A stillage is one of the most useful — and most misunderstood — pieces of kit in any warehouse or workshop. The word covers a whole family of rigid steel frames and cage pallets used to store, stack and move bulky, awkward or heavy goods that won't sit safely on an ordinary pallet. This guide explains the main types of stillage, how they differ from pallets and storage cages, and how to choose the right one for the job.
What is a stillage?
A stillage is a robust, free-standing steel container or frame designed to hold materials securely so they can be stored, stacked and handled by forklift, pallet truck or crane. Unlike a timber or plastic pallet — which is essentially just a base — a stillage usually has sides, posts or a cage that retains the load and lets units stack safely on top of one another. That makes stillages ideal for loose, bulky or irregular items that would otherwise topple, spread or get damaged.
In practice the terms stillage, cage pallet, box pallet and storage cage overlap. The distinction that matters on the warehouse floor is the format of the sides and how the unit is lifted and stacked, which is what the types below describe.
The main types of stillage
Cage and mesh stillages
The most common format: a steel base with welded mesh or wire sides, usually on a footprint that suits forklift forks and stacking. Mesh sides let you see the contents, allow airflow and keep light, loose items contained. Cage stillages suit components, fittings, recycling and general distribution. Our storage cages range includes welded mesh cages, distribution cages with doors and wire-mesh storage compartments built on this principle.
Post stillages
Post stillages have a flat or low-sided base with four removable or fold-down corner posts. The posts let identical units stack several high while leaving the sides open, so long or wide loads — timber, profiles, sheet goods — can overhang slightly and still be retrieved easily. Removing the posts lets the bases nest for compact return transport.
Box and solid-sided stillages
Box stillages use solid steel sheet sides rather than mesh. They contain small or fine items that would fall through a mesh, protect contents from damage, and stand up to rough handling of swarf, castings and heavy components. Many have a half-drop front panel so you can reach in without unstacking.
Cage pallets and forklift cages
Cage pallets are stillages built specifically around standard pallet dimensions and fork pockets, so they slot straight into existing racking and handling routines. Closely related are forklift and craning cages — open-topped or lidded cages designed to be lifted by forklift or crane to move loose materials safely at height. Our range includes economy and heavy-duty fork-lift safety cages, heavy-duty craning cages and a cylinder pallet cage with a non-slip floor and retaining chain.
Stillage vs pallet vs storage cage — what's the difference?
A pallet is a base only: cheap, light and disposable, but it offers no load retention. A stillage adds rigid sides or posts so the load is contained and units stack safely — better for bulky, loose or valuable goods, and built to last for years rather than trips. A storage cage is really a type of stillage with full cage sides and often a lockable door, used where security or full containment matters. Choosing between them comes down to whether you need a throwaway base, a stackable retaining frame, or a secure enclosure.
How to choose a stillage
1. Match the format to the load
Loose or fine items point to box (solid-sided) stillages; bulky parts and distribution work suit mesh cages; long or overhanging loads suit post stillages. Get the format right first — everything else follows from it.
2. Check the load rating and stacking capacity
Two figures matter: the safe working load of a single unit, and how many units can be stacked when loaded. Always work to the manufacturer's stated figures and never exceed the stacking limit — a collapsing stack of loaded stillages is a serious crush risk. Steel gauge and welded (rather than bolted) construction drive how much a unit will take.
3. Size it around your handling and racking
Confirm the footprint suits your forklift or pallet truck forks, fits through doorways and aisles, and — if you're storing on beams — matches your racking and shelving. Check fork-pocket spacing and entry (two-way or four-way) before you buy.
4. Decide on stackable, nestable or knock-down
Fixed cages are simplest and strongest. Post stillages and knock-down designs nest or fold flat when empty, saving space and cutting return-transport costs — valuable if stillages travel between sites or back to suppliers.
5. Consider security, environment and finish
Lockable doors and lift-up lids matter where contents are valuable or hazardous. For outdoor or wash-down areas, specify a galvanised or powder-coated finish to resist corrosion. For hazardous goods, a dedicated cage with the right signage may be required.
Moving and stacking stillages safely
Stillages are heavy before they're even loaded, so handling them is a manual-handling and equipment matter under the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 and PUWER 1998. Move loaded units with the correct forklift, pallet truck or crane — never drag or manhandle them. Stack only to the rated height, on level ground, with the heaviest units at the bottom. Inspect frames, mesh, posts and fork pockets regularly for damage, and take any bent or cracked unit out of service until it's repaired or replaced.
Stillages, cages and frames at KC Supply
KC Supply is run by people who've worked in warehouses, and our focus is the cage end of the stillage family — welded mesh storage cages, distribution cages, forklift and craning cages, and the GPC cylinder pallet cage — plus racking and shelving for static storage of long and bulky loads and trucks and trolleys for moving them. If you tell us the load, the weight and how you handle it, we'll point you to the right format rather than the nearest box. All specifications shown are taken from current product data — check the individual product page for exact dimensions and load ratings before ordering.
Stillages FAQ
What is the difference between a stillage and a pallet?
A pallet is just a base for moving goods; a stillage is a rigid steel frame or cage with sides or posts that retains the load and lets units stack safely. Stillages suit bulky, loose or heavy goods and are built to be reused for years.
What is a post stillage used for?
Post stillages have removable or folding corner posts and an open base, so they suit long or wide loads such as timber, sheet and profiles that need to overhang slightly while still stacking. Removing the posts lets the bases nest for compact return transport.
How high can you stack stillages?
Only to the manufacturer's rated stacking limit, on level ground, with the heaviest loaded units at the bottom. The limit depends on the unit's construction and load — never exceed it, as a collapsing stack of loaded stillages is a serious crush hazard.
Are stillages and storage cages the same thing?
A storage cage is a type of stillage with full cage sides and often a lockable door, used where security or full containment matters. All storage cages are stillages, but not all stillages are cages — post and box stillages are also part of the family.
This guide is general information, not a substitute for your own risk assessment. Confirm load ratings, stacking limits and suitability for your application against the product data and your site's safe-handling procedures.