Pallet vs Skid vs Crate: What Is the Difference?
Pallets, skids and crates are all used to support, handle or protect goods during storage and transport, but they are not the same. Their construction, handling characteristics and typical applications differ significantly.
What is a pallet?
A pallet is a horizontal load platform designed to consolidate goods into a unit load that can be moved with forklifts, pallet trucks and other handling equipment. Pallets may be made from wood, plastic, metal or other materials and may have single or double decks and different entry configurations.
In the canned food industry, pallets are widely used to move cartons, trays and shrink-wrapped packs through factories, warehouses, distribution centres and retail supply chains.
What is a skid?
A skid is generally a simpler load platform. Unlike a conventional double-deck pallet, it normally rests on longitudinal runners rather than a bottom deck. This construction can make a skid suitable for supporting heavy equipment or loads that need to remain on a base for an extended period.
The terms pallet and skid are sometimes used interchangeably in commercial language, so the actual construction should always be checked when specifying a load carrier.
What is a crate?
A crate is a rigid container or framework that surrounds the goods rather than simply supporting them from below. Crates can be open or fully enclosed and are commonly manufactured from wood, plywood, plastic or metal.
They are useful when the cargo requires more protection from impact, handling or movement. In food-industry logistics, crates may be appropriate for machinery, components, fragile equipment or other goods requiring greater physical protection than a pallet alone can provide.
Comparison: pallet, skid and crate
| Feature | Pallet | Skid | Crate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main purpose | Handling and unit-load transport | Load support | Protection and containment |
| Typical construction | Deck with blocks/stringers; often includes bottom boards | Top platform on runners | Rigid sides or framework around cargo |
| Forklift handling | Usually very efficient | Possible, depending on design | Depends on the crate base |
| Stacking | Common in warehouses | Depends on load and design | Depends on structural design |
| Typical use | Cartons, trays, packaged goods | Heavy equipment or stationary loads | Fragile or high-protection cargo |
Pallets in the food and canned goods industry
For canned and preserved foods, palletization allows multiple cases to be handled as a single logistics unit. Correct pallet selection should take account of the dimensions and weight of the cases, load stability, warehouse equipment, racking systems, transport mode and destination-market requirements.
Loads are commonly stabilized with stretch film, shrink film, straps, corner protection or other systems. The appropriate solution depends on the product, packaging configuration and distribution chain.
Euro pallets and other pallet dimensions
There is no single pallet size used worldwide. One of the most familiar formats in Europe is the EPAL Euro pallet, 800 × 1,200 mm. EPAL also specifies other formats, including the EPAL 2 pallet at 1,200 × 1,000 mm. ISO 6780 specifies principal dimensions and tolerances for flat pallets used in intercontinental materials handling.
Wooden pallets and ISPM 15
Companies shipping internationally should also consider phytosanitary requirements for wood packaging material. ISPM 15, developed under the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC), establishes phytosanitary measures intended to reduce the risk of introducing and spreading quarantine pests associated with raw-wood packaging material used in international trade.
The standard covers wood packaging material such as pallets, crates and dunnage made from raw wood, while processed wood products such as plywood are excluded where processing has rendered them free from pests.
Which solution should be used?
The choice depends on the cargo and the logistics operation. Pallets are generally suited to regular unit loads moving through warehouses and distribution networks; skids can provide a practical base for heavy or stationary equipment; crates provide greater containment and physical protection when the cargo requires it.
For canned food shipments, the pallet remains the most relevant of the three for normal case handling, but dimensions, material, load capacity, hygiene requirements, destination rules and compatibility with the supply chain should always be assessed before use.
Editorial note: This page provides general information for logistics and purchasing professionals. Technical specifications and regulatory requirements should always be verified for the particular pallet, shipment, destination and applicable legislation.