Wooden Crate Sheathing

Plywood vs OSB for Crating - Which is Best?

First things first. You should know plywood and OSB (Oriented Strand Board) are NOT interchangeable when building wooden pallets and crating.

The most common sheathing materials used for wooden crates are plywood and OSB panels. What's sheathing, you ask? Sheathing just means outer layer. If you need a sheathed crate, how do you know which material is best for your application? Let's dig in.

Plywood vs OSB for Crating - Which is Best?

Deciding between plywood (left) vs OSB (right) for crating depends on your application.

Plywood vs OSB

For BOTH plywood and OSB, layers are rotated 90 degrees so that the overall panels have strength, stiffness and stability in all directions. Most of the panels used in pallets and crating are industrial grade and similar to that used in the housing industry. Below are the differences in how they are made:

  • Plywood
    Made from layers (usually 3 to 5) of thin wood veneers glued together to form a thicker panel.

  • OSB
    Made from layers of large chips, glued together to form a thicker panel.

How to Choose between Plywood and OSB

Within the housing industry, plywood and OSB are considered interchangeable. That's because the load ratings are usually based on the panel thickness, rather than materials. As your second reminder, plywood and OSB are NOT interchangeable when we're talking pallets and crating.

Here are some factors to consider:

  • Durability
    For outdoor applications under damp conditions, plywood is more durable than OSB. Standard OSB panels will degrade over time, so plywood wins for outdoor use.

  • Strength and Stiffness
    There's really no difference in this category.

  • Appearance
    Plywood wins for most applications. The finished plywood unit has a smooth appearance and is more aesthetically appealing to most users.

  • Weight
    Again, very little difference in this category.

  • Cost
    Usually OSB wins here. Most of our OSB is used in the more cost-sensitive applications, where performance and durability are required, but a lower price is a high priority. While the costs of plywood and OSB fluctuate, OSB is almost always the winner in the price factor.

Still Unsure about Plywood vs OSB for Crating?

Still not sure if plywood or OSB is best for your sheathed crates? Let's connect. Tell us how you use wooden crates with your product or post your questions below.

Updated: 06/04/2025 | Published: 02/05/2015
by John Clarke on Crates