Should you ship your freight in a crate or on a pallet?

A pallet gives the forklift a base. A crate gives the freight a protective enclosure.

The right choice depends on what can realistically happen to the product during loading, transit, transfer and unloading.

When a pallet is usually enough

A pallet can work well when:

• Product is boxed or otherwise protected
• The load can be stacked into a stable footprint
• Stretch wrap or strapping can contain it
• Normal forklift handling will not expose fragile surfaces
• The freight can tolerate ordinary trailer vibration
• The load does not need a rigid enclosure

A well-built pallet is often lighter and uses less space than a crate.

See build a pallet that survives for pallet construction and containment.

When to consider a crate

A crate becomes more useful when freight is:

• Fragile
• High value
• Irregularly shaped
• Exposed machinery
• Sensitive to impact
• Unable to support stacking pressure
• Difficult to contain with ordinary wrap and straps
• Vulnerable to puncture or side contact

The crate creates structure around the freight instead of asking the product packaging to take every contact.

A crate adds weight

Wood, fasteners, internal supports and skids add tare weight.

That can affect:

• Total shipment weight
• Rating
• Trailer capacity
• Forklift requirements
• Handling

Weigh the finished crate or calculate a realistic final weight before quoting.

Do not quote from the bare product weight and add packaging later.

A crate also changes the dimensions

A crate increases the shipment footprint and height.

That can change:

• Pallet or floor positions
• Linear feet
• Equipment choice
• Door clearance
• Whether other freight can load beside it

Measure the finished outside dimensions.

Use the pallet capacity tool when floor space matters.

Crates need internal securement too

A strong outside box does not help if the product is loose inside it.

The product may still need:

• Blocking
• Bracing
• Bolting
• Padding
• Internal restraints
• Moisture protection

The goal is to keep the product from moving inside the crate.

Forklift access matters

A crate can be too heavy or too awkward for the handling equipment at pickup or delivery.

Confirm:

• Fork entry
• Center of gravity
• Finished weight
• Forklift capacity
• Dock or ground-level handling
• Rigging needs for unusually heavy freight

LTL handling may change the decision

Freight moving through an LTL network can experience additional handling.

A crate may make sense for freight that is too exposed for repeated handling, even when a direct truckload shipment could move safely on a pallet.

See LTL vs FTL.

Do not crate blindly

Crating everything can waste weight, space and money.

Ask what protection problem you are solving.

If the problem is only a loose stack of cartons, better palletizing may solve it.

If the product itself needs a rigid protective structure, a crate may be the better answer.

Crate-or-pallet checklist