Industries
Pallets and skids for machinery and equipment
Reviewed
Machinery and equipment usually ship on custom skids rather than standard pallets: a thick top deck on heavy runners (such as 3-1/2 x 3-1/2 in or larger), sized to the machine base, with bolt holes or tie-down points. The load is concentrated on the machine's feet or frame, so it must be described that way, not as a uniform load.
Common pallet sizes
Machine bases decide the footprint, so most machinery skids are custom sizes. Standard sizes are still a useful starting point:
| Size | Construction | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| 48 x 40 in skid | Runners, no bottom deck | Small machines, motors, crate bases |
| 48 x 48 in skid | Runners, no bottom deck | Compact equipment with a square base |
| 60 x 48 in, 72 x 48 in | Skid or heavy stringer | Mid-size machines and assemblies |
| 96 x 48 in | Skid on 4 or more runners | Long machines, frames and fabrications |
A custom pallet is normal here. Give the machine's base dimensions and let the designer size the skid around it.
Construction and spec notes
Skids
A skid is a pallet with no bottom deck: deckboards on top of heavy runners. For machinery it has three advantages: the runners are strong beams, the skid can be dragged or rolled on pipes, and the machine can be bolted straight through the deck into the runners.
- Runners. 3-1/2 x 3-1/2 in (a 4 x 4) is a common minimum; 3-1/2 x 5-1/2 in (a 4 x 6) or larger for heavy machines. palletdesign.ai's skid template starts on 3-1/2 x 3-1/2 in runners with a 3/4 in deck.
- Deck. Thick boards or plywood under the machine feet. A panel deck spreads point loads well.
- Bolt pattern. Hole positions and diameters that match the machine's mounting points, set to land on runners or blocking.
- Tie-downs and end chamfers. Tie-down points for transport and chamfered runner ends if the skid will be dragged.
Concentrated and line loads
A 3,000 lb machine on four feet is not a 3,000 lb uniform load. Each foot puts a point load on the deck, and a frame puts line loads along its rails. Describe where the weight lands (feet positions, contact areas, center of gravity) so the deck and runners can be sized. The Pallet Design System models line and concentrated loads, and palletdesign.ai lets you set the load type to machinery. Any capacity from a simple beam check is indicative; confirm it with a PDS analysis or a test.
Entry and handling
Skids are two-way entry: forks go between the runners from the ends. For side entry, runners can be notched, or the skid can have blocks instead of continuous runners. Check the clear height under the deck against your fork tines, and plan for the machine's center of gravity when lifting.
Crating and export
Machines are often crated on the skid. Crate design has its own tools (the Crate Design System is the crate counterpart to PDS). If the machine ships abroad, all solid wood in the skid and crate needs ISPM 15 treatment and marking. Plywood and OSB are exempt as processed wood, but a skid that mixes them with solid lumber still needs its solid wood treated.
Buyer requirements
Manufacturers publish their own pallet standards for suppliers. Snap-on's CS19.0.4, for example, specifies GMA-style 48 x 40 in pallets and EUR-2/3 (1200 x 1000 mm) block pallets and a safe working load of at least 2,200 lb (1,000 kg), recommends the ISPM 15 mark on all four sides, and prohibits plywood, LVL or corrugated pallets without approval. Confirm with the current supplier guide.
What to put in the RFQ
- Machine base dimensions, weight and center of gravity
- Foot or frame positions and contact areas (point or line loads)
- Bolt-hole pattern and diameters; tie-down points
- Runner size and count, deck thickness or panel
- Entry and lifting method (forklift ends or sides, crane, rolling)
- Crate required or skid only
- ISPM 15 treatment for export
Questions
- What is the difference between a skid and a pallet for machinery?
- A skid has no bottom deck: just a top deck on heavy runners. That makes it easy to bolt a machine down and to drag or roll the load, but it only takes forks from two sides.
- What size runners does a machinery skid need?
- 3-1/2 x 3-1/2 in (4 x 4) runners are a common minimum, with 3-1/2 x 5-1/2 in (4 x 6) or larger for heavy machines. The right size depends on the weight, where it bears and the span between supports.
- How do I describe a machine load for a pallet design?
- Give the machine weight, base size, the position and size of each foot or rail, and the center of gravity. A machine on feet is a set of point loads, not a uniform load.