What to Look for When Finding Pallets

There are some key things to consider when picking pallets. 

First, I'll give credit where credit is due, Instructables has a great, easy article on this. Click here to go there.

Size;

The general size of a pallet is 48 X 40. If the person you're getting pallets from hasn't confirmed the size for you, take a tape measure. When I went to get pallets most of them were 42 X 42. If you have a project in mind when you're getting the pallets, consider the different sizes. Of course if your project involves dismantling the pallet, it doesn't matter so much.

Symbols; 

Symbols are the main thing that are going to tell you about the pallet. 

IPPC. If you don't see the IPPC logo, be very wary. While the pallet may still be safe, it could have been treated with chemicals. 

HT - Heat Treated. Heat treated pallets are not harmful, and heat treatment is a preferable type of pallet to get for that reason. 

MB - Methyl Bromide Fumigation. DO NOT USE PALLETS STAMPED MB. Some countries have banned Methyl Bromide treatment because of the health risks to pallet workers. These pallets are treated with a harmful chemical. 

DB - De Barked. Pallets marked DB, have some from de-barked trees. There is usually no problem with DB pallets. 

That's pretty much the major things you should consider before getting your pallets, but always be sure to wash them with bleach and water, or power wash them before you use them inside your house. 

Where to Find Pallets.

Finding Pallets

Hey there!
I'm going to try not to make this too wordy. I, like you, went on a mad search for pallets to find remarkably few options, and those options were cracked etc. After a months search I did have some luck, so I thought I would share!

Roadside;

I wound up finding my pallets off the side of the road. For 2.50 a piece, which isn't bad. Obviously, this was kind of lucky, but keep your eyes out none the less! Some people sell broken pallets for firewood as well, and you can ask where they got their pallets. 

Craigslist; 

I scoured Craigslist in and out in my search. There were a couple good postings, companies wanting to get rid of some pallets. It took a couple days after the post to get to the company, and by then they were gone. It's a great place to look, if you can respond relatively quickly. 

Nearby Companies;

A lot of people have luck communicating with local companies. I know for a fact that often Tractor & Supply Co., Lowes, and a lot of paint stores work with people. Be careful getting pallets from grocery stores as you don't know what could have fallen onto the pallet. Call up some of the warehouse stores or DIY stores near you and see what they have to offer. A lot of times companies are trying to get rid of them, so you can snag some for free.

Pallet (re)Sale Stores ;

There are some websites that claim to post new and used pallets for recycling. I've been on a few of them, and haven't seen much. I think some of them are local so a quick Google search for "Pallet Recycling" or "Free Pallets (your area), might yield some pallet recycling sites.

I hope that helped, and good luck finding some pallets!