Where to Get Free Pallets? Where to Find Pallets For Sale?

Here at 1001Pallets, our readers are always asking “Where could I get free pallets near me?” or “Where could I find pallets for sale?” to make their next wood pallet projects. There is no simple answer because it depends on the recycling system in your country, but you can take a look below and find some good places to go or check our “Pallet Classified Ads” to see if anyone is giving away or selling wooden pallets nearby.

Where to Get Free Pallets? Where to Find Pallets For Sale?
Pallet hunter treasure!

Why searching for free wood pallets & some tips

Because, free is always better, no? Working on 1001Pallets for many years, we’ve seen countless upcycled and recycled projects made from wood shipping pallets, and a lot of these projects are totally useful for your home or garden improvement projects at a really low cost. It is well known that used pallets are great for the Crafters because they’re cheap (Did I say free is better?) and they are relatively easy to work with. We always remember to our readers that they need to pay close attention to what kind of used pallets they are grabbing and for that, we have made a complete tutorial to check if founded pallets are safe for your next pallet project.

Also, there a lot of different kinds of pallets, all are great to work with, and the choice of the used pallets you will find will really depend on the project you want to build with these used pallets (size, dimension, style…). If you need some information about pallet sizes & dimensions before going into your free pallet quest, check our page where we list all the different kinds, sizes, and dimensions of pallets worldwide.

Some tips before showing you where to find used wood pallets:

  • Most pallets are reused throughout the industry, and they usually stay within the same industry. That means we don’t recommend reusing wood pallets from a pesticide or chemical processing company because they’re probably full of chemicals products.
  • The nicest pallets seem to come from dry goods industries. They’re usually shipping a lightweight, dry product, so there’s no spillage or stains to worry about.
  • The old grocery store used pallets might seem okay, but they’re often covered in spillage and stains which leads to mold. Look at them closely and smell it. Common sense rules here: if the used pallet looks weird, or if it smells strange, don’t take it.
  • Always use gloves. This seems like common sense, but wooden pallets often have nails pointing out and can easily give you a splinter. And, if you’re going to cut or sand a pallet, use a mask. We have made a complete article on woodworking safety tips that is completely applicable to pallet working, check our Workshop pallet safety post.

Ok, now let see what are the good places to find free wooden pallets or pallets for sale near you!

Pet Supplies & Food Stores (supermarkets, hypermarkets) for wooden pallets

Food and pet supply stores usually get their products (grains, pet food, etc.) on wood pallets. After the reception, they generally throw the pallets away as they consider them a waste. Check with your local food store or pet supply store if you can pick out some of them. In some countries, a store has to pay to get rid of them, so they will be happy if someone (you) do the job for them and for free! If they are not free, do not worry, maybe you can still buy pallets for only a small amount, for next to nothing.

Always ask the store staff when they are getting their stock, and ask them to keep some pallets for you from that day. Most of the time they will gladly help if they can!

Hardware, Furniture & equipment stores are good places for used pallets

Wooden pallets are used for every delivery of shipping goods and equipment. Most of the hardware materials and furniture equipment that have been imported have traveled on pallets and delivered to your local store through pallets. Pallets can be lined up with tracks and on roads, but they are not always free of cost. You can ask hardware, garden power equipment, and nursery shops by the name of the company in charge of moving pallets from one place to another (be courteous and friendly with them). The best times for contacting such companies are early morning or later in the daytime (Goods are generally delivered in the morning). They provide neat and clean pallets. Hopefully, you will meet some store owners that will only give you some wood pallets for free as they will throw them away and you will do this job for them indeed!

Does Home Depot give free pallets?

Home Depot does not give their wood pallets away as they have agreements with their distributors that recover them.

Does Walmart give free pallets?

Walmart does not sell or donate its own pallets, but recycles or reuses them. However, Walmart does sell recovered (and new) pallets online.

Newspaper companies have a lot of free pallets to give

Newspaper companies receive their shipments on pallets and often have lots of pallets to throw away. If you have the chance to be near a newspaper company, give them a call.

A construction site for raw wooden pallets

You can also find good-quality pallets from builders. Try to build a friendly relation with them to get the information and method of getting those pallets. You can get wood pallets that can be converted into desks, tables or chairs.

Small business dumpsters are a treasure for pallet wood

Small businesses are the best place to look for pallets as they sell their waste materials to earn some money. They lack the resources to recycle the pallets and get them stacked in dumpsters. They can provide you with a slow and steady supply of pallets at quite a low cost. Focus on small business that generates the kind of pallets that meet your needs. Watch mainly for pallets used to ship seasonal items such as salt or fire logs as they are more likely to be considered as a one-way shipment (not part as a reusable pallet program or property of pallet rental company) and therefore, better candidates to be available. Large businesses, on the other hand, have adopted various procedures to use their waste. They usually have wood pallet programs in place to reuse pallets internally, return them or recycle them. You can go to any small business factory or outlet and quickly get the type and quantity of pallets you need.

Schools can be a good source for pallets

You can sometimes find wooden pallets at schools. In general, they have ongoing small quantities of wood pallets that were used to ship copy paper, books, and other school supplies. Those wood pallets can be found behind the school, or be collected and aggregated at the school district works yard.

Fresh produce markets

At the end of fresh produce markets, you can find nice quantities of empty wood pallets, and sometimes these are available to pick-up. Fresh produce markets may have agreements with their suppliers in regard to returning them, but it is not necessarily the case and we recommend asking for wood pallet availability, you may be surprised by how many pallets you could find in this way.

Read: How to dismantle a wood pallet?

New openings are always a good reflex for finding used wooden pallets

Stores carry all their shopping items on wooden pallets from one city to another. If you hear about the opening of a new shopping mall or store in your town, go there and ask to purchase pallets at your fixed price. They are busy with other tasks at this time and want to get rid of their scrap as soon as possible, instead of piling it. Many stores can give them to you without taking any charges.

Check with your local pallet recycler or manufacturer

If you live near a big city, they’re a chance that you have some kind of pallet recyclers in the area. They often receive wooden pallets in excellent conditions but often, they are non-standard pallets that have little or no value to them, except for dismantling or grinding. If you have a pallet recycler in your area, check with the owner, explain the type of wood pallets you need, they may have non-standard pallets available for free or to buy at a reasonable price.

Although the game is to obtain wooden pallets for free, the reality is that buying a wood pallet is not all that expensive. It depends on how many pallets you need for your project. The advantage is that they typically look nice, constructed from fresh new lumber. By the time you consider the cost of your search for used wood pallets, it might just turn out to be a more cost-effective solution to purchasing pallets from a local pallet manufacturer if you don’t need much of them. You could find wood pallets that are off-sized or with some little defects for a cheap price but could turn into a great buy for crafting!

Find free pallets outside of businesses

If you notice wood pallets placing against the back of business or at a construction site, site management or operators might accept letting you take them, but be sure to ask before. You should not assume that pallets left outside of a business or a construction site are there for people to take them. While it seems a reasonable assumption that if businesses left pallets outside and unprotected that they want to get rid of them, this might not be the case. Sometimes businesses store pallets outside because they don’t have room inside to keep them until they are picked up.

Various states in the US have pallets and containers theft laws that might be applicable. If the pallet has an ownership stamp on it, such as CHEP, PECO, Coca-Cola, U.S. Postal Service or any others, then it should not be taken. Such companies vigorously enforce the property rights to their pallets, and you may find yourself charged with unlawful possession of them.

Check Craiglist for used pallets

We see pallets listed in the free section of Craigslist all the time. They usually are picked up very quickly, so you should check the column regularly and jump at a new listing right away. They’re also a lot of pallets for sale on Craiglist and some at a very affordable price.

Read: What are the best wood joints for pallet project?

Search the internet for wooden pallets classified ads

The “last but not least” place where you can get the pallets is the internet. You can search Facebook and other social media along with search engines to find some pallets for sale at quite cheap rates or often free of charge.

Many businesses that receive shipments on pallets often do not have any pallet recycling process and discard the unused pallets. A company having a large number of pallets to be discarded may use a pallet recycling company (that is increasingly in demand). You may have better luck with a small business that occasionally receives a shipment on pallets but has not enough volume to use a recycling company. You may also see pallets laying around on building sites. You should know that building companies are often granted a discount for returning pallets. So, if you see some unused pallets nearby a building site, it doesn’t mean they may be taken freely. Make sure you ask every time before taking them.

Where to Get Free Pallets? Where to Find Pallets For Sale?

Remember these tips:

Always think small

It will be easier to deal with some free wooden pallets with a little business. Large businesses already have processes to handle their unused pallets. Small businesses usually do not have the resources or volume to unload scrap and spare pallets – so more often than not, they end up in their dumpster.

Learn the art of asking for free pallets

Always, always ask in a friendly manner! For a business – first thing in the morning or late in the day are some of the best times to stop in and ask.  Why? Those times tend to be the slower periods – and the owners are much more likely to take the time to talk to you. And when you ask – be sure to share your plans with them (people love to help others if they are motivated by their projects). Trust me – when people find out that you want to build a coffee table, a garden bench, a chicken coop or a playhouse for your kids – they are much more likely to be cooperative and help you.

Develop a relationship

If you do find businesses or a builder that has available items, work on developing a relationship with them to get materials as they become available. Exchange email addresses and stay in contact and if they have given you some pallets for your project, do not hesitate to send them back an email with the photo of what you made from their “junk”! This applies to everything, not only for pallets!

Use the power of the internet

As already said, Craigslist is a good starting point, but you can also try Facebook community pages such as our Facebook page “1001 Pallets“.

Also, if you are ready to buy new or nearly new wood pallets, you can find some at Amazon like recycled 1000 Lbs. wood pallet. But, they are expensive and this is not a solution to consider if you need more than one pallet for your project.

We regularly receive new classified ads from people giving or selling pallets. You can be notified if a new classified ad is available in your area. Simply subscribe here.

And remember to read our “How to tell if a pallet is safe for reuse” before going in search of free pallet wood! Do you have other tips worth sharing with our readers?

Pallets to avoid

Food-Carrying Pallets: An IPPC (International Plant Protection Convention) “wheat stalk” icon means that the pallet was used to carry food. In 2010, the National Consumers League ran a test of 70 food-carrying wood pallets and found E.coli on 10% and Listeria on 2.9% of them. If you suspect that the pallet carried food previously, you likely want to avoid it. One exception might be if you intend to use the pallet boards to build a compost bin, as compost piles themselves are veritable factories of microorganisms.

Chemically Treated Pallets: Along with the wheat-stalk icon on those food pallets may be the designation “HT” or “MB.” HT means that the pallet was heat-treated. “MB” indicates that the pallet was treated with methyl bromide, a neurotoxin and suspected carcinogenic. We have an in-depth article to know how your pallet was treated, see the link below.

Read: How to know if your pallet if safe for reuse?

Petroleum-Stained Pallets: Oil and other petroleum products seep into the cells of wood and are nearly impossible to remove, even with a pressure washer. Paint cannot effectively encapsulate petroleum-stained wood, either.

More

Please leave a comment to tell us where people can find some free wood pallets. Do not forget to mention your country.

Are you a company, do you have wooden pallets to give or sell or are you looking for your wooden pallets to be picked up? Do not hesitate to leave a classified ad; it could help you to get rid of your useless pallets and make some of our readers happy :)

Already found some pallets and needs plans? Check out our selection of free pallet PDF plans to download or our advice for the seven must-follow sources for free woodworking plans!

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Pallet Resource plus

Hello, I’m in the Pembroke Pines/Miramar Area of South Florida and need 48×40 pallets new or used email me pa****************@gm***.com

Joyce
Joyce

I have a couple of wooden pallets that the delivery people left after delivering my washing machine. Are they safe to use in my basement? Do they carry termites or toxic odors? Thanks!!

David Denson
David Denson

Hello, I am always on the lookout for free pallets in the Dallas or Fort Worth area. Especially in Mansfield, Venus, Midlothian, Waxahachie, Kennedale, Cedar Hill and many more!

Candice Sullivan
Candice Sullivan

I live in Brookwood Alabama and i am in need of a bunch of pallets can someone help me out please.

Jerrod Tarpley
Jerrod Tarpley

anyone in middle tn have a any free pallets warehouse es or anything

Amie L.
Amie L.

Hello. I’m located in northern Maine and I’m looking for free/really cheap pallets since im trying to do some remodeling/decorating in my house. if someone could email me if you have any you are willing to donate/sell please let me know. I also travel quite often to Connecticut. please let me know asap. thanks in advance!! i don’t know this app works or if it’s even real just yet.

Andrew Ramirez
Andrew Ramirez

Looking to start my own Pallet Haulers Company. I am 26 years old and i have an old pickup truck, Strong work ethics and an idea that can help companies with overwhelming pallet piles at no cost. I also provide clean up and organizing solutions for a small fee.
My plan is to keep wooden pallets recycled and distributed back into the warehouse industry making our cities cleaner and out planet greener.
please contact me if you are interested.
9094375252
located in Southern California, County Of San Bernardino

palletlandltd

We are a Pallet business in St.Helens UK and have just come across your website. I think this page is amazing and I am going to post about you on our media page. Pallets can be used to make many incredible things and hopefully, our customers will come to your site for some great ideas

roger schuyler
roger schuyler

As a High School Construction Teacher in Los Angeles, I could definitely get behind using pallets to teach and to create a homeless housing solution. Please let me know if you know where to get some. I am kind of in Central LA in the Huntington Park area. Thanks for your help!

maria
maria

looking for free pallets in wales if anybody can help please

RENU
RENU

I need free pallets.I am in Tronica City, Loni, Ghaziababd ,India.Where to get them

RENU
RENU

i want to buy wooden pallets in north Delhi near Azadpur, Shalimar Bagh, Adarsh Nagar, Kamala Nagar etc.

Jeremy Berger
Jeremy Berger

We have the largest selection of pallets for sale in North America. We would love to be featured in your article as well.

ian cimaszewski
ian cimaszewski

Hi my name is Ian im in the philadelphia area and looking to pick up some pallets people may not want anymore.48by40

wesley tennyson
wesley tennyson

I buy and sell 48×40 four way pallets. if u need me I’m in the Colorado springs arae

NBe
NBe

Yo there Wesley, I have more than 5000 pcs 48×40
Let me know a price
I’m located in Russia, Novosibirsk
ni*********@ya***.com

Olando Connor
Olando Connor

Yoo Wesley i need 48×40 Pallets and let me know the Price and your terms of Payment contact me at ol**********@gm***.com so we can talk

john gilmore
john gilmore

I manage a distribution company in Canton Ma. I am looking to give away Free and Over sized pallets because we have too many. Please call 781-821-0087 and ask for John if interested. Thanks
PS…….. we also have a location in Woburn, Ma if more convenient.

Jules
Jules

Hi i am in the twin cities and looking to pick up some pallets that people may not want anymore. 48×48, 42×40, 48×40 as long as theyre square. thank you.

JesseRivas
Reply to  Jules

Are you still looking for theses sizes pallets my number is 9712378133 my name is Jesse Rivas

Eco Pellets
Eco Pellets

We are wood pellets manufacturer.
To produce pellets we use only high quality clean coniferous wood sawdust which means that the raw material contains enough thus and lignin for good pellets gluing and, thus, no impurities are used in the manufacture of the product (bark, dust, sand, glue, foliage metal trash, etc.). Fresh raw materials are delivered uninterruptedly to the plant.

Jeff
Jeff

I run a trucking company in West Sacramento, CA and we end up with a tremendous amount of wood pallets (all sizes) and empty crates. I would love to have someone who will come by once or twice a week and take whatever we have. Please feel free to contact me if interested.

Jerry Carucci
Jerry Carucci
Reply to  Jeff

Do you have 48X48 pallets? We are in Davis and need 20 pallets over the next couple of months to ship LTL..

JesseRivas
Reply to  Jerry Carucci

Im located in Portland Oregon where is davis located at? Yes i have new Pallets I My email is jesse.michelle **@gm***.com

JesseRivas
Reply to  Jerry Carucci

If you need pallets I have them I just know if you need them and a address

Carlisa Hunter
Carlisa Hunter
Reply to  Jeff

Hey Jeff what area too pick up pallets

Nashika Antoine
Nashika Antoine

Looking for FREE pallets that you don’t want anymore ….willing to take your trash off your hands and keep your pallets low if anyone is interested please email me @ na**************@gm***.com looking forward to hearing from you soon

Joseph
Joseph

Hello we have best quality wood pallets for sale

sy harrison
sy harrison

hi there were would I be able to get some pallets from. tank you

Tarin Puckering
Tarin Puckering

Good afternoon,
I am looking for free Pallets for a school project. I am part of an arts and educational company and have an ongoing project that needs 16 – 20 close boarded pallets? Any help would be amazing! Thank you!

Jesse Rivas
Jesse Rivas

I would like to help you with your project.But first I need to know what state your in.Cause I’m in Yamhill Oregon

Rod Prouse
Rod Prouse

hi looking for free Pallets in Perth area North of River around malaga,landsdale, Morley. Wangara,can pick up. Would be much appreciated thanks!! Just message I’ll get back too you! Would like standard & longer ones, any sorts Thanks!!

Linda Cox
Linda Cox

I need a free pallet for a church project.

Lanita Bell
Lanita Bell

Hi, I’m looking for free pallets in the Cincinnati, Oh area. My 11 yr old and I are looking to do a wooden project for an art show at school. Anything would help and would be greatly appreciated!

Ginger C Frasier
Ginger C Frasier

I am the chairman of our church’s Pumpkin Patch. For the past 20 years we were able to get free wooden pallets (about 200) to use for displaying the pumpkins in the church’s front yard. That company has changed management and is no longer able to supply the pallets. I need about 200. Any ideas?
I live in Clear Lake City part of Houston, Texas.

JesseRivas

I live in Oregon . my company name is 2 guyzs pallets solutions. Have you check behind your local retail store? Or have you post any adds in your local community?

Michelle Donathan
Michelle Donathan

Hi I’m Michelle. I’m in need of at least 10 possibly more pallets that are in pretty good shape with the boards close together. It’s a project my son and I are working on.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Michelle

Mark Pappadia
Mark Pappadia

I HAVE PALLETS HERE FREE FOR THE TAKING YOU CAN COME TAKE A LOOK

Samantha Fox
Samantha Fox
Reply to  Mark Pappadia

Where are the pallets???

Mounir Ghobrial
Mounir Ghobrial

Hi ! Any used pallets 48 x 40 in Indianapolis ? I need a quantity of 60 to 100 pallets in good conditions

Rolly
Rolly

i need use pallets

John
John

Unfortunately, if you live far from a port city, this can be more difficult. I live near Miami and have access to millions of these things. These come in at least 5 grades. The best ones are the reusable ones used for chemicals and heavy items. Those can weigh up to 100 pounds. I wouldn’t suggest those since they are saturated with who knows what and are far too heavy to handle.

Carmen
Carmen
Reply to  John

Do you know where I can get some in Miami?

Kathi Barton
Kathi Barton

Looking for pallets free to very cheap in Zanesville, Ohio

Gilbert Lawrence
Gilbert Lawrence

Hi looking for free pallets to help teach my 14 year grandson the the trade of building ! We have various projects we would love to do ! We live in Toledo Ohio

Angela Camplin
Angela Camplin

Looking for companys to continusilly to get pallets from for on going things but certain ones I need thanks in Huber heights Ohio

Hello I’m looking free pallets or very cheap but good this year I don’t think greenisland having a bonnie so I’m 16 and me and the rest of are young people are trying to get some pallets so we can build one yes some of uses are different religions but I’d really like it if uses would helps us out thanks

Shirley Worsfold
Shirley Worsfold

Looking for used skids for a home improvement project in the Peoria, IL area.

HeatherStiletto

Post in our classified ads section – it’s free: https://www.1001pallets.com/pallet-classified-ads/

Cecilie Rohwedder
Cecilie Rohwedder

Hi Shirley, I would like to email you about this post. Would you be able to send me a quick mail at the email address below? Thank you and looking forward to connecting. Cecilie

Destiny
Destiny

Hello, currently looking for some pallets in the New York area please. Thank you..

John Fenton
John Fenton
Reply to  Destiny

We have modest quantities of used and scrap pallets

HeatherStiletto
Reply to  John Fenton

Post in our Classified Ads section – it’s free: https://www.1001pallets.com/pallet-classified-ads/

CELINE
CELINE

Hello I am looking for free pallets any amount, I am starting a pallet project for youths on the block. I want to teach some woodworking and simple projects. Many of them don’t have a good education but is asking for a skill.

Jazz Mateja
Jazz Mateja
Reply to  CELINE

Hi Celine my boss asked me to look into getting rid of about 200 pallets we have at our business here in Monee IL would you be able to come get they are free. thanks

John Berryhill
John Berryhill
Reply to  Jazz Mateja

Do you still have any pallets available?

May
May

Hey, I’m in Portland, Oregon and I’m looking for 6-8 Pallets to build a bed frame. Any free or cheap pallets in my area?

Cassie Aspden
Cassie Aspden

Hello! I am trying to find wooden pallets in Cornwall. Quite a lot of them (maybe 20-30) – preferably all the same size and colour!

Ginger O
Ginger O

Im in southeast Georgia and I’m in search of free pallets. Size doesn’t matter. Need them for building various things but mainly hay feeder for horses. Maybe a sun shelter and round pen for horses also.

Savannah
Savannah

Hi I’m trying to find wood pallets in Princeton wv

many construction sites that do not recycle pallets to the manufacturer just throw them away and they get charged by weight of the dumpster, thus any pallets you can take for your projects reduces what they will have to pay. they may even help you load them up

HeatherStiletto
Reply to 

Excellent tip! So don’t be afraid to ask those construction workers – you never know – they may help you load up your truck! :D
Thanks! – HS.

Janecorneliu
Janecorneliu
Reply to 

Where you located at

Jhonny
Jhonny

looking for pallets in my area cheap

Jhonny
Jhonny

looking for pallets cheap near us

JesseRivas

I’m in Oregon a hour from Portland I’m looking for any one who close by who don’t want there pallets I be glad to get them I also refurbish pallets and make new ones to any size

Deep Chandra Tewari
Deep Chandra Tewari

I need free pallets.I am in Noida,India.Where to get them

Deep Chandra Tewari
Deep Chandra Tewari

Shall like to make an outdoor coffee table

Zoe
Zoe

Any free pallets in Manchester for home project

HeatherStiletto
Reply to  Zoe

Hi Zoe – you may want to start here: https://www.1001pallets.com/pallet-classified-ads/

Luretta Marsh
Luretta Marsh

I live in Oh, 43207. I’m looking for free pallets to surprise my daughter (a newlywed)with an outdoor set.

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