When to Ship a Pallet Instead of Multiple Packages
TL;DR
- Shipping a pallet is better when sending multiple boxes to the same destination, valuable items, or fragile cargo.
- Pallets are safer, easier to track, and often cheaper than sending many separate packages.
- Pallets reduce the risk of lost items, as the entire shipment has one tracking number.
- Ship multiple packages separately if they need to go to different addresses.
When you have multiple packages to send, it may be better to ship them on a pallet instead of loose cartons. The difference between package and pallet shipping is that a parcel is a simple cardboard box, whereas a pallet can accommodate multiple boxes.
We know every situation is different, but to help you decide on your shipment, read our guide below on whether it is better to ship a pallet or multiple packages in a single order.
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Is it cheaper to ship a pallet instead of loose cartons?
When deciding whether you should ship a pallet or multiple packages, consider the size, weight and number of your individually packed boxes. After making this calculation, you may see that it would actually be cheaper for you to ship a pallet instead of loose cartons. Let’s break it down further.
In general, it is more expensive to ship a pallet than a single parcel. However, the more parcels you send, the cheaper to it becomes to pack them on a pallet instead of shipping loose cartons separately.
When is it better to ship a pallet instead of multiple parcels or loose cartons?
Pallet deliveries are an efficient way of transporting cargo on short and long distances. You may want to consider shipping a pallet instead of multiple packages in the following cases:
- Shipping a large number of boxes to the same destination
- When you need to ship loads that won’t fill an entire truck (LTL)
- Shipping valuable freight
- When you need faster loading or unloading
- When your shipment is unloaded by appointment
- If your cargo is fragile or easily damaged
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Why is shipping a pallet better in these situations?
Shipping a pallet instead of multiple loose cartons is better because it is cheaper, safer, and easier to track. Let us explain each of these cases.
Price of shipping pallet vs multiple packages
As we have shown you above, shipping one pallet can often be more affordable than loose cartons because it counts as one shipment instead of multiple individual ones.
Safety of shipping pallets vs multiple packages
Once you load and pack multiple boxes into one palletised shipment, your delivery will count as one and will be transported altogether. This removes the risk almost entirely of some of the parcels getting lost. Contrary to small shipments, pallets are more secure, stable and easier to load. That’s why it is always a better idea to ship bulky, large and heavy items on a pallet instead of trying to pack them into single cardboard boxes.
Tracking pallet shipments vs parcels
Being able to track your delivery is one of the most important things for retailers and consumers. When shipping multiple boxes loaded on a pallet, your entire palletised shipment will have one unique tracking number, and you can be sure that it will always be travelling together. Therefore, you only need to follow one tracking number, and when it is delivered, you know that all your boxes have arrived at once.
For parcels, the situation is different, as every single box will have its own tracking number. To follow a shipment of multiple packages, you will have to track each number individually. It may happen that the boxes will not be transported all at once as they may get separated in the logistics hubs based on the truck capacities, which may lead to them being delivered on different dates. Tracking multiple packages is much more time-consuming, and it is riskier for the shipment overall.
But is it always better to ship a pallet instead of multiple packages?
Not always. If you are shipping multiple packages to the same address, then a pallet is a better and more practical option than loose cartons in most cases.
However, when shipping multiple packages to different addresses, you will have to ship these separately in loose cartons and not on a pallet. Be careful in such cases to use the correct shipping label for each box so that they are delivered to the intended recipients.
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Preparing and shipping multiple packages vs pallets
Although palletised cargo can be more secure than multiple packages, a disadvantage of pallet shipping is that packing and moving them is more challenging than individual cardboard boxes.
Pallets are heavier and harder to move than cardboard boxes. Such deliveries usually entail additional handling equipment such as forklifts and tail lifts.
If you decide to ship multiple parcels, make sure that each box is within the allowed shipping dimensions and that you pack your parcel properly for transport.
Interested in learning more about pallet and freight shipping? Check all our articles about pallet deliveries.
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About the author
Marcel Nahtigal is Head of Marketing at Eurosender, specializing in digital strategies to enhance customer connections in logistics.
