Pallets vs. Skids - What is Best for You?

When looking at a pallet you will notice that it has two decks: one on top and another on the bottom. Having two decks increases support and makes for a stronger option over a skid. A wooden pallet normally has three to four stringers. A stringer is a board that runs the full depth of the pallet and sits between the two decks. On the top level of the pallet you will see deck boards covering the area of the stringers. This creates the area for your product to rest on. Underneath, on the bottom side of the pallet, you will see less deck boards than on the top. These deck boards on the bottom of the pallet are for structural support. Having this bottom deck allows for added stability which is especially helpful for storing product that will move around pallet racking or will be shipped.

Now that we know the difference between a pallet and a skid, let’s look at the different type of pallets available. There are 2 main style of pallets available: 2-Way Pallets and 4-Way Pallets.

2-Way Pallet

With a 2-Way Pallet, the idea is to lift it from the deck boards with your pallet jack which comes through two sides of the pallet.

4-Way Pallet

A 4-Way pallet is designed to be lifted by the more sturdy stringers. Being that they are built from stringers, they are stronger than the 2-Way Pallet. They can be lifted by the electric pallet jack from all 4 sides making it the strongest and most efficient option.