Types of Pallets: Materials, Designs, and How to Choose
The right pallet supports your product through storage, handling, and transportation. Choosing it requires more than matching a footprint or comparing purchase prices.
The main types of pallets include wood, plastic, metal, molded wood, and paper pallets. Pallets are also classified by construction, such as stringer or block; condition, such as new or recycled; and application, such as export, display, or warehouse racking.
These categories overlap. One pallet can be wooden, recycled, built with stringers, and designed for four-way forklift entry.
This guide explains the different types of pallets, how they compare, and what to consider when selecting a pallet for your operation.
Types of Pallets at a Glance
Types of Pallets by Material
Wood Pallets
Wood pallets are widely used for manufacturing, warehousing, and distribution. They can be built in standard or custom dimensions, and many designs allow damaged components to be replaced. Wood is often a practical choice when a business needs flexibility in pallet size, construction, sourcing, and repair.
Common applications: General freight, consumer goods, industrial products, and reusable pallet programs.
What to consider: Lumber quality, moisture, fasteners, deck spacing, cleanliness, and handling conditions all affect suitability.
Hardwood vs. Softwood Pallets
Hardwood pallets may use species such as oak or mixed hardwoods. Softwood pallets may use Southern Yellow Pine or spruce-pine-fir lumber.
Neither category determines load capacity on its own. Species, lumber grade, component dimensions, fasteners, and the complete pallet design must be evaluated together.
Plastic Pallets
Plastic pallets are available in reusable and lightweight shipping designs, including nestable, stackable, and rackable configurations.
They can be useful where consistent dimensions, moisture resistance, or repeated cleaning are priorities. However, a plastic pallet is not automatically suitable for every sanitation process or storage system.
Common applications: Food and beverage distribution, pharmaceutical logistics, manufacturing, and returnable shipping programs.
What to consider: Resin, temperature exposure, cleaning procedures, fire requirements, and application-specific load ratings. Confirm that the receiving facility accepts the selected design.
Metal Pallets: Steel and Aluminum
Metal pallets can support demanding applications where durability, repeated handling, or specialized cleaning requirements influence material selection.
Steel pallets are often considered for heavy industrial loads and long-term use. Their weight, finish, and corrosion resistance should be evaluated for the operating environment.
Aluminum pallets offer a lighter metal option and corrosion resistance. Upfront cost and the suitability of the specific design remain important considerations.
Metal does not establish a universal load rating. Capacity depends on construction and support conditions.
Explore steel pallets or read our aluminum vs. wood pallet comparison.
Types of Pallets by Material
Wood Pallets
Wood pallets are widely used for manufacturing, warehousing, and distribution. They can be built in standard or custom dimensions, and many designs allow damaged components to be replaced. Wood is often a practical choice when a business needs flexibility in pallet size, construction, sourcing, and repair.
Common applications: General freight, consumer goods, industrial products, and reusable pallet programs.
What to consider: Lumber quality, moisture, fasteners, deck spacing, cleanliness, and handling conditions all affect suitability.
Hardwood vs. Softwood Pallets
Hardwood pallets may use species such as oak or mixed hardwoods. Softwood pallets may use Southern Yellow Pine or spruce-pine-fir lumber.
Neither category determines load capacity on its own. Species, lumber grade, component dimensions, fasteners, and the complete pallet design must be evaluated together.
Plastic Pallets
Plastic pallets are available in reusable and lightweight shipping designs, including nestable, stackable, and rackable configurations.
They can be useful where consistent dimensions, moisture resistance, or repeated cleaning are priorities. However, a plastic pallet is not automatically suitable for every sanitation process or storage system.
Common applications: Food and beverage distribution, pharmaceutical logistics, manufacturing, and returnable shipping programs.
What to consider: Resin, temperature exposure, cleaning procedures, fire requirements, and application-specific load ratings. Confirm that the receiving facility accepts the selected design.
Metal Pallets: Steel and Aluminum
Metal pallets can support demanding applications where durability, repeated handling, or specialized cleaning requirements influence material selection.
Steel pallets are often considered for heavy industrial loads and long-term use. Their weight, finish, and corrosion resistance should be evaluated for the operating environment.
Aluminum pallets offer a lighter metal option and corrosion resistance. Upfront cost and the suitability of the specific design remain important considerations.
Metal does not establish a universal load rating. Capacity depends on construction and support conditions.
Explore steel pallets or read our aluminum vs. wood pallet comparison.
Molded Wood and Presswood Pallets
Molded wood pallets are formed from wood fibers or particles combined with a binder under heat and pressure. Many have a one-piece, nestable design that reduces the space needed to store empty pallets.
Common applications: Space-conscious shipping programs, selected export applications, and shipments where pallet recovery is unlikely.
What to consider: Moisture exposure, handling equipment, load distribution, and whether the model is approved for the intended storage arrangement. Do not assume a nestable pallet is rackable.
Paper, Corrugated, and Honeycomb Pallets
Paper pallets use engineered paperboard, corrugated material, honeycomb structures, or combinations of these materials.
Their low weight can be useful when reducing packaging weight is a priority. Suitability depends on the pallet design and the conditions throughout the shipment.
Common applications: Selected one-way shipments, air freight, retail programs, and controlled indoor environments.
What to consider: Humidity, water exposure, concentrated loads, repeated handling, and receiving requirements. Confirm the design’s tested capacity and local recycling acceptance.
Composite and Hybrid Pallets
“Composite pallet” can describe several material combinations. Some designs use wood-based composites, while others combine plastic, metal reinforcement, or multiple materials.
Ask for the actual material specification rather than relying on the category name. Construction affects performance, repair options, recycling, and export requirements.
Why Choose Olympic Forest Products for Pallet Services?
We're an industry leader in pallets, packaging, and pallet management services — with the manufacturing capacity, logistics network, and hands-on expertise to support your operation at every stage. From first design to final delivery, our team is a single point of contact for all of your pallet services needs.
Ready to start building a pallet services program around your operation?