Buy Used Pallets in Los Angeles

How to Buy Used Pallets in Los Angeles: Save Money and Help the Environment

What you'll gain: Cut your shipping costs by 50-70%, reduce waste, and get reliable pallets delivered to your door in Los Angeles.

Why Buy Used Pallets?

Used pallets cost much less than new ones. A new pallet costs $15-25. A used one costs $6-12. If you ship 100 items monthly, you'll save $900-1,900 every month.

Used pallets also help the environment. Every used pallet keeps one out of the landfill and saves trees.

Current Prices in Los Angeles

RePackify data shows used pallets in Los Angeles average $6.20 each. Prices depend on:

• Quality grade - Better condition costs more
• How many you buy - Bulk orders get discounts
• Where you are - Some zip codes cost $8, others $10
• Market conditions - Prices change with supply and demand

Real example: A warehouse in Commerce bought 200 Grade B pallets for $8 each. Total cost: $1,600. The same order in new pallets would cost $4,000.

Pallet Quality: What to Expect

Grade A (Premium Used)

• No broken boards or stringers
• May have small nail holes
• Good for heavy items or valuable goods
• Price: $9-12 each
• Best for: Shipping electronics, food, anything fragile

Grade B (Standard Used)

• Small cracks or worn spots
• All boards intact and functional
• Good for most shipping needs
• Price: $6-9 each
• Best for: General shipping, storage, non-fragile items

Simple test: Can you lift the pallet without boards flexing? Can a forklift pick it up easily? If yes, it's good enough for most jobs.

Where to Find Suppliers

Los Angeles has many pallet suppliers. Look for these services:

Essential services:

• Pickup and delivery
• Multiple grades available
• Volume discounts
• Damaged pallet removal

Nice-to-have services:

• Custom sizes
• Heat treatment for exports
• Pallet exchange programs

How Much You'll Need

Small business (retail store): 10-25 pallets monthly Medium business (manufacturer): 50-200 pallets monthly
Large business (distributor): 200+ pallets monthly

Money-saving tip: Order 50+ pallets at once. Most suppliers drop delivery fees for large orders.

Delivery and Pickup

Most suppliers charge $85 for small deliveries. Free delivery usually starts at 50 pallets.

Service areas include:

• Downtown Los Angeles
• Long Beach
• Torrance
• Commerce
• Inglewood
• Vernon

Planning tip: Coordinate with other local businesses to share large orders and split delivery costs.

Special Requirements

Heat Treatment for Exports

If you ship internationally, your pallets need heat treatment. This kills bugs and meets import rules. The process heats wood to 133°F for 30 minutes.

Cost: $1-2 extra per pallet Required for: All wooden pallets leaving the USA

Custom Sizes

Standard pallets are 48" x 40". Some businesses need different sizes:

• Euro pallets: 47" x 31"
• Half pallets: 24" x 40"
• Custom: Any size you need

Custom pallets cost 20-50% more but may be worth it for special products.

Getting the Best Deal

Compare Multiple Suppliers

Get quotes from 3-4 suppliers. Prices can vary by $2-3 per pallet.

Time Your Purchase

Pallet prices change with demand. Late fall and early winter often have better prices.

Consider Pallet Exchange

Some suppliers take your broken pallets and give credit toward new ones.

Calculate Total Cost

Don't just look at pallet price. Include:

• Delivery fees
• Fuel surcharges
• Minimum order requirements

Example calculation:

• 100 pallets at $8 each = $800
• Delivery fee = $85
• Total = $885 ($8.85 per pallet)

Avoiding Problems

Inspect Before You Buy

• Check for broken boards
• Look for protruding nails
• Ensure consistent size
• Test structural integrity

Understand Return Policies

Most suppliers don't accept returns on used pallets. Inspect carefully before accepting delivery.

Plan for Storage

Pallets take space. A standard pallet is 48" x 40" x 6" tall. Stack them 6-8 high safely.

Environmental Benefits

Using used pallets helps in three ways:

Saves trees - Each reused pallet saves wood from 2-3 trees

Reduces landfill waste - Keeps broken pallets from dumps

Lower carbon footprint - No energy needed to make new pallets

Many companies use these benefits for sustainability reporting.

Making Your Decision

Start simple:

Calculate how many pallets you need monthly

Get quotes from local suppliers

Order Grade B pallets for your first purchase

Track how they perform with your products

Bottom line: Used pallets work great for most businesses. Start with a small order to test quality, then scale up when you're confident.

The Los Angeles pallet market has good suppliers, fair prices, and reliable service. You'll save money and help the environment - a win for your business and the planet.