Most crates are clad in OSB or plywood. Both are strong, both are exempt from ISPM 15 on their own, and both have a place. Here is how they compare.
By Matthew Bowes, APS Packaging Ltd. Last reviewed 30 October 2026
When people compare OSB vs plywood for a crate, they are really asking which will protect the goods for the journey at the lowest cost. OSB (oriented strand board) is made from large wood strands pressed with resin; plywood is made from thin veneers glued in layers with the grain crossing. Both make good crates, and at a similar thickness OSB and budget plywood cost about the same. Framed OSB is our standard build because it is strong and suits most loads; the better plywoods earn their place where impact, water or reuse matter more.
| OSB | Plywood | |
|---|---|---|
| Made from | Wood strands pressed with resin | Thin veneers glued in crossing layers |
| Strength for crates | Strong and stiff on a timber frame | Stronger for its thickness, better in impact |
| Water | Swells at cut edges if it stays wet | Better resistance, especially exterior grades |
| Weight | Slightly heavier for the same thickness | Lighter for the same strength |
| Finish | Textured surface | Smooth surface, easier to print or label |
| Reuse | Good for single trips and a few returns | Better for many trips |
| ISPM 15 | Exempt on its own | Exempt on its own |
| Price per sheet | Similar to budget plywood of the same thickness | Budget poplar ply about the same as OSB; pine, birch and hardwood-faced ply cost more |
Solid timber frames, bearers and skids on either kind of crate are not exempt from ISPM 15, so the finished crate is still treated and stamped for export.
Our standard framed OSB crate has timber picture frames on the outside and OSB on the inside, so the inside faces are flat and the internal size is exactly what you asked for. Our plywood crates use the same framed construction with ply cladding, and our riveted plywood cases join single ply panels with steel edging, which keeps them light and tough but limits each panel to one 2440 x 1220 mm sheet.
APS Packaging Ltd
Designs our shock pallet and crate specifications, from the isolator count to the bolt pattern, and wrote our guides on shock protection and ISPM 15.
Framed OSB crates, our standard build.
Plywood-clad crates for impact and weather.
Riveted ply cases for smaller, reusable loads.
The eight things that move a crate price, and how to keep it down.
For most single-trip crates, framed OSB gives all the protection needed. Plywood is better for reusable cases, impact-sensitive goods, air freight and crates left out in the weather.
Yes, on a properly designed timber frame and base. The frame and base carry most of the load; the OSB keeps the goods enclosed and adds stiffness.
No, both are processed wood and exempt on their own. Solid timber frames, bearers and skids are not exempt, so the finished crate is still treated and stamped.
OSB can swell at the cut edges if it stays wet. In a container or under cover it performs well; for crates left outdoors, plywood is the safer choice.
Sheet for sheet at a similar thickness, OSB and budget poplar plywood cost about the same. Pine, birch and hardwood-faced plywoods cost more. The construction of the crate usually matters more to the price than the board.
Send the item, weight and route and we will recommend the build.
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