Crate spec ticket
| Inside dimensions | L x W x H in inches; sets lumber and cube |
|---|---|
| Gross weight | Pounds; sets skid and runner size |
| Construction | Slatted, sheathed, skid-base and so on |
| Treatment | HT and IPPC stamp for export, or none for domestic |
| Interior | Blocking, VCI, desiccant, indicators |
| Quantity | One crate, a run, or a standing spec |
| Delivery | Dock address, date needed, access |
How much does a wooden shipping crate cost?
The honest answer is that it depends on the crate, and we will not guess at it on a web page. A crate for a 30 lb sensor and a crate for a press weighing several tons are both wooden shipping crates. They share almost nothing in lumber, labour or risk.
What we can do is show the levers. Each one moves the price, and you control most of them. Below we go through them in the order they usually matter: size and weight first, then construction, then treatment and interior, then quantity, lead time and delivery.
To get a number, send the load's inside dimensions in inches, its gross weight in pounds and the destination country. The quote is built from those.
Size and lumber
Inside dimensions set how much wood goes into the crate. A longer, wider, taller crate has more surface to sheathe or slat, more cleats and a longer skid. Lumber is a market commodity, so what a board costs changes over time, and so does the price of a crate that uses it.
Cube matters beyond the lumber bill. A bigger crate costs more to freight, on every leg, and may tip the load into a higher freight class or a dimensional-weight charge in the air. Tight inside dimensions save on both.
Gross weight and the skid
Gross weight sets the base. A heavier load needs larger skid timbers, more runners and stronger fasteners such as lag bolts. Those members are the costliest parts of a heavy crate and the ones you cannot economise on.
If the weight is approximate, the quote is approximate. A scale ticket before the final order lets us size the skid for the real figure, not a safe guess. Overbuilding wastes money; underbuilding costs the load.
Construction
Different constructions cost different amounts to build. A slatted crate uses less material than a fully sheathed box. A skid-base frame has no walls to cut. A solid lumber case uses heavy boards throughout. A knockdown crate takes extra care in joint design but may save on freight and storage.
Do not assume the cheapest construction is the cheapest outcome. A crate that fails in transit costs more than one built correctly the first time. The constructions hub compares all ten.
Treatment, marks and export
Export crates made from solid wood need ISPM 15 treatment and the IPPC stamp. APHIS describes heat treatment as raising the wood core to at least 56 °C for at least 30 minutes. NELMA notes that plywood is exempt. Treatment adds a step and a mark to the crate, and it can change which materials are used.
Domestic crates normally need none of this. Tell us where the load is going so we do not charge for treatment you do not need, or leave it out when you do.
Interior packing: blocking, VCI, desiccant and indicators
Inside the crate, blocking and bracing hold the load still. VCI film or paper protects bare metal. Desiccant bags manage moisture in a sealed crate. Tip and shock indicators record mishandling. Each is a line on the spec and a line on the price.
These extras are worth adding where the load is valuable, the route is long or the surfaces rust. A machine tool going by sea needs them. A box of painted brackets going across town may not.
What a quote includes, and what it should not hide
A useful quote lists what it covers: the crate, its construction, any treatment, the interior items, the quantity, the delivery and the date. It also lists what it leaves out, such as unloading at your dock or return of a returnable crate. Ask for those lines to be spelled out and compare quotes line by line, not by the bottom figure.
If a quote seems low, check the gross weight it assumes and whether the skid matches it. If it seems high, check whether you asked for protection you do not need.
Quantity, repeat specs, lead time and delivery
One crate carries the whole cost of its drawing and setup. A run of twenty spreads it. A standing spec on file means the drawing already exists, which lowers the setup for each release. If you ship the same crate again and again, the bulk program is built for that.
Lead time affects price when a date is tight. A crate wanted quickly can mean overtime or reshuffled work. A date with notice is cheaper to plan. We do not promise lead times in days on this page; each quote states a date based on the spec and the queue.
Delivery depends on distance, dock access and any special handling at your end, such as a liftgate or a crane. Give us the dock address and the access restrictions.
Questions buyers ask
Why don't you show prices?
Because the price depends on the load. Two crates with the same footprint can differ by a factor in gross weight and construction, so a list price would mislead.
What is the cheapest way to lower a crate's cost?
Tight inside dimensions, a construction that suits the load, and a repeat spec. Each reduces lumber, labour or freight.
Does export treatment cost more?
It adds a step and a mark for solid-wood members, so it can. Plywood is exempt, and domestic crates normally need no treatment.
Can I get a price for a quantity break?
Yes. Give us the quantity, and any alternatives such as ten, fifty or a standing release, and we will quote each.