People use “skid” and “pallet” interchangeably, and in most warehouses nobody will correct you. But they are different things, and if you’re ordering one and expecting the other, the difference shows up on the dock.
The one-sentence difference
A pallet has a bottom deck. A skid doesn’t.
A pallet is a top deck and a bottom deck separated by stringers or blocks. A skid is a top deck sitting on runners with nothing underneath. That’s the whole distinction.
Why the bottom deck matters
| Pallet | Skid | |
|---|---|---|
| Bottom deck | Yes | No |
| Stability when racked | Good; bottom boards spread the load across beams | Poor; runners can slip between beams |
| Stacking empty | Stable | Less stable |
| Dragging across a floor | Hard; bottom boards catch | Easy; runners slide |
| Weight | Heavier | Lighter |
| Cost | Higher (more lumber, more labor) | Lower |
| Pallet jack entry | Yes (2-way or 4-way) | Often yes, depends on runner spacing |
| Typical use | Freight, storage, racking, retail distribution | Machinery bases, heavy equipment, one-way shipping, in-plant handling |
When a skid is the right call
Skids came first. Before forklifts standardized on pallets, goods sat on skids that could be dragged. They still make sense when:
- You’re mounting something heavy and permanent. Industrial machinery often ships bolted to a skid that stays under it for the life of the machine. There’s no need for a bottom deck because the skid never goes in a rack.
- You need to drag or slide the load. Runners slide; bottom boards don’t.
- Cost per unit matters more than reuse. Fewer boards, less labor, cheaper. For one-way freight that ends in a dumpster, a skid can be the economical choice.
- You’re shipping export. Skids can be heat treated and stamped for ISPM-15 just like pallets. Heat treated skids are common under exported equipment.
When a pallet is the right call
Almost every other situation. If the unit is going into racking, onto a trailer with other units, through a distribution center, or to a retail customer, you want a pallet. The bottom deck keeps it flat on beams, keeps it from rocking on a forklift, and keeps stacked empties from toppling.
If you’re not sure, ask one question: will this ever sit on rack beams? If yes, pallet.
Sizing
Skids are more likely than pallets to be custom-sized, because they’re often built around a specific piece of equipment. There’s no “GMA skid.” If you’re ordering skids, you’re usually giving a supplier a footprint, a load weight, and a lumber spec. Custom pallets and skids are built to those numbers.
Frequently asked questions
A pallet has both a top and a bottom deck. A skid has a top deck on runners and no bottom deck. Pallets are more stable in racking; skids are lighter, cheaper, and easier to drag.
It’s not recommended. Without bottom boards, the runners can slip between rack beams. Use a pallet for racked storage.
Yes. Skids are heat treated and stamped under ISPM-15 the same way pallets are.
Generally yes, because they use less lumber and less labor. The savings disappear if the skid has to be replaced with a pallet later.
Need skids or pallets built in DFW?
A&A Pallets builds both, in standard and custom sizes, new or recycled lumber, with ISPM-15 heat treatment available. Give us the footprint and the load and we’ll quote it. Call (214) 398-3555.
Related services: Custom Pallets · Heat-Treated Pallets · New & Recycled Pallets · All services
Photo: Walt Stoneburner via Flickr, CC BY 2.0 (source)