A shipping crate is a heavy-duty wooden box that’s used for large shipments. Crates are often used for items that are big, bulky, and require extra protection from vibration, shock, and shifting during transport. They’re also used to ship items that need an extra level of security, because they’re usually harder to open than palletized loads.

A well-built, quality crate can protect high-value and fragile items like furniture, automotive parts, motorcycles, or other big or bulky products during transit. Here are some good general guidelines for constructing wooden shipping crates.

Building a crate with diagonal braces can dramatically improve the strength of your crate. Keep in mind that the way the wood is configured is more important than how much wood is used.

To build wood crates that are as strong as possible, use three-way corner construction. Drive nails into the side grain to create strong, rigid corners and increase nail-holding strength.

It’s crucial to use fasteners that are rated for the weight of your entire load (including the item and the crate). Using appropriate fasteners helps the wood resist splitting and fracturing when the structure is being assembled. Wood screws are the best option, followed by annularly threaded nails, helically threaded nails, and rectangular wire staples.

The right shipping methods and materials vary based on what you’re shipping and where it’s going. While crates described above may be the right choice, you might need other materials like freight boxes or pallets.