February 25th, 2025

What are Pallets Made From?

Exploring the Many Materials That Shape the Pallet Industry

The variety of materials used in pallet construction mirrors the diverse range of products they transport. While some pallet materials are favoured for their affordability, others offer exceptional durability and weight-bearing capabilities for transporting heavy goods.

Supply chain managers and wholesale buyers alike should carefully assess its potential impact on financial and operational performance before selecting a pallet material.

There are several types of pallets available – reusable or expendable, made from wood, plastics, or metals, and assembled differently– reversible, stackable and so on. Different pallets are used to pile up, store, assemble, or transport goods.

They help improve warehouse operational efficiency by allowing easy movement of stacked goods using machines or tools. Each of these pallets has unique applications that you’re about to explore!

Let’s analyse the most common materials used in pallet construction and explore which might be the best fit for your business needs.

Materials Commonly Used to Make Pallets

While wood pallets dominate most of the European markets, other materials are also used to varying degrees.

In addition to wood, we’ll explore plastic, wood composite, paper, and metal, putting the market share of those materials in perspective and examining the benefits of each approach.

Wooden Pallets

According to leading pallet environmentalists CJS Sheeran, approximately 90% of pallets are manufactured from timber which is either recycled or rebuilt.

Wood pallets hold the vast majority of the European market with upward of four billion pallets in circulation.

Softwood

Pine is the most common type of wood used in softwood pallets. Typically, this wood is used to create single-use stringer pallets, rather than sturdier block pallets.

Pine pallets are cheap and easy to source. They’re also light, which saves money on transportation costs and makes handling easier.

Wood pallets can easily be infested with insects like termites. One of the major precautions manufacturers ought to factor in is making sure wood pallets meet special heat-treatment requirements for export.

Softwoods are also easier to dry, which helps prevent contamination from fungi, moulds, or other pests. For this reason, pallets produced with a mixture containing SYP (Southern Yellow Pine) are ideal for industries such as pharmaceuticals or food and beverage where pallet cleanliness is paramount.

Hardwood

Oak, elm, ash, or maple typically serve as the primary types of wood base for these pallets. Oak, for instance, is used because of its strength and wide availability.

There is often a surplus of oak leftover from markets such as housing or furniture construction, which is then used in pallet production.

Because it is considered a high-density hardwood, oak is ideal for pallets that must haul heavier loads of fragile goods.

Common Wooden Pallet Uses

What makes wood one of the most popularly used pallet materials across the majority of pallet production markets?

Below are some reasons why most manufacturers would choose wood over other materials.

Availability: Wood is widely available, making it a convenient and cost-effective material for constructing standard pallets.

Performance: Wood is naturally strong and stiff, capable of holding heavy loads, making it ideal for carrying a wide range of goods, from light to heavy.

Customisable: Wooden components can be easily cut and shaped into various sizes and designs. Pallet customisation can take place quickly–we offer an extensive range of options and accessories for many of our standard roll pallet, cage and stillage products that provide additional functionality or address specific usage conditions.

Repair and Reuse: Wood pallets can be easily repaired when broken. Damaged or missing components can be replaced, significantly extending the pallet’s life.

Cost-Effectiveness: Why does wood dominate in the making of Euro Pallets?

Ultimately, wood is generally more affordable than other materials like plastic or metal and, as mentioned above, can be easily customised to optimise performance for the lowest cost.

Paper/Corrugated Cardboard Pallets

These pallets are also called eco-pallets and are made of corrugated paper products. Paper pallets are cost-friendly and simple to produce.

They are designed to create little disposal waste and are easy to manoeuvre, making them ideal for saving space and reducing transportation costs.

Of all the pallet types, their durability is the lowest. In many cases, they are designed for single or one-way use, which also reduces their cost-effectiveness. Because of their lighter weight, they can be attractive for use cases such as air freight.

Plastic Pallets

High-quality plastic pallets are very durable and easy to clean. They can hold as much weight as wood, and, in many cases, much more. They don’t pose a risk of product damage from splinters or pallet hardware.

Plastic pallets are about 30 percent lighter than wood block pallets, on average, hence reducing transportation costs and wear and tear on equipment. They’re also consistent in weight and dimensions, making them ideal for an automated environment.

Plastic pallets are used in use cases such as automated warehouses, automotive manufacturing, downstream retail distribution and the postal supply chain.

Because plastic pallets are typically much more costly than wood pallets, they make sense as an investment mainly if they are used enough time to offset the cost.

If a pallet system suffers from significant pallet loss or theft, it can turn out to be a poor investment.

All plastic roll pallets from RollPallet UK are made from high-grade plastic. They are essential tools to those in the pharmaceutical industry, retail, wholesale and a wide range of critical UK industries.

Metal Pallets

Metal pallets are extremely strong and durable, capable of carrying heavy loads and providing a long service life.

They are priced in industries such as automotive, the military and aerospace, particularly for supporting heavy and unevenly distributed loads.

Stainless steel pallets have long been a platform of choice for suitable cleanroom environments due to their smooth, moisture-impervious surface.

While metals such as aluminium can offer a lighter-weight solution, they typically come at a higher price.

Wood Composite Pallets 

Wood composite or presswood pallets are compressions moulded from wood fibre to form stiff, dimensionally accurate single-face pallets.

They are popular for export and shipping where a bottom pallet deck is not important for stacking or racking and the composite wood pallet has a positive sustainability reputation because fibre is sourced from wood manufacturing and recycled material residuals.

Finding the Right Pallet for Your Business Needs

Selecting the suitable types of pallets ensures efficient logistics and supply chain management operations. The type of pallet, size, and loading capacity that suits your business needs depends on the business requirements.

Some of the key factors to consider when selecting a pallet for your business include:

1. Type of Products

The most important aspect to consider is the goods you’ll be transporting or shipping.

The weight and the type of the goods can help you determine the type of pallet to be used. For example, plastic pallets are ideally suited for food or beverage items.

2. Packaging Dimensions

Packaging width and height, along with the number of items to be shipped will help you determine the size of the pallet to be chosen.

3. Frequency of Use

If you need a pallet for a one-off shipment, you could consider a used or reconditioned pallet. But when using the pallet often, the durability aspect of the material you choose becomes important.

4. Cost

• Initial Investment: Evaluate the upfront cost of each pallet type. Metal pallets may be more expensive, but their durability offers long-term savings.
• Maintenance Costs: Consider the maintenance required to keep the pallets in good condition. Wooden pallets might need more frequent repairs or replacements than plastic or metal pallets.
• Lifecycle Value: Factor in the pallet’s lifespan. Plastic and metal pallets often have a longer life cycle, reducing the need for frequent replacements.

5. Compatibility

The pallet should be compatible with the handling equipment used in your facilities, such as forklifts and pallet jacks. Consider forklift entry points and whether you need two-way or four-way entry pallets based on your operational setup.

6. Weight Capacity

One of the most crucial factors to consider when choosing a pallet for your shipment is the size. A proper pallet fit prevents damage and gives carriers an evenly shaped, stackable load to work with.

Ensure the pallet size you select can support the load weight of your goods without compromising structural integrity. Overloading a pallet can lead to damaged goods and unsafe working conditions.

Choose the Best Pallet Material from RollPallet UK

As the logistics industry continues to evolve, staying updated on the latest developments in pallet technology is crucial.

By keeping informed about advancements in materials and design, businesses can make informed decisions that enhance their operational efficiency and maintain compliance in global shipping operations.

Companies committed to efficient and sustainable pallet management should consider RollPallet UK for all their pallet material needs. As industry-leading pallet manufacturers, we directly control our material supply, production and distribution processes and offer the best price within the UK market.

Need further pallet clarification? Don’t hesitate to contact our sales team for the best advice on the right pallet choice for your business!