Pallet Wood Species
2 Most Common Wood Species for Pallets and Why
The two most common wood types used for making pallets are southern yellow pine (SYP) and oak.
A former study done by the USDA and Virginia Tech determined that SYP made up 18.9% of all woods used while oak made up 17.1% (by volume). Both oak and SYP actually contain several species that make up the woods classification which is based on the density of the wood.
Why Southern Yellow Pine?
Pine lumber is commonly used in pallets due to its availability and low cost. It also can be kiln dried and provides a clean product needed for many applications such as pharmaceutical or food-related industries.
Why Oak?
Oak is commonly used due to its strength and availability. While originally cut for more profitable markets, leftover oak lumber that doesn’t make a high enough grade for furniture is then used in pallet production. Oak is also one of the stronger hardwood species. Because of this strength, many customers have found that by using hardwood lumber, they can get by with less boards or thinner components on their pallets.
The current trend by many wooden pallet manufacturers is to not separate out pallet material by species, but rather by hardwood vs softwood.
Are you curious which type of wood species would be best for your pallets? Let’s connect below for help determining if hardwood or softwood is best for you.