Wood vs. plastic pallets – the pros and cons

When pallets were relatively new, they were mostly made of wood. But today, through innovation, other materials have been used to make pallets with the same functions. One of the materials used to make pallets globally is plastic.

Because both wooden pallets and plastic pallets have their respective functions, advantages, and disadvantages, there are many comparisons between them. In this guide, I’ll compare both wood and plastic pallets, highlighting their pros and cons.

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Wood pallets features

Wood pallet is the most common type of pallet globally. Not only is it the most common, but it also offers you the most available options of pallets. You can have a pallet from hardwood such as oak, or you can have softwood like pine as your pallet.

There are other options like plywood and presswood to make your wooden pallets. Wooden pallets usually offer you strength, sturdiness, and durability. With an excellent wooden pallet, you can carry a weight of up to three thousand pounds without any damage.

Wood pallets advantages

There are many advantages of a wood pallet. Wood pallets don’t cost too much, and in any case of damage, a wood pallet is easy to repair and can always be recycled and reused. You can also easily store your wood pallets in a rack without any real struggle.

If you want to lift the wood pallet at once, you can easily do this because most wood pallets have been fastened so that you can lift each as a single entity.

Wood pallets disadvantages

Wood generally has a common disadvantage – pests. No matter the type of wood you’re using, wood usually ends up with a porous surface, and most of the time, the porous surface is an open invitation to fungi and pests. With a wood pallet, you have a limitation on the kind of goods you can carry.

That’s because the nails used to fasten a wood pallet may pose a threat to the safety of the goods if they’re too fragile. The most annoying disadvantage of wooden pallets is the cleaning difficulty. Wood is hard to clean!

Plastic pallet features

A plastic pallet offers you strength and aesthetics in a single pallet. Although they are more expensive than the wood pallet, a plastic pallet provides you with a durable option that lasts for a more extended period.

The surface of a plastic pallet doesn’t slip easily, and it resists water and other pest-inviting materials. That’s why for most food and prescription goods, plastic pallets are the proffered option.

Plastic pallets advantages

A plastic pallet doesn’t only last long because it’s plastic; it also has a resistance to water, acids, and some other chemicals. Sometimes, you want a beautiful option for your pallets; a plastic pallet also offers you beauty alongside strength.

Based on cost-effectiveness, a plastic pallet is better than a wooden counterpart because it lasts longer under low maintenance. Because of its lightweight, carrying a plastic pallet is easier for shipping.

Plastic pallet disadvantages

The cost of a plastic pallet is the principal disadvantage this choice of pallet has compared to others. Likewise, when any part of the plastic is damaged, that’s more or less the end of the pallet in total. There’s no way you can carry very heavy substances with plastic wood, or you may end up spoiling it.


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