Looking for grade a (like new) pallets? Browse live listings from suppliers across the US.
Browse ListingsAbout Grade A (Like New) Pallets
A Grade A pallet, also called a #1, is a used pallet that has been inspected and has no broken, cracked or missing boards, sound stringers or blocks, and no protruding nails. It may have been repaired once. Most Grade A stock is the 48x40 GMA stringer pallet.
The line between Grade A and Grade B (#2) is repairs. A Grade B pallet can carry plugged stringers, companion stringers or several replaced boards; a Grade A pallet is essentially original. That keeps deck height and board spacing consistent, which is why Grade A is the used grade that automated equipment and retail distribution centers usually accept.
Grade A is still used wood. Expect weathering, stains and color differences between boards. For export, check every pallet for an IPPC mark: a used pallet carries one only if it was treated when built or re-treated since.
What to Look For When Buying
- No broken, cracked or missing boards and at most one repair
- Stringers or blocks with no cracks, plugs or companion stringers
- No protruding nails or loose deck boards
- Consistent footprint and deck height across the load
- Legible IPPC mark on each pallet if the load is exported
- No oil, chemical staining or mold on the deck
Ideal For
- Retail and grocery distribution center deliveries
- Conveyors and automated handling
- Loads reused over several trips
- Export shipments where each pallet carries an IPPC mark
Not Recommended For
- One-way shipments where appearance does not matter
- Customer programs that require new pallets
Buying Tips
- Ask for photos of a stacked load, not a single hand-picked pallet
- Confirm footprint and stringer or block construction before ordering
- Ask whether the supplier sorts to grade at the yard or buys pre-graded
- Test a sample on automated equipment before ordering a full truckload
- Ask for a combo load if part of the order can take Grade B
What buyers pay
$8.03average per unit, $4.34 to $11.68
Service life
Grade describes observed condition and repairs, not remaining trips; inspect a Grade A pallet before each reuse and retire it at the first cracked stringer or missing board.
Common Misconceptions
- Grade A is a used grade, not a new pallet
- There is no single grading standard; one yard might call a pallet A that another calls B, so agree on the repair limit