Pallet questions, answered
Short answers to the pallet questions dock leads ask most.
Buying
Start with buying pallets. Pick the size first, then the grade or build. Anything leaving the country needs heat treatment; see heat-treated pallets.
Selling and clearing
A sellable load has a clear size, grade and count; a pile of broken stock is a clear-out. Selling pallets and clearing a pile cover each.
Questions people ask next
Many visitors ask what used pallets cost. Pallet values move with grade, size, count and access, so a single number would mislead. Others ask whether there is a minimum quantity. None is stated here; a smaller pile may simply be handled differently from a trailer-load.
Some ask how to tell a good pallet from a poor one. Look at the top boards for cracks, the stringers or blocks for splits, and the nails for lifted heads. A pallet that wobbles when tilted is likely to fail under load. Pallet grades lays out the usual categories.
Questions, answered
How much are used pallets worth?
It depends on size, grade, count, condition and access. The value guide shows what moves a load.
Who buys used pallets in Oklahoma City?
Recyclers and graded-stock buyers buy cores and sorted pallets. Describe your pile in a sell request.
What is the difference between Grade A and Grade B pallets?
Grade A has had no repairs and needs none; Grade B has been repaired with replaced boards, plates or plugs but is sound. See Grade A versus Grade B.
What are the dimensions of a standard pallet?
48 x 40 inches (1,219 x 1,016 mm), the GMA pallet. See the 48x40.
Do I need heat-treated pallets to ship to Canada or Mexico?
Check the current rule for your route; Canada currently exempts wood packaging from the continental United States from its D-98-08 policy pending phased change. Read exporting from Oklahoma.
How do you keep pallets from molding outside?
Keep them off the ground, cover the top, keep air moving and the stack short. Wood below 20% moisture content will not support mould. See the storm-season guide.
How many pallets fit in a 53-foot trailer?
26 loaded straight, 30 turned and about 28 pinwheeled on the floor; see trailer counts.
What is a combo pallet?
A pallet remanufactured with a mix of recycled and new lumber; see combo versus new.
Will someone pick up pallets for free?
No promise about who pays is made here. A sound pile may have value; a broken one may not. See how to get rid of pallets.
What is the difference between a block and a stringer pallet?
A stringer pallet has parallel timbers under the deck; a block pallet sits on blocks and takes forks from every side. See block versus stringer.
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