What is a Stillage

by Craig Pryce February 12, 2026

Warehouses and commercial premises require ample storage for incoming and outgoing goods. Some options are more familiar than others, though. You might be familiar with roll cages and pallet boxes, but what about stillages?

In this guide, we dive into these sturdy storage cages, explain what stillages are used for and look at the potential benefits of stillage crates for your business.

What are stillages?

A stillage is a frame or cage used to store goods and materials. The sides may be enclosed with mesh or open, such as post pallet stillages. They keep goods off the ground, and many stillages are stackable to save space. Heavy-duty stillages can hold large, bulky or heavy items easily.

Their sturdy mesh, cage, or posts help provide scaffolding for the items stored on the stillage. This can contain heavy and awkward loads with the stability of pallets for a space-saving and strong storage option ideal for warehouses and large commercial operations. 

The word stillage comes from Dutch in the late 16th century. Originally, it would have been 'stellagie', which is Dutch for 'scaffold', and was a stand for storing casks. Nearly 500 years later, not much has changed. Today, stillages are still used for storing casks, as well as other items.

What is a stillage used for?

Don't be fooled by the name — a stillage doesn't have to be still. Stillages can be stationary or mobile, allowing them to both store and move goods. Common goods you might use a stillage to store or transport include building materials, window frames, car parts, tools, merchandise, and more.

The type and sides of a stillage container often determine how it can be used, for example:

• Open-sided post stillages: These are stackable to maximise vertical space, ideal for static storage in warehouses, distribution centres, wholesalers, and builders' merchants.
• Mesh-sided pallet stillages: Great for holding both smaller items and bulky objects (such as in ecommerce and retail, including on the shop floor). The mesh side helps store awkward products, like footballs that need to be stopped from rolling away.
• Rod infill and heavy-duty stillages: Extra-sturdy and durable stillages that are suitable for heavier items like car parts and small machinery, especially irregular shapes that might topple over.
• Solid-sided stillages: Stillages with solid sides, usually made from sheet metal. These provide excellent protection for contents in busy industrial settings and during movement.

Stillages can be equipped with wheels or forklift skids for easy movement of goods. They’re often designed to be stackable up to four or five units high.

Types of stillages

In addition to general stillage styles, there are specialised types that suit specific uses. These come in various sizes and are often better suited to storing or transporting certain goods. The shapes, sizes and materials used in a stillage container can vary hugely.

• A-frame stillages: Pallet stillages with an A-shaped frame. Sheet materials such as glass and sheet timber can lean against the frame for secure transport.
• Gitterbox stillages: A gitterbox is a mesh-sided cage stillage, named after the German word for 'grid'. They’re often built for heavy-duty use, featuring a rigid, durable steel mesh and a solid base.
• Hypacages: These collapsible cage stillages are ideal for varying storage needs in smaller settings. Hypacages are available in standard, large and Euro sizes.
• Post pallet stillages: Stackable stillages with tall corner posts in a range of heights. Small heavy-duty post pallet stillages suit compact warehouses but can be stacked for greater storage options.
• Profile stillages: Designed to hold items upright, profile stillages are generally best used for less fragile materials like extruded aluminium, compared to A-frame stillages that can hold breakable goods like glass. 

How to choose the right stillage

What do you plan to use a stillage container for on your premises? The types, sizes, and volume of materials, alongside your existing storage space, industry, and whether you need to move your stillages complete with contents, all affect the right stillage for your needs.

Stillage selection checklist

Key factors to consider when selecting a stillage include:

• Available floor space and roof height for the stillage
• Any fragile contents that require storage
• The size, shape, volume, and weight of the contents
• Cost (budget vs heavy-duty)
• Design (solid/mesh sides, post stillages, or open)
• Material (plastic vs metal stillages)
• Security and location (is a lockable lid required?)
• Static vs mobile stillages

Plastic vs metal stillages

A key consideration is the material of the stillage container. Where it will be placed and the type, size, and weight of its contents can affect whether a metal or plastic stillage is best.

There are various types of metal stillages. Zinc-plated galvanised or powder-painted steel offers strength and durability and is rust-resistant. Steel stillages are also strong and can be suitable for outdoor use when they include a protective coating.

Plastic stillages are often made from HDPE, which is sturdy yet lightweight and easy to clean. They’re designed for industrial use, but might not accommodate the heaviest and bulkiest items.

Benefits of stillages

The benefits of stillages depend on how you use them. As part of an efficient and versatile storage environment, stillages can deliver a range of improvements as they save:

• time with convenient drop-side access to contents, forklift skids for quick and easy lifting, and wheels on portable stillages make movement easy.
• space with efficient use of floor footprint, vertical stackable stillages, and a wide range of sizes available.
• money over time due to long-lasting, durable construction and versatility, which means you don't need to buy alternative storage.

Generally, stillages are purpose-made to be cost-effective, space-efficient, and convenient to use. Whether you're storing items long-term or moving items quickly, stillages can meet your needs and are built to last.

How much does a stillage cost?

Costs depend on the stillage size, the material it's made from, and the type of stillage. For example, solid-sided stillage boxes typically cost more than mesh-sided cage stillages. These are some examples of current stillage costs (excluding VAT):

• Small heavy-duty post pallet stillages start from around £165 
• Heavy-duty gitterbox stillages are priced from around £290 
• Euro Hypacages start from £170 
• Large Hypacages are priced from around £300 

What if I only need short-term storage?

Longevity and sturdy construction mean that stillages are an excellent investment for any business with long and short-term storage demands. Collapsible hypacages can be stored in a fraction of the space required when needs vary or are seasonal.

Compare this with rented storage crates, which represent a sunk cost and may be less likely to suit the items you want to store or the floor space available. Flexible, versatile, and collapsible stillages are affordable and require minimal space when not in use.

Buy stillages for your business

At Wheelie Bin Solutions, we stock a large range of types and sizes of stillages as part of our extensive catalogue of roll pallets, cages, boxes and trolleys.

Browse our collection online to check product specifications, prices, and current availability to choose pallet boxes and cages that perfectly fit your warehouse, distribution centre, or shop floor.

Place your order online or contact us if you have any questions about our products.

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