage class, mounting profile, length, capacity, and load center. OSHA requires that rated capacity not be exceeded, so use the chart to organize the request, but let the truck data plate, supplier drawing, and qualified installation check control the final decision. (OSHA, current regulation)