A pallet, sometimes inaccurately called a skid (a skid has no bottom deck boards), is a flat transport structure that supports goods in a stable fashion while being lifted by a forklift, pallet jack, front loader, work saver or other jacking device. A pallet is the structural foundation of a unit load which allows handling and storage efficiencies. Goods or shipping containers are often placed on a pallet secured with strapping, stretch wrap or shrink wrap and shipped.

While most pallets are wooden, pallets can also be made of plastic, metal, paper, and recycled materials. Each material has advantages and disadvantages relative to the others.

The measures more frequent (in millimeters) for the pallet platform are:

1. European pallet or Euro pallet: 1200 x 800 mm measured, it is standardized in size and strength. It is used in transportation and storage of consumer products.

2. universal or isopalé pallet: misnamed "American pallet" measures 1200 x 1000 mm

3. There are other sizes that are used in much smaller, almost marginally proportions:

• 1000 x 800 mm, used for building materials

• 800 x 600 mm, used in consumer products

• 1000 x 600 mm, used for liquids