Grade A used pallets
Also sold as Grade 1
Our Grade A pallets have every board and block sound, no visible repairs and only light wear.
- Up to about 1,000 kg typical load
- Loads your customers see
Used pallets for sale
We sell used pallets in three grades, A, B and C, sorted by visible condition, in UK standard 1200 x 1000 mm, Euro 1200 x 800 mm, CP and square sizes, delivered across the UK.
Every used pallet is inspected and graded before it leaves, and each quote names the grade, the build and the delivered price.
What used, second hand, reconditioned and recycled pallets mean
A used pallet is a pallet that has carried loads before and is sorted, inspected and graded before it is sold again; second hand, reconditioned and recycled pallets are the trade's names for the same pallets, or for the stage they are at.
- Used
- A pallet that has carried loads before and is sold again by grade.
- Second hand
- A used pallet under its other everyday name.
- Reconditioned
- A used pallet with failed boards or blocks replaced with matching timber before it is graded.
- Recycled
- A used pallet put back into service after sorting and repair; pallets too damaged to repair are taken apart for boards and blocks instead.
More wood pallets were repaired than made new in the UK in 2017. An estimated 44.4 million were repaired and 41.4 million made new, according to Forest Research. Every used pallet we sell is sold by grade, and the grade is the first thing a quote asks for.
Used pallets for sale in Grade A, B and C
We sell used pallets in three grades, A, B and C, set by the condition of the boards and blocks, so every quote names the grade and what it means for your load.
No UK standard exists for pallet grades, and grade definitions vary by supplier, which is why each grade below is described by what you can see.
Grade B used pallets
Also sold as Grade 2
Our Grade B pallets are sound but show wear, and may carry one or two replaced boards or blocks.
- About 750 kg typical load
- Warehouse and site use
Grade C used pallets
Also sold as Grade 3 or lightweight
Our Grade C pallets show heavy wear and several repairs, and suit light, one-way loads.
- 200 to 500 kg typical load
- One-way trips
These loads are typical industry guidance for a used 1200 x 1000 mm pallet, from Dexion's pallet guide, and not a rating; the quote names the pallet for your load.
A premium Grade A, with no staining and very light wear, is quoted on request for retail and display loads.
Used pallet grades compared
Used pallet grades differ in the state of the boards and blocks, the repairs, the wear and the load they carry, and the grade sets the job each one suits.
| Grade | Also sold as | Boards and blocks | Repairs | Wear | Typical load (industry guidance) | Racking | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Grade A | Grade 1 | Every board and block sound | None visible | Light | Up to about 1,000 kg | Rack type named on the quote | Loads your customers see, warehousing and distribution |
 Grade B | Grade 2 | Sound | One or two replaced boards or blocks | Visible | About 750 kg | Rack type named on the quote | Warehouse, site and repeat internal use |
 Grade C | Grade 3, lightweight | Worn | Several | Heavy | 200 to 500 kg | Not for racking | Light, one-way loads |
No racking load is published for a UK standard pallet, so a racked load is asked for on the quote.
Racked loads go on Grade A or B on a perimeter base, with the rack type named on the quote, because no racking load is published for these pallets. Photos of the boards, blocks and repairs in every grade are set out in our guide, pallet grades explained.
Perimeter base, three-runner, converted and winger used pallet builds
We sell used pallets in perimeter base, three-runner, converted and winger builds, and the build decides whether a pallet suits racking, two-way or four-way forks, or shrink-wrapping.
| Build | Duty | Underneath (or on top) | Entry | Racking | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perimeter base | Medium | Bottom boards round the whole base, so it sits flush | Four-way | Suits racking best | Racking, warehousing |
| Perimeter base | Heavy | Bottom boards round the whole base, in heavier timber | Four-way | Suits racking best | Heavier goods, racking |
| Three-runner | Light | Three runners, no extra bottom boards | Two-way | Not for racking | One-way, light loads |
| Three-runner | Medium | Three runners, no extra bottom boards | Two-way | Not for racking | General shipping |
| Three-runner | Heavy | Three runners, no extra bottom boards | Two-way | Not for racking | Bagged and heavy goods |
| Converted | One duty level | Three runners with bottom boards added across them | Four-way | Less suited, as it does not sit flush | General use, block stacking |
| Winger | Heavy | Top boards that overhang the blocks | By build | Rack type named on the quote | Shrink-wrapped, chemical and construction loads |
A four-way pallet takes forks from all four sides and a two-way pallet from two; perimeter base and converted builds are four-way, and three-runners are two-way. The three-runner is also sold as a three-legger or legger, and the winger as a winged pallet. Each build is sold by grade in the UK standard size, and the sizes below sell used too. Not sure which build you have? Send a photo of it with your quote request and we match the build.
UK standard, Euro, CP and square used pallets by size
We sell used pallets in UK standard 1200 x 1000 mm, Euro 1200 x 800 mm, CP1 to CP9 and square sizes, each in the grades above.
Used UK standard pallets
1200 x 1000 mm
Used UK standard pallets measure 1200 x 1000 mm, the UK standard size according to Dexion's pallet guide, and come in all four builds above.
- Grades A to C
- Four builds
Used Euro pallets
1200 x 800 mm
Used Euro pallets come EPAL-stamped or unstamped, and an EPAL Euro pallet measures 1200 x 800 x 144 mm, according to EPAL.
- Grades A to C
- Stamped or unstamped
Used CP pallets
CP1 to CP9
Used CP pallets cover the nine chemical-industry sizes, and CP1 and CP6 share the UK standard 1200 x 1000 mm footprint.
- Nine sizes
- Casks and bagged goods
Used square pallets
1200 x 1200, 1140 x 1140 and 1100 x 1100 mm
Used square pallets give an equal-sided deck, and 1140 x 1140 mm is also the CP3, CP8 and CP9 footprint.
- Three square sizes
- Drums and bulky loads
Used Euro pallets are sold in the same three grades, A, B and C, by condition. EPAL runs its own quality classification for used EPAL Euro pallets, classes A, B and C, published in November 2021. Half pallets (800 x 600 mm) and double-length pallets sell used too, quoted on request, and so do used plastic pallets and used pallet collars.
How much weight does a used pallet hold?
A used UK standard pallet holds about 200 kg to 1,000 kg, by grade, and a fit-for-use EPAL Euro pallet carries a 1,500 kg safe working load, according to EPAL.
1,500 kgSafe working load of one fit-for-use EPAL Euro pallet
5,500 kgMaximum load on the bottom EPAL Euro pallet of a laden stack, on a solid, even surface
The load for each grade sits in the comparison table above. Lower grades carry less because their boards are worn and some boards and blocks have been repaired. The quote names the pallet for your load, and asks for the rack type if the pallets go into racking.
Can used pallets be heat treated for export?
Yes, used pallets can be heat treated to ISPM 15 and marked, and we supply heat-treated, ISPM 15 marked used pallets for export and for loads from Great Britain to Northern Ireland.
- Heat treatment
- 56°C at the core for 30 minutes
- The mark shows
- Country, producer and treatment
- A grade
- Says nothing about treatment
- Heat treatment holds the wood at 56°C for at least 30 continuous minutes through the whole profile, core included, according to the GOV.UK guidance "Wood packaging material for import and export".
- A legible ISPM 15 mark removes the need for a phytosanitary certificate, and a certificate cannot replace the mark.
- Standard used pallets carry no mark unless they were treated, so ask for heat-treated, ISPM 15 marked used pallets on the quote.
- Wood packaging that fails ISPM 15 "could be rejected or destroyed", according to GOV.UK.
How many used pallets come in a stack and a lorry load?
A stack of 15 used Euro pallets stands 2.16 m high and weighs about 375 kg. A 13.6 m trailer takes 33 Euro pallet floor spaces, and stacks of 15 give 495 empty Euro pallets per load. UK standard stacks and loads are counted on the quote, because the height varies by build.
| Pallets (EPAL Euro, 144 mm each) | Stack height | Stack weight (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | 1.44 m | 250 kg |
| 15 | 2.16 m | 375 kg |
| 20 | 2.88 m | 500 kg |
Full lorry loads and regular contract deliveries are quoted as bulk pallets for sale.
Used pallet delivery and minimum order
We deliver used pallets across the UK with no minimum order, from one stack to a full load.
- Your postcode
- Sets the delivery price and the day we can deliver
- Minimum order
- No minimum order, from one pallet to a full load; larger loads cost less per pallet to deliver
- Lead time
- Stock sizes usually 1 to 3 working days; heat-treated used pallets usually 2 to 5 working days. The date is confirmed with your quote
- Unloading
- Full loads arrive on a curtain-sider for forklift offload. Tell us if you have no forklift on site, and we plan the vehicle
- Mixed grades
- Several grades on one delivery, each stacked apart
- Same grade every time
- Regular orders held to the grade you set
- Old pallets
- Collected on the same delivery run, on request
What sets the cost of a used pallet
The price of a used pallet follows the grade, the size, the build, heat treatment, the number of pallets and the delivery distance.
A used pallet costs less than a new pallet of the same size and build, and Grade C costs the least.
- GradeEach grade is priced apart.
- SizeThe footprint sets how much timber goes into the pallet.
- BuildHeavy and perimeter base builds carry more timber than a light three-runner.
- Heat treatmentHeat-treated used pallets are priced apart from untreated ones.
- QuantityThe quote prices the exact number you need, and larger orders cost less per pallet.
- Delivery distanceYour postcode sets the delivery part of the price.
What sets a pallet price is explained in our guide to pallet prices.
Get a used pallet quote priced to your postcode
A used pallet quote is priced to your postcode, with the pallets and delivery in one figure. Tell us the grade, the size, the build, how many pallets you need and where they are going.
- GradeA, B, C or any grade
- SizeUK standard, Euro, CP, square or another size
- Buildperimeter base, three-runner, converted, winger or not sure
- Heat treatmentwhether the pallets need the ISPM 15 mark
- Quantitya one-off order or a regular delivery
- Deliverypostcode, the date you need them and any access limits
When is a new pallet a better choice than a used pallet?
A new pallet is the better choice when every pallet has to match one specification, carry no wear, or be built to a size the used market does not supply; for most other loads a graded used pallet does the job for less.
| Feature | New pallets | Used pallets |
|---|---|---|
| Condition | No wear | Graded A, B or C |
| Specification | One build throughout | Sorted by grade; build matched on request |
| Repairs | None | Failed boards or blocks replaced with matching timber |
| Sizes | Any size, including bespoke | The sizes that come back from use |
| Price | Higher | Lower for the same size and build |
Every size, new and used side by side, is on our wooden pallets page.
What happens to the used pallets you no longer need?
We buy back reusable used pallets, priced by size and grade, and collect them on the same run as your delivery, and pallets too damaged to reuse are taken apart for boards and blocks.
Sound UK standard, Euro and half pallets are most wanted, and collection is usually free for 50 pallets or more. How we price and collect them is on our sell pallets page.
Used pallet FAQs
Where can I buy used pallets near me?
We deliver used pallets to any UK postcode, with no minimum order from one pallet to a full load. Tell us the grade and the number you need.
Are Grade A pallets new?
No. A Grade A pallet is a used pallet in the best used grade, with sound boards and blocks and only light wear.
Are used pallets heat treated?
Used pallets count as heat treated only when they carry a legible ISPM 15 mark showing HT, and a grade says nothing about treatment. Ask for heat-treated used pallets on your quote for export loads.
Do you sell used CHEP pallets?
No. CHEP, LPR and IPP pallets remain the property of the pool companies, so we never buy, sell or recycle them. They go back to their owners.
