What is a Grade A pallet?
Also sold as Grade 1
A Grade A pallet has every board and block sound, no visible repairs and only light wear, so it suits loads your customers see.
- No visible repairs
- Light wear
Pallet grades explained
Pallet grades are three condition bands, A, B and C, that sort used pallets by the state of their boards and blocks, the repairs they carry and the wear they show. No UK standard sets them, so we describe each grade by what you can see.
What are pallet grades?
Pallet grades are trade names for how worn a used pallet is, and the same pallet size comes in three grades, A, B and C, that differ in condition and not in footprint.
Is there a UK standard for pallet grades? No. No UK-wide grading standard exists and grade definitions vary by supplier, so each grade here is described by what you can see.
- Grade A
- Every board and block sound, no visible repairs and only light wear
- Grade B
- Boards and blocks sound but worn, with one or two replaced boards or blocks
- Grade C
- Heavy wear and several repairs, for light, one-way loads
We sell graded stock as used pallets, sorted into these three grades before dispatch.
What is the difference between Grade A, B and C pallets?
Grade A, B and C pallets differ in the state of the boards and blocks, the repairs, the wear and the job each one suits.
What is a Grade B pallet?
Also sold as Grade 2
A Grade B pallet has sound boards and blocks that show wear, with one or two replaced boards or blocks, so it suits warehouse and site use.
- One or two replaced parts
- Visible wear
What is a Grade C pallet?
Also sold as Grade 3, lightweight
A Grade C pallet has heavy wear and several repairs, so it suits light, one-way loads and costs the least of the three.
- Several repairs
- Heavy wear
| Grade | Also sold as | Boards and blocks | Repairs | Wear | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Grade A | Grade 1 | Every board and block sound | None visible | Light | Loads your customers see, warehousing and distribution |
 Grade B | Grade 2 | Sound | One or two replaced boards or blocks | Visible | Warehouse, site and repeat internal use |
 Grade C | Grade 3, lightweight | Worn | Several | Heavy | Light, one-way loads |
Pallets with a snapped board or a split or missing block are broken, and broken pallets sit outside the three grades.
What do you check to grade a pallet?
Grading a pallet means checking the deck boards, the blocks, the repairs and the wear in that order, and the worst result sets the grade.
- Deck boards
- The top boards that carry the load. Each is whole, with no snapped or missing board.
- Blocks
- The blocks that lift the deck, all whole with none split or missing.
- Repairs
- The replaced boards or blocks you can see, with none in Grade A, one or two in Grade B and several in Grade C.
- Wear
- The surface wear on boards and blocks, which is light, visible or heavy.
A pallet fails every grade when a board is snapped or a block is split or missing, because it is then broken. If you have used pallets to sell, the grades we look for are set out on sell pallets. A pallet that fails a check goes to repair before it is graded.
How are used pallets repaired before they are graded?
We repair used pallets by replacing broken boards and split blocks with matching timber, and we grade each pallet after the repair, on the condition it is left in.
- InspectEach pallet for snapped boards and split or missing blocks.
- ReplaceThe damaged boards and blocks, with matching timber.
- CheckThe repaired pallet against the four checks.
- GradeThe pallet A, B or C on what you can see.
Repair is a routine part of UK pallet supply, with an estimated 44.4 million wood pallets repaired and 41.4 million made new in 2017, according to Forest Research.
A pallet whose repair shows is graded B or C, because Grade A means no visible repairs. Pallets too damaged to repair are taken apart for usable boards and blocks.
If your own pallets are damaged, our pallet repair service repairs and returns them on the same grades. Once a pallet has its grade, the grade sets the load it suits.
Which pallet grade should you buy for your load?
The right pallet grade is Grade A for loads your customers see, Grade B for warehouse and site use and Grade C for light, one-way loads.
| Grade | Typical load (industry guidance) | Racking | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade A | Up to about 1,000 kg | Rack type named on the quote | Loads your customers see, warehousing and distribution |
| Grade B | About 750 kg | Rack type named on the quote | Warehouse, site and repeat internal use |
| Grade C | 200 to 500 kg | Not for racking | Light, one-way loads |
The loads are typical industry guidance for a used 1200 x 1000 mm pallet, from Dexion's pallet guide, and not a rating of ours. The Grade A figure is about 1 tonne. No racking load is published for a UK standard pallet, so a racked load is asked for on the quote.
- Choose Grade A for retail and display loads and any load your customers see.
- Choose Grade B for warehouse, site and repeat internal use.
- Choose Grade C for light, one-way loads where the pallet leaves with the goods.
Racking takes Grade A or B on a perimeter base, and Grade C is not for racking.
What are EPAL pallet classes A, B and C?
EPAL classes A, B and C are EPAL's own quality classes for used EPAL Euro pallets, set out in EPAL's Quality Classification of 2 November 2021.
Our Grade A, B and C describe condition for every used pallet we sell, and EPAL's classes apply to EPAL Euro pallets under EPAL's rules.
| Class | What EPAL says | Repair components | Where EPAL says it is used |
|---|---|---|---|
| A and B | Used EPAL Euro pallets in class A or class B | New boards and blocks only | Machines, conveyor systems and high-bay warehouses, in the same way as new EPAL Euro pallets |
| C | Dark, discoloured wood and visible signs of use; many EPAL Euro pallets fall into class C | Reclaimed boards and blocks allowed since 1 April 2022 | Mainly the construction and haulage industries, and order picking |
EPAL's quality guide lists criteria such as these, and the leaflet shows which belong to which class.
- Wood moisture of 22% or less
- Light-coloured wood
- No contamination
- Slightly skewed blocks, 1 cm of overhang or less
- At most one visible connecting element per construction element
EPAL allows only licensed repairers to repair EPAL Euro pallets.
Used Euro pallets come EPAL-stamped or unstamped, in the same Grades A to C as every used pallet we sell, as set out on our page for Euro pallets for sale.
Do CHEP, LPR and IPP pallets have grades?
No. CHEP, LPR and IPP pallets are owned by their pooling companies, so they carry no grade for sale and we neither buy nor sell them.
A pooled pallet goes back to its owner, and the owner decides its condition. The CHEP pallet guide explains the return route.
Pallet grade FAQs
Are Grade A pallets new?
No. Grade A pallets are used pallets in top condition, with every board and block sound, no visible repairs and only light wear. A new pallet is a separate product.
Are Grade A and Grade B pallets heat treated?
A grade says nothing about heat treatment. Standard used pallets carry no mark unless they were treated, so ask for heat treated used pallets, which we supply in Grade A or Grade B.
Which pallet grade costs the least?
Grade C costs the least. A used pallet costs less than a new pallet of the same size and build, and Grade B costs less than Grade A. The price is given on your quote.
Can you mix pallet grades on one order?
Yes. We deliver several grades on one order, each stacked apart, and regular orders are held to the grade you set. Name each grade and the number you want on the quote.
What is a premium Grade A pallet?
A premium Grade A pallet has no staining and very light wear, and we quote it on request for retail and display loads. It is a Grade A pallet with extra cosmetic checks.
How do you order a particular pallet grade?
Name the grade, the size and the number of pallets on your quote request. Send a photo of a pallet you want matched, and we match the build and the condition.
