Sell your used pallets
A sound 48 x 40 or 48 x 45 has a market. What it is worth depends on its grade, how many there are and how often another stack shows up.
- 48 x 48
- 48 x 45
- 48 x 40
- 42 x 42
Which pallets are worth selling
Sound stock is anything that could go back on a truck as it stands. In grade terms that means Grade A, with no repairs, and Grade B, repaired with plugs, plates or replaced deck boards. A Combo counts too. A pile that is mostly Grade C, or has broken stringers, is still worth a request, but it is a core sale, not a used-pallet sale.
| What you have | How it reads | Where to go |
|---|---|---|
| A stack of matching 48 x 40, clean, no repairs | Grade A, the easiest to place | Sell as it stands |
| 48 x 45 skids from parts inbound, a few plugged | Grade B, common in automotive | Sell as it stands; see 48 x 45 |
| A mix of sound and cracked | Part sale, part core | The sorter can split it for you |
| Mostly broken or missing boards | Cores | Pallet cores |
What decides value
Four things, in the order a buyer thinks of them. Size. The 48 x 40 is the most common wood pallet size in North America, so it is the easiest to place. The 48 x 45 has steady demand where parts move. Odd sizes take longer. Grade. Fewer repairs, more interest. Count. A trailer's worth of one size is easier to place than several small stacks. Rhythm. A dock that makes the same stack every week is a better partner than a one-off. The value guide explains the moving parts of a price.
How to get a stack ready
Pull the same size together
Sort 48 x 40 from 48 x 45 as best you can. Mixed stacks are still welcome, but a size per stack is easier to read.
Set aside the broken ones
Pallets with a snapped stringer or missing deck boards go in a separate pile. They are cores, and a core pile is a different sale.
Keep them dry
Wet pallets mold. Wood below 20% moisture will not support mold, mildew or decay. Cover the stack or keep it off the ground.
Take a photo
One photo of the stack from the side and one of a pallet turned over tells a buyer more than a paragraph.
If it is every week
Plants and cross-docks that clear pallets weekly can ask about a schedule instead of single sales. See dock programs. A recurring stack is easier for a buyer to plan around, and the request can say so.
Questions about selling
Do I need to sort before I list?
No, but a rough sort by size helps. Even two piles, standard and other, makes a request easier to answer.
What if I do not know the grade?
Say so and send a photo. A buyer can tell from a picture.
Can I sell just a few?
You can ask. Small counts are easier when a buyer is already nearby.
What lowers value
Wet wood, mixed sizes, oil, protruding nails and mold all pull a stack down. Most can be fixed cheaply: cover the stack, split the sizes, and set the damaged ones apart.
Seasonality
Demand for used pallets rises in spring, as production ramps, and falls in the dead of winter. A seller can use that.
Make the request
Selling used: describe the stack in your own words, size and grade first.