Pallet types
Slip sheet: the pallet alternative for containers
Reviewed
A slip sheet is a thin sheet of corrugated, solid fiber or plastic placed under a unit load in place of a pallet, with one or more tabs that a push-pull forklift attachment grips. Slip sheets are about 20 times lighter than wood pallets and let a container carry roughly 12 to 15% more product, but they need special attachments and give the load less support.
On this page
What is a slip sheet?
A slip sheet replaces the pallet under a unit load. Instead of lifting on forks, the forklift uses a push-pull attachment: a gripper clamps the sheet's tab, pulls the load onto thin platens, and pushes it off at the destination. Slip sheets are not the same as tier sheets (layer pads), which sit between layers of a load.
palletdesign.ai does not design slip sheets. It designs wood stringer, block and skid pallets. Use this page to compare and specify.
How a slip sheet is built
| Feature | Typical values |
|---|---|
| Material | Corrugated (cheap, one-way, poor in humidity); solid fiber or kraft linerboard (reusable, fine in cold and humid conditions); HDPE or PP plastic (most durable) |
| Size | Load area plus tabs; for a 40 x 48 in load, 43 x 51 in and 44 x 52 in are the most common |
| Tab (lip) depth | Commonly 3 to 4 in; some sources say 4 to 6 in |
| Caliper (fiber) | About 0.040 to 0.125 in; 0.060 in and up for heavier loads |
| Tabs | One (usually the narrow end), or 2, 3 or 4 sides for loading from different directions |
| Options | Scored fold lines, moisture-resistant or high-friction coatings |
Caliper is chosen from the weight being pulled.
When to use a slip sheet
- Ocean containers and rail cars, where the pallet's height and weight displace product. Removing it gains roughly 12 to 15% more product per container.
- Export, since slip sheets are exempt from ISPM 15.
- High-volume flows where both shipper and receiver have push-pull attachments.
- Uniform, stable loads such as cased goods and bags.
When a pallet is the better choice
- Receivers without push-pull equipment. The load will have to be hand-unloaded or re-palletized.
- Rack storage and pallet jacks: a slip sheet has no structure to span beams or lift under.
- Unstable or fragile loads that need a rigid base.
Slip sheet vs wood pallet
| Slip sheet | Wood pallet | |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 1 to 5 lb | About 30 to 70 lb |
| Height taken | Near zero | About 4-3/4 to 6 in |
| Handling | Push-pull attachment | Forks, pallet jack |
| Rackable | No | Yes, by design |
| ISPM 15 | Exempt | Treatment and mark required |
| Cost (indicative) | About $1 to $10 | About $10 to $25 (new GMA) |
How to specify a slip sheet
- Material: corrugated, solid fiber, HDPE or PP.
- Caliper.
- Load area (length x width).
- Tabs: which sides, depth, scored or not.
- Coating: moisture-resistant or high-friction.
- Load weight per sheet.
- Quantity.
If the receiver can't handle slip sheets, a heat-treated 48 x 40 stringer pallet is the usual fallback. See also pallets per truckload and export shipping.
Questions
- What is a slip sheet used for?
- It replaces a pallet under a unit load, mainly in containers, so more product fits and there is no pallet to return or treat.
- What equipment do slip sheets need?
- A forklift with a push-pull attachment that grips the tab, at both the shipper and the receiver.
- What size slip sheet fits a 40 x 48 load?
- 43 x 51 in and 44 x 52 in are the most common, giving 3 to 4 in tabs.