Vendor Compliance

Walmart Ti-Hi Requirements: Avoid Chargebacks

Walmart Ti-Hi requirements aren't published in a single spec sheet — they live in your item setup, and if your pallets don't match exactly, you're paying a chargeback before the product hits the shelf. This guide covers what Walmart checks, where chargebacks come from, and how to verify your configuration before a truck rolls.

Updated April 23, 2026 • 7 min read

⚠ Chargeback Risk

Walmart's OTIF non-compliance fee is 3% of cost of goods per purchase order. Pallet compliance violations are assessed on top of that. On a $50,000 PO, a single Ti-Hi mismatch can cost $1,500 or more before you've sold a unit.

What Ti-Hi Means at Walmart Specifically

Ti-Hi is standard freight shorthand — Ti (tier) is the number of cases in one floor layer, Hi (high) is the number of layers stacked. Total cases per pallet = Ti × Hi. A pallet written as 8/6 holds 48 cases.

At Walmart, Ti-Hi isn't just a physical measurement — it's a system record. Your Ti-Hi is stored in Walmart's item setup, tied to your item number. That record drives slotting in Walmart's distribution centers: how much shelf space the DC allocates for your product, how the automated conveyor systems handle your pallet, and how replenishment quantities are calculated.

This is why a Ti-Hi mismatch is so costly. It's not just a packing error — it breaks the DC's automated logic for your item. When a pallet arrives with a different Ti than what's on file, the system can't process it correctly, a human has to intervene, and you get billed for that intervention.

Walmart Pallet Baseline Requirements

Walmart's pallet requirements apply before Ti-Hi even comes into play. These are table stakes for any supplier:

Requirement	Walmart Standard	Notes
Pallet size	48" × 40" GMA	Standard 4-way entry wood pallet required
Pallet condition	No broken boards, no protruding nails	Damaged pallets rejected at DC receiving
Load height (standard)	≤ 60"	Above pallet deck; some categories up to 72"
Pallet weight	≤ 1,500–2,000 lbs	Verify per category in Supplier Standards
Case overhang	Not permitted	All cases must stay within 48×40" footprint
Pallet label placement	Lower-left corner, two sides	Aisle-facing and warehouse-facing sides
Stretch wrap	Required, full coverage	Must secure load to pallet, not just the cases

Important: These figures reflect Walmart's general supplier standards. Always verify current requirements in Walmart's official Supplier Standards documentation available through Supplier Center. Standards are updated periodically and category-specific overrides apply.

Where Your Ti-Hi Lives in Walmart's System

Your Ti-Hi is set during item setup and stored in Walmart's Supplier Center. Here's the chain that connects your item record to what gets checked at the DC:

1

Item Setup in Supplier Center

When an item is onboarded, the supplier enters Ti-Hi, pallet height, pallet weight, and case pack quantity. These fields drive everything downstream. If the values are wrong at setup, every shipment after that is wrong.
2

DC Slotting System

Walmart's distribution centers use automated slotting based on the Ti-Hi on file. The DC assigns storage locations, conveyor routing, and pick logic based on your registered pallet configuration. A mismatched pallet disrupts this logic.
3

Purchase Order

Walmart's replenishment system generates PO quantities based on your Ti-Hi and case pack. A Ti of 8 means Walmart expects to order in multiples of 8 cases. If your actual pallet has 9 per layer, quantities won't reconcile cleanly at receipt.
4

DC Receiving & Audit

At receiving, Walmart DCs audit pallet configurations for compliance. When the physical pallet doesn't match the item setup record, the receipt is flagged, the chargeback is triggered, and the deviation is logged against your compliance scorecard.

Exactly What Triggers a Ti-Hi Chargeback

Understanding the trigger points lets you address them before shipment rather than dispute them after.

Wrong Ti on physical pallet

Most common trigger. Your item setup says Ti 10 (10 cases per layer) and your pallet arrives with 8 per layer. The DC flags it as non-compliant on receipt. The count doesn't have to be off by much — one case difference per layer is enough.

Ti-Hi changed without updating item setup

You changed your packaging or case dimensions — which changed your floor layer count — but didn't update Supplier Center before the next shipment. The pallet was re-optimized at the warehouse but the system still shows the old configuration. Classic chargeback scenario.

Mixed Ti-Hi on a single pallet

Partial layers at the top of the pallet — the last layer has 6 cases instead of the registered 10. Even if every other layer is correct, a mixed pallet is flagged. Every layer must match Ti exactly, including the top layer.

Pallet height exceeds category limit

Your Hi is technically correct but the stacked load exceeds the 60" (or category-specific) height limit. Common when case heights are taller than what was entered at item setup, or when pallet boards add unexpected height.

Case overhang

Cases extending past the 48×40" pallet edge are flagged separately from Ti-Hi but often occur together when suppliers try to fit more per layer than the footprint allows. Overhang creates conveyor jams in automated DCs.

OTIF quantity shortfall tied to Ti-Hi

If your Ti-Hi mismatch results in fewer total cases delivered than the PO quantity (because fewer cases fit per pallet than expected), you'll also trigger an OTIF short-ship violation on top of the pallet compliance chargeback.

What Walmart Chargebacks Actually Cost

Walmart's compliance penalty structure is layered. A single non-compliant shipment can hit you on multiple fronts simultaneously:

Violation Type	Fee Structure	Example ($50K PO)
OTIF non-compliance	3% of cost of goods	$1,500
Non-compliant pallet receipt	Per-incident fee	$500–$2,000+
Re-palletizing labor	Passed through at cost	$100–$400 per pallet
Compliance scorecard hit	Affects buyer relationship	Long-term cost: item delistings

The math

A supplier shipping 10 non-compliant pallets on a $50K PO could face: $1,500 OTIF fee + $1,000 per-incident pallet fees + $3,000 re-palletizing = $5,500 in chargebacks on a single order. Multiply that across a quarterly replenishment cycle and Ti-Hi compliance quickly becomes one of the highest-ROI operational fixes a supplier can make.

Note: Chargeback rates and fee structures are subject to change. Verify current figures in your Walmart supplier agreement and Supplier Center documentation.

How to Verify Ti-Hi Before You Ship

Most chargebacks are preventable. Here's the verification sequence to run before every shipment to a Walmart DC:

1

Pull your current item setup from Supplier Center

Navigate to item maintenance for every item on the PO. Record the Ti, Hi, case pack, pallet height, and pallet weight on file. These are the numbers your physical pallet must match — not what you think they are or what they were at last year's item setup.
2

Calculate your actual Ti-Hi against current case dimensions

If your case dimensions have changed since item setup — new packaging, different inner pack, reformulation — recalculate Ti-Hi using your current case measurements against the 48×40" pallet footprint and your registered load height. Use our Ti-Hi calculator to run the numbers in under a minute.
3

Compare physical config to system record

Build a test pallet and count. Ti must match exactly — layer by layer, including the top layer. Measure stacked height. Confirm no case overhang. If anything is off, stop here and fix before building production pallets.
4

If there's a discrepancy: update Supplier Center first

Submit a Ti-Hi change through item maintenance before the next shipment ships. Get buyer acknowledgment. Do not ship under a new Ti-Hi until the system reflects it — even one business day early is a chargeback exposure.
5

Photograph pallet configuration before departure

Document every pallet before it leaves your facility. If a chargeback arrives and you believe it's in error, timestamped photos showing correct Ti-Hi and no overhang are your primary dispute evidence. No photos = no dispute.

Most Common Ti-Hi Compliance Mistakes

Mistake	Why It Happens	Fix
Stale item setup	Packaging redesign didn't trigger a Supplier Center update	Audit item setup any time case dimensions change
Warehouse optimizing without checking	3PL re-palletizes for efficiency, not for Walmart compliance	Include Ti-Hi spec sheet in 3PL packing instructions
Partial top layer	Not enough cases to fill final layer; ships anyway	Either complete the layer or ship full pallets only
Wrong orientation	Packer rotates cases, reducing per-layer count	Spec the exact orientation in packing instructions
Mixing items on a pallet	Short shipment leads to filling space with another SKU	Single SKU per pallet unless buyer explicitly approves mixed pallets
Height creep	New case height is slightly taller than at item setup; Hi stays same but total height exceeds limit	Recalculate total pallet height after any case dimension change

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Walmart's standard Ti-Hi requirement?

Walmart does not publish a universal Ti-Hi standard — Ti-Hi is set per item in your item setup within Supplier Center. Your pallet configuration must exactly match the Ti on file for each item number. Mismatches trigger non-compliant receipt chargebacks at the DC.

What is Walmart's pallet height limit?

Walmart generally requires pallets not to exceed 60 inches in load height for standard grocery and general merchandise. Some categories allow up to 72 inches. Always verify the height limit for your specific category in Walmart's current Supplier Standards documentation.

How much does Walmart charge for a Ti-Hi chargeback?

Walmart's OTIF non-compliance fee is 3% of cost of goods for the non-compliant purchase order. Pallet and case compliance chargebacks are assessed separately and can range from hundreds to thousands of dollars per incident. A single shipment can trigger multiple charge types simultaneously.

Where do I find my Walmart Ti-Hi on file?

Your Ti-Hi is recorded in your item setup within Walmart Supplier Center. Navigate to item maintenance for the relevant item number and check the pallet configuration fields. Your buyer or Walmart replenishment team can also confirm the values currently on file.

Can I change my Ti-Hi for a Walmart item?

Yes — but the change must be reflected in Supplier Center before the shipment ships. Submit a Ti-Hi change request through item maintenance, get buyer acknowledgment, and wait for DC slotting to update. Shipping a new configuration before the system reflects it will trigger a chargeback even if your intent was correct.

Does Walmart allow pallet overhang?

No. Walmart generally does not allow case overhang beyond the 48×40" pallet edge. Cases must be fully contained within the pallet footprint. Overhang causes conveyor and automated system issues at Walmart DCs and is flagged as a separate compliance violation from Ti-Hi.

Calculate Your Ti-Hi Before It Costs You

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