Pallet vs Palette vs Palate
They sound almost identical, but they mean very different things. For shipping, the word you want is pallet — the flat platform freight is stacked on. Here's how all three compare.
| Word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Pallet | A flat platform for moving and storing freight | Ship the boxes on a wooden pallet. |
| Palette | An artist's mixing board, or a range of colors | The brand uses a warm color palette. |
| Palate | The roof of the mouth; the sense of taste | The wine has a smooth palate. |
Pallet — the shipping one
In logistics, a pallet is the flat structure — usually wood, sometimes plastic or metal — that goods are stacked and secured on so a forklift or pallet jack can move them as one unit. If you're talking about freight, warehousing, or trucking, pallet is always the correct spelling. Learn more about standard pallet sizes or work out a load with the pallet calculator.
Palette and palate
A palette is the board an artist mixes paint on, and by extension any curated range of colors (a brand's "color palette"). A palate is the roof of your mouth and your sense of taste ("a refined palate"). Useful words — just not for shipping.
Frequently asked questions
Is it pallet or palette for shipping?
It's pallet. A pallet is the flat wooden, plastic or metal platform used to move and store freight with a forklift or pallet jack. 'Palette' refers to art and colors.
What is the difference between palette and palate?
A palette is an artist's mixing board or a range of colors. A palate is the roof of your mouth and, by extension, your sense of taste. Neither relates to shipping.
How do you remember pallet vs palette?
Pallet (shipping) ends in '-let', like 'let me load the truck'. Palette (art) keeps the French '-ette' ending you see in design words. Palate (taste) shares 'ate' with the act of eating.