If you’re not extremely familiar with the packing and shipping industry, you may be confused about the difference between a pallet and a skid. While they are similar, pallets & skids have some key differences. Pallets and skids are better suited for different jobs, meaning it’s important to make sure that you or your shipping company is using the proper wood packaging for your application. Below, we’ll go over what the differences are between pallets & skids and why they matter!
Pallets
The biggest difference between pallets and skids are their deck boards. Deck boards are the surfaces that the load rests on, and are typically made from wooden planks. Pallets have both bottom and top deck boards. These deck boards can be reinforced with special screws and run all the way to the edge of the pallet or overhang it, making a winged pallet. The top deck boards on a pallet are used to support the goods that it is supporting, while the bottom deck boards are used so that pallets can be stacked on top of each other. Some pallets have deck boards that touch one another, forming a continuous surface, while the majority of pallets have slots between the boards. Because pallets have bottom deck boards, they are more stable than skids from an engineering perspective and are better for loading & unloading using a forklift.
Skids
Unlike pallets, skids only have top deck boards. The boards that support the deck boards are called stringers or runners. These runners make it easier to push or pull a skid compared to a pallet with bottom deck boards. Skids are often used as a permanent foundation for heavy machinery, as they keep the machinery off the ground and are unlikely to be moved via forklift due to the weight of the load. Unless you’re storing heavy machinery or have other specific requirements that work better with a skid, pallets are typically the better choice to transport and store your products.
Contact Extreme Packing Solutions!
If you have any questions about storing, packing, or shipping your specialized items, contact our team at Extreme Packing Solutions! We offer custom-tailored packaging unique to your shipping needs and heavy-duty rigging & machinery moving in the Greater Boston area! The best part is that our services are always fully insured! Contact Extreme Packing Solutions today for a free estimate on your local or long-distance shipping needs! Give us a call at (978) 232-9190 to learn more!