Ordering Roll Cradles for Flooring
Getting the right cradle under your rolls takes four steps.
Pros of Roll Cradles for Flooring
Plastic cradles address the failure modes that hit rolled flooring hardest.
No Flat Spots or Set Marks
CradlePak carries the roll across its curved body and spreads the weight of the stack instead of pressing it into a narrow strip. The roll keeps its round and comes off the cradle with no flat spots or set marks to show in the finished floor.
Moisture Stays Out of the Support
Flooring stages in warehouses, ships in ocean containers, and sometimes stores outdoors before installation. Pulp and fiber cradles pull water from humid air and wet docks, then weaken and can stain the roll or affect adhesive backing. Plastic does not absorb, so storage and container shipping stop being a packaging-driven moisture risk.
No Dust or Residue on the Wear Layer
PET has a sealed face. Nothing flakes, powders, or transfers onto the flooring, so printed vinyl, gloss wear layers, and finished surfaces come out of the cradle clean.
Crush Resistance Under Stacking
CradlePak holds its shape under stacking pressure, so the product stays in place and protected.
Reusable and Easy to Stage
When used properly, our plastic cradles can make multiple trips, and nest far tighter than pulp, so staging inventory stops taking up a full bay of your warehouse.
Cleaner Presentation Into the Showroom
The pallet is part of the first impression in the showroom. Clean cradles under clean rolls tell your customer the pallet was handled well.
Compare Roll Cradle Options for Flooring
| Feature | CradlePak Plastic | Pulp / Fiber | Foam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surface against flooring | Smooth molded | Rough, sheds dust | Soft, can deform |
| Moisture resistance | Waterproof | Absorbs water | Water resistant |
| Guards against flat spots | Load spread across body | Compresses, collapses | Compresses under load |
| Reusability | Multi-use | Rarely | Sometimes |
| Nesting footprint | Best-in-class | Moderate | Moderate |
| Disposal cost | Low or none | Moderate | Moderate |
Flooring Rolls We Protect
Choosing a Cradle Size for Flooring Rolls
Start with the outside diameter, which sets the cradle profile, then pick the cradle length that supports your roll width. Size so the roll sits toward the top of the cradle's diameter range for a snug seat, and use your pallet dimensions as the tiebreaker when a diameter falls between two profiles. Most flooring customers land in these sizes:
48-5
48 inch · 5-roll
OD 8″ – 9.5″
42-4
42 inch · 4-roll
OD 9″ – 10.5″
48-4
48 inch · 4-roll
OD 10″ – 12″
42-3
42 inch · 3-roll
OD 12″ – 14″
48-3
48 inch · 3-roll
OD 14″ – 16″
36-2
36 inch · 2-roll
OD 16″ – 18″
42-2
42 inch · 2-roll
OD 18″ – 21″
48-2
48 inch · 2-roll
OD 21″ – 24″
42-4LP / 48-4LP
4-roll with lip
For rolls needing lateral support
Technical Specs
- Thermoformed PET, 0.06 inch standard wall thickness
- Load capacity up to 6000 lbs. per bottom cradle pair, varying by roll material and pallet configuration
- UV- and moisture-resistant
Handling
- Denesting flutes for fast separation
- Perforated pairs separate into singles for the top and bottom layers of a pallet
Pricing Factors for Roll Cradles
Our pricing depends on several factors:
- Cradle Size: Larger profiles use more material per unit.
- Order Volume: Higher quantities lower the per-unit cost.
- Roll Weight and Configuration: Pallet specs and/or heavier goods may call for a different profile.
- Freight Distance: Compact nesting keeps shipping cost down, and our Yakima plant shortens the haul for West Coast customers.
- Reuse Cycle: Cradles that come back for a second and third trip change the per-shipment math.
Contact us for a quote based on your roll dimensions and shipping volume.
Why Choose Tamarack?
Made in the USA
Every CradlePak is thermoformed at our plant in Yakima, WA. Domestic production means shorter lead times, direct communication, and no overseas freight schedule between you and your packaging.
Recycled and Recyclable
CradlePak is made from recycled PET, Recycling Code #1, which takes 79% less energy to produce than virgin plastic. Send used cradles back to us or drop them at any PET recycling facility, which removes the disposal line item that cut lumber and foam add.
Sample Before You Switch
We’re happy to send you samples! Request a sample pack, use it under your rolls, and see how the plastic cradles save space, time and hold your rolls before placing an order.
Put Flooring Rolls in a Cradle Built for Them
Send us your roll outside diameter, weight, and pallet configuration. We will match a cradle size, quote pricing and lead time, and get samples out so you can use them in your own process before you commit.
Send roll OD, weight, and pallet configuration
We match a cradle size and quote pricing and lead time
Samples ship out so you can run them on your line
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The molded channel spreads the weight of the stack across the body of the roll instead of a single line or edge, so the material lays flat with no set marks telegraphing through the installed floor.
No. PET has a smooth, sealed face with nothing to shed or abrade, so printed vinyl, gloss surfaces, and finished wear layers come out unmarked.
Start with your roll outside diameter, which sets the cradle profile, then choose the cradle length that matches your roll width and pallet dimensions. Most flooring rolls fall in our 42 inch and 48 inch length cradles, which cover 6 inch to 48 inch diameters. Send us your dimensions and we will confirm the match.
Yes. Each bottom cradle pair supports up to 6,000 lbs., with actual capacity varying by roll material and pallet configuration.
Yes. The cradles do not absorb water, so humidity, condensation, and wet docks will not degrade the support or wick moisture into the roll.
Yes. When used correctly, CradlePak can withstand repeat trips through distribution and warehousing.
Yes. Request a sample pack to use with your rolls before placing a full order.