Hardwood vs. Softwood Pallets

When selecting the best pallets for your business, one of the things you need to consider is whether you should choose hardwood pallets or softwood pallets. Until recently, only hardwood pallets have been used. The wooden pallet industry has been expanding its services to offer softwood options as well. The differences between the two types of wood are based primarily on their physical structure, making it unrealistic to assume softwoods are only soft and hardwoods are only hard.

To help you determine the best option for your company, here is a breakdown of the differences between the two types of pallets.

Hardwood

Hardwood pallets have traditionally been used because of their durability and strength. Compared to metal or plastic, they are cheaper and biodegradable making them the best economic and environmental decision. Often, hardwood pallets can be used multiple times without issue. Other benefits of using hardwood for your pallet needs could include:

• Hardwoods come from flowering plants, such as Oak, Maple or Walnut trees,
• Most often used in construction, high-end furniture, flooring and other projects that are designed to last,
• Higher in density than softwoods.

Generally, hardwoods are more expensive. However, products made from hardwood last longer due to the durability from their higher density. When selecting the proper type of wooden pallet for your business, what you’re transporting is extremely important to consider. When transporting lighter materials, such as plastic or paper products, a less dense material would be more suitable. If you are transporting food grade items however, the higher the density, the less susceptible to mold and damage it will be.

Softwood

Softwood pallets started growing in popularity when a shortage of hardwood began in the United States. Most manufacturers kiln dry their pallets to remove any risk of mold or fungus growth. Aside from its preferred color, other benefits of using softwood pallets could include:

• Softwood comes from gymnosperm trees, such as Pine or Spruce trees,
• Making up 80% of all timber, you won’t need to worry about shortages,
• Wider range of applications compared to hardwood, including windows, doors, paper and furniture for easy pallet recycling,
• Lower in density and usually less expensive than hardwoods