“Recycled pallet” covers everything from a unit that looks new to one that’s been rebuilt three times. Grading is how the industry sorts that range so buyers know what they’re getting. The grades aren’t a government standard, so definitions vary a little from yard to yard, but the categories below are what nearly every recycler in the country uses.
The grades
Grade A (also called #1, Premium, or Club)
The best recycled pallet. Characteristics:
- Stringers are original and uncracked, or have at most a minor repair
- No companion stringers (see below)
- Deck boards all present, few or no replacements, no large chips or splits
- Clean appearance: light staining is normal, heavy discoloration is not
Grade A pallets are the closest thing to new at a recycled price. They’re what you want for customer-facing shipments, retail distribution, and anything going into racking.
Some yards further split this into Premium A (near-new, uniform color) and Standard A.
Grade B (also called #2)
Structurally sound and fully usable, but visibly repaired:
- One or more stringers have a companion stringer, meaning a cracked stringer was reinforced by nailing a second board alongside it (also called a “plug” or “sister”)
- More deck board replacements than a Grade A, possibly mixed wood colors
- More wear, staining, and minor splits
Grade B pallets carry the same nominal load as Grade A when repaired correctly. What you give up is appearance and uniformity. They’re the workhorse for in-house handling, closed-loop shipping, and one-way freight where the pallet won’t be seen by a customer.
Grade C / Combo / Remanufactured
Below B, definitions get loose. Some yards sell a Grade C with multiple companion stringers and heavy wear. Others sell remanufactured or combo pallets built from a mix of recycled and new lumber. These are cheap and fine for one-way shipping but usually not rack-rated.
What a companion stringer is and why it defines the grade
A stringer is one of the three 2×4 runners a standard pallet sits on. When one cracks, a repair shop has two options: replace it (expensive, requires removing deck boards) or reinforce it by nailing a companion board to its side. The companion stringer restores strength but is visible and adds weight. Its presence is the single clearest line between Grade A and Grade B.
Price relative to new
Recycled pallets generally run 30 to 50 percent below new, with Grade A at the top of that band and Grade B below it. Actual pricing moves with the lumber market and with regional supply, so treat any published number as a snapshot. How Much Do Pallets Cost? covers the full picture.
Which grade do you need?
| Situation | Grade |
|---|---|
| Customer sees the pallet (retail, food, consumer goods) | A |
| Going into pallet racking | A, or B from a supplier who rack-rates their repairs |
| Closed loop within your own facilities | B |
| One-way freight, pallet won’t come back | B or combo |
| Export | Any grade, but it must be ISPM-15 heat treated and stamped after repair |
| Automated handling equipment | A, and check the equipment’s tolerance for board gaps |
Grading is a judgment call, so ask
Because grading isn’t regulated, “Grade A” from one yard can look like “Grade B” from another. Two questions sort that out fast:
- “Do your Grade A pallets have any companion stringers?” The answer should be no.
- “Can I see a stack before I commit to volume?” Any yard confident in its sorting will say yes.
A third, if the pallets are going into racking: “Do you rack-rate repaired pallets, and to what load?” A yes with a number is the answer you want.
Frequently asked questions
A recycled pallet with original, uncracked stringers, no companion stringers, and a full deck with few replaced boards. The highest recycled grade, nearest to new.
A recycled pallet that has at least one companion stringer (a reinforcing board nailed alongside a cracked stringer) and more visible wear. Structurally sound, lower cost, less uniform.
A properly repaired Grade A or B carries the same nominal load as a new pallet of the same design. Lower grades and remanufactured pallets may not be rack-rated.
Typically 30 to 50 percent less, depending on grade, quantity, and the lumber market.
Buying recycled pallets in DFW?
A&A Pallets sorts every recycled pallet by grade, inspects and repairs it, and delivers across Dallas–Fort Worth. Tell us the grade and volume you need. Call (214) 398-3555.
Related services: New & Recycled Pallets · Pallet Repair · Pallet Buyback & Pickup · All services
Photo: W.carter via Wikimedia Commons, CC0 (source)