A skid in shipping is a load platform with a top deck mounted on runners (stringers) and no bottom deck, used to move heavy or bulky freight with a forklift or pallet jack. A pallet has both top and bottom decks, but in everyday freight talk the two words are often used interchangeably, and an LTL carrier quoting “skids” usually just means handling units.
The distinction still matters when you build, stack or describe a shipment. Skids are simpler and sit lower, while pallets spread weight better and stack more safely, and both count toward the weight and dimensions your freight is billed on.
What is the difference between a skid and a pallet?
The difference is the bottom deck. A skid has deck boards on top only, resting on two or more runners, while a pallet adds bottom deck boards that spread the load and let units sit securely on one another.
| Feature | Skid | Pallet |
|---|---|---|
| Decks | Top deck only | Top and bottom decks |
| Base | Runners or stringers touch the floor | Bottom boards touch the floor |
| Forklift entry | Usually two-way, between the runners | Two-way (stringer) or four-way (block) |
| Stacking loaded units | Limited, since runners concentrate weight | Better, since the bottom deck spreads weight |
| Can be dragged or skidded | Yes, the original purpose of the design | Not designed for it |
| Best for | Machinery and equipment that stay on the base | Stacked cartons, repeated warehouse handling |
The terms overlap so much that even reference sources treat them as synonyms. Wikipedia’s entry on pallets notes that “pallet” is also called a skid, and that a platform with no bottom deck is technically a skid. On a bill of lading, what matters is the count, weight and dimensions, not which word you use.
Why is it called a skid?
A skid is named for how it was first moved: by being dragged, or “skidded,” across a floor on its runners before forklifts were common. The runner base still makes skids useful for heavy machines that are slid into position at their destination.
Many industrial machines ship permanently mounted on a skid, so the base becomes part of the equipment. Generators, pumps and compressors are often bolted to steel or timber skids that stay with them after installation.
What sizes do skids and pallets come in?
The most common footprint in North America is 48 by 40 inches, the GMA pallet standard set by the Grocery Manufacturers Association. Skids are often built to the same footprint so they fit trailers and racking designed for standard pallets.
- 48 × 40 in: the GMA standard and the most-used North American size, about 30% of new wood pallets produced in the U.S.
- 42 × 42 in and 48 × 48 in: common square sizes for drums, paint and similar loads.
- ISO sizes: ISO 6780 recognizes six international pallet dimensions, including 1,200 × 1,000 mm and 1,200 × 800 mm used in Europe and Asia.
- Custom: machinery skids are usually built to the equipment’s own footprint.
Our guide to standard pallet sizes covers each footprint in detail, and the base’s own weight belongs in your total, so check how much a wood pallet weighs before you fill out the paperwork.
How do skids affect freight class and shipping cost?
A skid affects cost through weight, dimensions and density. LTL carriers price most freight using the National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC), and the NMFTA’s Docket 2025-1, effective July 19, 2025, made density the main factor in classifying most commodities, using a 13-tier density scale.
Density is the total weight divided by the total cubic feet, and both numbers include the skid. To calculate it, measure the longest length, width and height of the loaded skid, including any overhang, multiply them for cubic inches, divide by 1,728 for cubic feet, then divide the weight by that figure.
- Measure the whole unit, not just the product, because carriers measure what’s on the dock.
- Avoid overhang, since anything hanging past the edge adds to the billed dimensions.
- Keep the load compact. A tall, light load on a large skid lands in a lower-density tier and a higher class.
- Weigh the finished unit with a scale or a pallet jack scale, and record it accurately to avoid reweigh charges.
Our freight class calculator tips walk through density step by step, and an accurate packing slip helps the consignee check the delivery against the order.
When should you ship on a skid instead of a pallet?
Use a skid when the item is heavy, won’t be stacked, and may stay on its base. Use a pallet when cartons will be stacked, stored in racking, or handled many times.
- Choose a skid for machinery, crated equipment, engines and other single heavy items, especially ones that ship mounted.
- Choose a pallet for mixed cartons, retail goods, or freight that will be double-stacked in a trailer or warehouse.
- Either works for a single stable load that a forklift can lift from the side, as long as it’s secured with banding or stretch wrap.
Freight on a skid usually means you’ve moved past parcel limits. UPS accepts packages up to 150 lbs and USPS up to 70 lbs, so heavier or larger items go LTL, and our comparison of LTL vs FTL explains when a full trailer makes sense. If you’re still deciding between parcel and freight, our UPS shipping overview lists UPS’s package size and weight limits.
How do you prepare a skid for LTL shipping?
Prepare a skid by securing the load to the base, protecting it from shifting, and labeling it clearly. Carriers handle LTL freight several times between terminals, so the unit has to survive forklifts and other freight.
- Use a sound base with no cracked runners or missing deck boards.
- Center the weight over the runners and keep the heaviest parts low.
- Fasten the load with bolts, steel or poly banding, or stretch wrap tied into the skid.
- Protect corners and edges with edge boards, and keep the load within the skid’s footprint.
- Label two sides with the shipper, consignee and PRO number once the carrier assigns it.
Terms of sale decide who arranges and pays for the move. Under FOB terms, the transfer point sets who owns the freight in transit, and with DDP shipping the seller covers delivery all the way to the buyer. Container loads arriving at a port may also need drayage to reach a warehouse.
For LTL, ParcelPath offers PalletPath, and you can price a skid in the PalletPath freight quote tool. Our list of logistics terms and definitions explains the other freight words you’ll meet on a quote.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a skid the same as a pallet in shipping?
Not exactly. A skid has a top deck on runners with no bottom deck, while a pallet has both top and bottom decks. In practice many shippers and LTL carriers use “skid” and “pallet” interchangeably to mean a handling unit, so on a quote or bill of lading the count, weight and dimensions matter more than the word.
What is the standard size of a skid in shipping?
Most skids in North America use the 48 by 40 inch footprint of the GMA pallet standard, so they fit trailers and racking built for pallets. Square 42 by 42 and 48 by 48 inch sizes are common for drums and similar loads, and machinery skids are often built to fit the equipment’s own base.
Does the skid count toward freight weight and class?
Yes. LTL carriers bill on the whole handling unit, so the skid’s weight and its length, width and height are included. Since NMFTA’s Docket 2025-1 took effect on July 19, 2025, density is the main factor in classifying most freight, and an oversized or heavy skid changes the density and can change the class.
Why would you use a skid instead of a pallet?
A skid suits a heavy item that won’t be stacked and may stay on its base, such as a machine or generator. The runner design sits low, takes a forklift from the sides, and can be slid into place at the destination. Pallets are better for stacked cartons and goods handled repeatedly in warehouses.
Sources
- Pallet (skid), Wikipedia: GMA and ISO 6780 sizes
- National Motor Freight Traffic Association (NMFTA): NMFC Docket 2025-1, effective July 19, 2025
- UPS Tariff/Terms and Conditions of Service, United States (package weight and size limits)
- USPS Domestic Mail Manual 101, section 3.2.2: 70-pound maximum weight
Part of our LTL vs FTL guide. Related: What Is a PRO Number in Shipping.
