How much does it cost to ship a pallet? 5 things that set the price

0:00How much does it cost to ship a pallet?

Shipping a pallet usually costs a few hundred dollars. For a regional move, under 500 miles, a light pallet of 200 to 400 pounds runs about $230 to $330. A standard pallet, 500 to 800 pounds, runs about $280 to $430. A heavy pallet, 1,000 pounds or more, runs about $330 to $530.

Send that standard pallet cross-country, 1,500 miles or more, and it's about $430 to $730, sometimes more. Where your pallet lands in those ranges comes down to five things, and you can get your exact price in about a minute.

0:46What sets the price of a pallet

What sets the price of a pallet? Five things. First, distance and lane: how far it goes, and between where. Second, weight and density: how heavy it is for its size. Third, delivery needs, like a liftgate, a residential address, or a limited-access location. Fourth, how many pallets you ship together. And fifth, which carrier moves it.

Most pallets ship LTL, or less than truckload. Your pallet shares a truck with other shippers' freight, and you pay for your part of the trip.

1:25Distance: a regional vs a cross-country pallet

How much does distance change the price of a pallet? A standard pallet of 500 to 800 pounds, going regional, under 500 miles, usually costs about $280 to $430. Send the same pallet cross-country, 1,500 miles or more, and it's about $430 to $730, sometimes more. Three times the distance, but far less than three times the price.

The lane matters too: where the pallet picks up and where it delivers. Busy lanes between freight hubs often price better than the same miles to or from a remote area. Quote with your real pickup and delivery ZIP codes, not just the nearest big city.

2:09Weight and density: why a heavier pallet can ship cheaper per pound

Why can a heavier pallet ship cheaper per pound? First, LTL is priced per hundred pounds. As the weight goes up, the total goes up, but the rate per pound usually drops. A light regional pallet, 200 to 400 pounds, runs about $230 to $330. A heavy one, 1,000 pounds or more, runs about $330 to $530: several times the weight, for less than twice the price.

Second, density: how much your pallet weighs per cubic foot. Freight class is set mostly by density. A pallet that's heavy for its size gets a lower class, and ships cheaper. A light, bulky pallet gets a higher class, and costs more, because it takes up truck space without much weight. Stack your pallet tight and square, so you pay to ship freight, not air.

3:03Liftgate and residential delivery

How do liftgate and residential delivery change the price of a pallet? Each one adds a fee to the base rate. A liftgate is a platform on the back of the truck that lowers your pallet to the ground. You need one when there's no loading dock or forklift where your pallet picks up or delivers. Residential delivery means a home address. Limited-access locations add a fee too: places like storage units, schools, churches and farms.

If the driver needs a liftgate, or the address turns out to be residential or limited access, the carrier adds the charge after delivery. In our pallet quote, you choose residential and liftgate for each end before you see a price. Limited-access stops aren't priced there, so for those, use our full freight quote or call us. Pick every delivery need up front, so it's in your price from the start.

3:57More pallets, lower cost per pallet

Does shipping more pallets lower the cost per pallet? Usually, yes. One pallet of 500 pounds, going 500 miles, costs about $280 to $480. Two pallets, 1,000 pounds in all, going the same 500 miles, cost about $380 to $630. Twice the freight, for far less than twice the price.

That's the per-hundred-pound pricing at work: more weight, a lower rate per pound. And the truck still makes one pickup and one delivery. If several pallets are going to the same place, ship them together on one quote, not one at a time.

4:35Why carriers quote the same pallet differently

Why do carriers quote the same pallet differently? Because every LTL carrier runs its own network. Each one has its own terminals and routes, with lanes where it has plenty of trucks and lanes where it doesn't. A carrier that runs your lane every day may price it low. Another may have to route your pallet through extra terminals, and price it higher.

Carriers also differ on transit time, so the cheapest quote isn't always the fastest. Our pallet quote shops your rate across national and regional carriers. Before you book, weigh price and transit time together, not price alone.

5:15How to get an accurate pallet quote

How do you get an accurate pallet quote? Four steps. Measure the length, width and height, including the pallet itself. Weigh it, instead of guessing. Use a standard 48 by 40 inch pallet when you can. And pick every delivery need up front, like a liftgate or a home delivery.

LTL carriers can weigh and measure your shipment after pickup. If the weight or size is different from your quote, or the driver needed a service that wasn't on it, the carrier bills the difference after delivery. Measure, weigh and choose your services before you quote, and you won't be guessing at your final bill.

5:54When to switch from LTL to partial or full truckload

When should you switch from LTL to partial or full truckload? Usually around 10 pallets, or 10,000 pounds. Past that, partial or full truckload usually costs less than LTL. Partial truckload means your freight uses part of a trailer. Full truckload means the whole trailer is yours.

When your LTL quotes run past about $2,000 to $2,500, compare partial and full truckload. For example, 6 pallets, 5,000 pounds, going 1,500 miles, runs about $930 to $2,130 as LTL. At that size, it's worth a partial truckload quote. Once you're near 10 pallets or 10,000 pounds, quote it both ways before you book.

6:43Get a quote for your pallet

Get your own price in about a minute. Every number in this video is a range. Your pallet gets one price. Go to freightsidekick.com/quote/pallet. Enter where it's coming from and where it's going, its size and weight, and what you need at each end. Or call (877) 345-3838. Allison, our AI freight agent, answers around the clock.