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Pallets are such a versatile item. Use them to make bookshelves, wine racks, porch swings, patio furniture, compost bins, and more.
Wooden pallets can be obtained for free. You just need to know where to look!
In this post, we’ll tell you exactly where to get free pallets.
Table of Contents
Not Every Unattended Pallet is Free!
Before we get onto the list, a quick note – don’t just take pallets. You might think that a pallet sitting behind a hardware store or a clothing store is just free to take.
However, you should never take pallets without asking first.
You definitely should not remove pallets that have a stamp, such as CHEP, PECO, iGPS, Coca-Cola, or the U.S. Postal Service.
These companies claim to enforce property rights to their pallets. This means that you could be charged with unlawful possession of them.
Wherever you get your pallets from, make sure you ask if you can have them before you take them.
Where to Find Free Pallets
Now that’s out of the way, let’s get onto the list.
Here’s where you can get free pallets.
1. Craigslist
Perfect for finding free stuff for DIY projects, furniture, appliances, and more, Craigslist should be your go-to if you’re on a budget.
People list all sorts of freebies on there. Go to the “Free” section of your local Craigslist. You can find this under the “For Sale,” section.
Filter the results by searching for “pallets” or “wooden pallets.” This will show you if there’s anyone giving away free pallets near you. There may not be. It’s still worth a look.
If you can’t find pallets for free on Craigslist, you may be able to find them for a cheap price.
2. Hardware stores
Hardware stores often have pallets available since they use wooden pallets for most deliveries. This is because hardware stores stock items that are large and heavy, which need to be transported on pallets.
You’ll have better luck with smaller, mom and pop style hardware stores over national chains like Lowe’s and Home Depot. More on that later though.
3. Construction sites
Have any construction sites nearby? Most cities and towns do, whether it’s a commercial building or a residential property. Drive to a local construction site and ask the construction workers whether you can have any pallets. You may be able to get your hands on some pallets for free.
4. Facebook Marketplace
Head on over to Facebook Marketplace for free pallets. The site features free stuff. You won’t always be able to find free pallets on there. It’s definitely worth a look though.
Just search for “free pallets” on Facebook Marketplace and this will show you if there’s anyone giving them away on there. Even if you can’t get them for free, you can still find cheap pallets there.
5. Small garden shops
Ask at local small garden shops whether they have any pallets that they could give to you for free.
6. Furniture stores
Furniture stores sell large products, meaning that many of their shipments come on pallets. Furniture stores are a good place to get clean, dry pallets. Just call local stores to ask if they have any free pallets available for you to take.
7. Newspaper companies
Newspaper companies are a good source of free pallets because they regularly get massive deliveries of rolls of paper. Often, they have pallets they just throw out. This means they may be happy for you to take some of these pallets off their hands.
Just call local newspaper companies to ask if they have any free pallets that they’d be willing to give to you.
8. Pet stores
Pet stores get many of their deliveries, from food to treats to toys, on pallets. This makes them an effective place to source free pallets. Just get in touch to ask.
9. Recycling centers
You may be able to get some free or cheap pallets from recycling centers. Just call them and ask if they have any wooden pallets available for free or for cheap.
10. Schools
Many school supplies, such as books and paper, are delivered on wooden pallets. This makes schools a good place to get some free pallets. Just call local schools to ask if they have any pallets that they’re looking to get rid of. They may be willing to give you pallets for free.
11. Clothing stores
Another store that gets shipments on pallets is clothing stores. Just call and ask if they have any available.
12. Freecycle
Freecycle is an awesome site if you’re looking for free stuff. People list stuff they’re looking to give away. You may be able to find someone who’s giving away free pallets there.
13. New stores
Stores that are preparing to open often have a surplus of pallets from their initial deliveries of inventory. This means that new stores can often be a good place for finding free pallets.
Look out for any stores that are preparing to open in your city and town. Get in touch and ask if they have any pallets that you could have for free or at a low cost.
More Tips on Where to Get Pallets for Free
The places above are all good sources for free pallets. However, they’re not your only options. I also have some tips that you can use to get pallets without paying for them.
14. Start your own pickup service
You could provide a pallet pickup and disposal service to small businesses near you. It’s a win-win, as you’ll be getting some free pallets while helping a local business to clean up their waste. This option works well if you are in need of a lot of pallets.
Keep the pallets that you need and give the others to friends or dispose of them.
15. Work directly with distribution centers
Many distribution centers that ship out the pallets end up with pallets they no longer want. Contact these local distribution centers. Ask them if they have any pallets available that they no longer need that they’d be willing to give to you for free or at a low cost.
16. Place an ad in the classifieds
Sometimes, one of the most effective ways to get the items that you want is to put an ad in the classifieds. Advertise that you’re in the market for some free pallets.
Put an ad in the classifieds section of your local newspaper or online on sites like Craigslist.
You may want to post an ad online if you’re on a budget as many sites allow you to post ads for free. The local paper is still a good choice though. This may not net you any free pallets. It’s worth trying though.
17. Search the internet
One of the simplest, yet effective methods for sourcing free pallets is to simply search the internet.
Search online for “free pallets near me” and this can bring up lots of places to get pallets for free near you.
What Do Companies Do with Used Pallets?
I mentioned briefly above in the hardware stores section that it’s better to get pallets from small, mom and pop style businesses, rather than national chains like Lowe’s and Home Depot. That’s true for all types of stores, from hardware stores to furniture stores to pet stores.
Large businesses like Lowe’s and Walmart do have a lot of pallets, yes. However, they typically already have processes in place for their pallets. Meaning that they likely return, recycle, and reuse pallets through third-party companies or through internal logistics teams.
Because smaller businesses don’t tend to have as large of a budget, or as many resources, compared to these bigger businesses and national chains, they often just dump their old pallets. This means that they’ll be more likely to have pallets to give to you for free.
Typically, you’re better off asking smaller, local businesses for free pallets over bigger, national businesses.
Final Thoughts: Where to Find Free Pallets Easily!
Free pallets are easy to find when you know where to look – and now you do thanks to our tips. Try the places and tips on our list and get yourself some free pallets to use in your DIY projects.
