This metal pallet supplier guide is part of our Pallets Hub and Suppliers Hub.
Updated September 2026
Metal pallets occupy a relatively small share of the overall pallet market, but in the right application they can be an excellent fit. Their appeal is usually tied to durability, hygiene, fire resistance, dimensional consistency or the ability to handle unusually demanding loads.
Available designs include carbon steel, galvanized steel, stainless steel and aluminum pallets. Some are standard products, while others are engineered around a particular load, rack configuration, automated system or closed-loop application.
Metal pallets generally cost more upfront than wood and, in many cases, plastic. That does not necessarily make them more expensive over time. In a well-controlled reusable system, a durable metal pallet may remain in service through many handling cycles, reducing replacement frequency and spreading its purchase cost over a longer working life.
The important question is not simply whether metal is stronger. It is whether the pallet fits the load, handling system, operating environment and expected number of trips.
Where Metal Pallets Make Sense
Metal pallets are worth considering where applications involve heavy or concentrated loads, frequent reuse, harsh handling, repeated washing, automated material handling, fire-risk concerns or demanding hygiene requirements. They can also be attractive in export programs where companies want to avoid wood packaging requirements.
The trade-offs are usually higher purchase cost, greater tare weight in the case of steel, and the need to retain the pallet within a reasonably well-managed return loop. Those disadvantages can be outweighed where long service life, cleanliness or reliable performance under difficult conditions matters more than low initial cost.
Steel, Stainless Steel or Aluminum?
Choosing among metal pallet materials starts with the operating environment, expected load and service requirements. Each material has advantages, but none is automatically the best choice simply because it is metal.
Steel Pallets
Steel is widely used where strength and durability are leading concerns. It can be formed and welded into highly customized configurations and is commonly found in automotive, metalworking, heavy manufacturing and other industrial applications.
Galvanized steel adds corrosion resistance and can be a better choice where pallets are exposed to moisture, outdoor storage or frequent washing. Painted and powder-coated steel can also work well, depending on the environment and expected service life.
Steel pallets can carry very heavy loads, but weight is part of the equation. A pallet that is stronger than necessary may add cost and transportation weight without providing much operational benefit. Repairability can offset some of that cost, since bent or damaged components may be repairable rather than requiring replacement of the entire pallet.
Stainless Steel Pallets
Stainless steel typically moves to the top of the list where hygiene and corrosion resistance are more important than purchase price. Food processing, pharmaceutical production, chemical manufacturing, cleanrooms and other sanitary environments are common applications.
In these settings, the pallet may need to tolerate frequent washdowns, aggressive cleaning chemicals or strict contamination controls. Suppliers may offer different stainless grades, including 304 and 316, depending on the level of corrosion resistance required.
For many applications, stainless steel would be unnecessarily expensive. Where cleaning, sanitation, chemical resistance and long service life are critical, however, it can make very good sense.
Aluminum Pallets
Aluminum provides many of the benefits associated with metal pallets without the weight of steel. It does not rust, is relatively easy to clean and can be fabricated to tight dimensional tolerances.
Aluminum pallets are used in food, pharmaceutical, aerospace and industrial environments, as well as in operations where pallet weight matters. They are also attracting interest in automated warehouses, where consistent dimensions and predictable pallet geometry can become increasingly important as conveyors, transfer systems and automated storage equipment take over tasks that were once handled manually.
As with every pallet material, load capacity depends on design rather than material alone. Static, dynamic and racking performance should be confirmed for the specific pallet and application.
Metal Pallets and Export Shipping
Metal pallets can simplify international shipping because they are not wood packaging material and therefore are not subject to ISPM 15 treatment and marking requirements.
That does not eliminate other customs, packaging or destination-country requirements, but it removes one issue that exporters using regulated solid wood packaging must manage. Where pallets regularly cross borders, that can become another factor in the total-cost calculation.
Be Careful with Load Ratings
Metal pallets are often marketed with impressive load capacities, but the number alone does not tell the whole story. A pallet sitting on a flat warehouse floor may support far more weight than the same pallet spanning rack beams, while a pallet moving on forklift tines experiences different stresses again.
Static capacity describes a pallet resting on a supporting surface. Dynamic capacity applies while the pallet is being lifted or transported. Racking capacity addresses the more demanding condition where the pallet bridges rack beams or another unsupported opening.
Racking deserves particular attention because beam spacing, pallet orientation, load distribution and deflection can all affect performance. A large static load rating does not automatically mean that the pallet is appropriate for the same load in warehouse racking.
This becomes especially important with custom pallets or unusually dense products. Providing the supplier with the actual load pattern and support conditions is far more useful than simply specifying total weight.
Metal Pallets in Automated Systems
Automation is putting more attention on pallet quality because conveyors, pallet shuttles, transfer cars, robotic systems and AS/RS equipment depend on predictable dimensions and geometry. Damage or distortion that would barely register in a conventional forklift operation can cause problems in a tightly controlled automated system.
Metal pallets can perform well in these environments because they can be engineered to consistent dimensions and specific interface requirements. That does not mean every metal pallet is automatically suitable for automation.
Pallet flatness, deflection, runner geometry, fork openings, conveyor contact points and sensor compatibility may all matter. A design that works perfectly in one system may create problems in another, so a prototype trial is usually worthwhile before committing to a large fleet.
Testing the pallet under the actual load and on the actual handling equipment can expose problems that are difficult to predict from drawings and specifications alone.
Specifying a Metal Pallet
The most useful supplier discussions begin with the application rather than the pallet itself. Product dimensions and weight, load distribution, concentrated point loads and handling method all affect the design.
Rack beam spacing, forklift and pallet jack access, stacking requirements and empty-pallet storage should be part of the specification. Environmental conditions matter as well. A pallet used indoors in a dry manufacturing plant has very different requirements from one exposed to washdowns, corrosive chemicals, outdoor storage or freezing temperatures.
Automation requirements should be identified early, along with expectations around service life, repairability and export use. The more accurately the operating conditions are described, the less likely the result will be an overbuilt pallet that adds unnecessary cost or an under-specified design that performs poorly in service.
Metal Pallet Suppliers: United States
The U.S. market includes standard pallet manufacturers as well as custom metal fabricators serving automotive, manufacturing, food, pharmaceutical, cleanroom and automated handling applications.
International Metal Pallet
United States | Steel and aluminum
International Metal Pallet supplies custom industrial pallets in steel and aluminum. Its focus is on reusable pallets engineered around specific loads, handling conditions and industrial applications.
Morrison Industries
United States | Steel
Morrison Industries designs custom steel pallets and other returnable packaging systems. Applications include automotive, heavy equipment, food processing, cold storage and industrial manufacturing.
New Age Industrial
United States | Aluminum
New Age Industrial manufactures standard and custom aluminum pallets, including tube-frame, washdown and specialized designs. Its range also includes aluminum pallets aimed at automated material handling and AS/RS applications.
Ruger Industries / The David Round Company
United States | Stainless steel
Ruger Industries produces stainless steel pallets for cleanrooms, food processing, pharmaceutical, laboratory and other sanitary applications. Custom dimensions, two-way and four-way entry, and stackable or nestable configurations are available.
Southern Perfection Fabrication
United States | Steel
Southern Perfection Fabrication builds custom steel pallets for automotive, manufacturing, distribution, food and beverage and other applications. Designs can be tailored around load rating, fork entry, deck configuration, racking and handling requirements.
Steel King Industries
United States | Steel
Steel King offers its King Load steel pallet with welded construction, corrugated decking and painted or galvanized finishes. Custom sizes and configurations are also available.
Streator Dependable Manufacturing
United States | Steel and aluminum
Streator Dependable Manufacturing produces custom material handling equipment including metal pallets and skids. Designs can incorporate stacking posts, forklift channels, load-securing features and other application-specific elements.
Vestil Manufacturing
United States | Aluminum
Vestil Manufacturing offers reusable aluminum pallets and skids in several formats, including full-size, half-pallet, solid-top and skid-bottom configurations for industrial, warehouse and sanitary applications.
Metal Pallet Suppliers: Canada
Canada has a smaller but useful group of metal pallet manufacturers and custom fabricators, particularly in Ontario and Quebec. The range covers stainless steel for sanitary applications as well as galvanized and conventional steel designs for industrial handling.
Ability Fabricators
Canada | Stainless steel
Ability Fabricators, based in Concord, Ontario, produces custom stainless steel pallets for pharmaceutical, food, nutraceutical, chemical and other demanding environments. Pallets can be manufactured in 304 or 316 stainless steel with sealed welds and custom dimensions.
Davco Industries
Canada | Steel
Davco Industries produces engineered steel pallets for storage, stacking, transportation and heavy industrial applications. Pallets are fabricated to customer requirements, with optional HDPE dunnage where additional product protection is needed.
Palac Industries
Canada | Galvanized steel
Palac Industries manufactures TANKO galvanized steel pallets in Quebec. The range includes lightweight and standard models in several footprints, with distribution extending into the United States and Europe.
Sherwood Innovations
Canada | Steel
Sherwood Innovations manufactures DaVinci steel pallets in Toronto. Its range includes nestable, rackable and repairable designs, along with specialized pallets for sheet products, coils and other industrial loads.
Metal Pallet Suppliers: Europe
European suppliers are particularly active in stainless steel pallets for sanitary environments, along with aluminum, galvanized steel and custom industrial designs. International sourcing can broaden the range of available products, although freight, lead time, engineering support and replacement parts should be considered alongside purchase price.
ATT
Europe | Stainless steel
ATT offers stainless steel pallets for hygienic applications, particularly in food, pharmaceutical, chemical and cosmetics operations.
IFT
Italy | Stainless steel
IFT produces stainless steel pallets for handling and storage in food and other hygienic environments. Standard and custom configurations are available.
ISN
Italy | Stainless steel
ISN offers stainless steel pallets in AISI 304 and, on request, AISI 316. Customized designs are available for pharmaceutical, food, chemical and laboratory environments.
PortPallet
Portugal | Aluminum and galvanized steel
PortPallet manufactures aluminum and galvanized steel pallets for food, pharmaceutical, chemical, distribution and other applications. Custom dimensions and configurations are available, along with optional identification and tracking technologies.
Range Storage Equipment
United Kingdom | Steel
Range Storage Equipment manufactures custom metal pallets, stillages and related industrial handling equipment. Options include steel, mesh and wood-deck configurations produced to customer specifications.
Look Beyond Purchase Price
Metal pallets can be difficult to justify for uncontrolled one-way shipments because losing even a few high-value pallets can quickly erase the benefit of long service life. The economics become more interesting as control over the return loop improves.
Purchase price is only one part of the calculation. Repair, repositioning, loss, service life and handling performance should also be considered. Savings may come from fewer pallet replacements, lower product damage, better sanitation or more reliable performance in automated systems.
Weight and empty-return efficiency can work in the opposite direction. A heavy steel pallet adds tare weight, while a pallet that does not nest or stack efficiently can increase return transportation costs.
The best metal pallet is therefore not necessarily the strongest one available. It is the design that provides enough strength, durability and operational performance without adding unnecessary weight, complexity or cost.
Supplier Due Diligence
Reusable Packaging News provides this directory as a sourcing resource. Inclusion does not constitute an endorsement. Product ranges, ownership, manufacturing locations and capabilities can change. Buyers should verify current specifications, load ratings, testing methods, material grades, warranties, references and commercial terms directly with suppliers before making a purchasing decision.
Is your company missing from this guide, or is an existing listing incorrect? Please contact RPN.
Last reviewed: September 2026.
Related RPN Resources
- Plastic Pallet Buyers Guide
- Paper and Corrugated Pallet Buyers Guide
- Presswood Pallets, Composite Blocks and Machinery Buyers Guide
- Pallets Hub
- Suppliers Hub
Rick LeBlanc, EMBA, is the founder and editor of Reusable Packaging News (subscribe to the free newsletter) and editor of Western Pallet Magazine. A supply chain journalist with more than 30 years of experience, he specializes in pallets, reusable packaging, material handling and related operations. Rick is co-author of Pallets: A North American Perspective and Pallets & Progress: A Collected History of Pallets and Palletized Handling 1922–1945. He is also an advisory board member of the Virginia Tech Center for Packaging and Unit Load Design. Read Rick’s full bio.