How much does a pallet cost? New, used, plastic and custom prices

Pallet prices vary by a factor of ten between a used Grade B pallet and a new custom heavy-duty pallet, and by a factor of two between regions for the same pallet. The ranges below are 2026 US estimates from industry and supplier sources. They move with lumber, resin and freight markets, so use them to budget and to sanity-check quotes, not as prices.

#Pallet cost at a glance

Sources for these ranges include published supplier pricing articles and market reports; they are estimates, not quotes.

#What drives wood pallet cost?

A new wood pallet is priced mostly on lumber. Industry pricing guides describe the method: add up the board feet of lumber, multiply by the lumber cost per thousand board feet (MBF), then apply a factor for labor, overhead, freight and margin.

Pallet lumber in many markets ran about $450–550 per MBF in 2026, according to industry sources. A 13.5 board-foot GMA pallet therefore has roughly $6–7.50 of lumber in it before labor, freight and margin. Use the board feet calculator to check a design.

#Factors that raise or lower the price

1. Species and grade. Oak and Premium-grade lumber cost more than mixed hardwood cants or Utility-grade SPF. See pallet wood species and pallet lumber grades.
2. Board feet. Thicker deckboards, more boards and bigger stringers add lumber directly.
3. Moisture. Kiln drying adds cost over green lumber.
4. Treatment. HT adds about $1–3.
5. Construction. Block pallets have more parts and cost more than stringer pallets. Notches, chamfers, wings and custom features add machine or hand time.
6. Volume and cadence. A standing order of 50,000 a year prices well below a one-off order of 200. Truckload quantities (roughly 480–680 empty 48 × 40 pallets in a 53 ft trailer, depending on pallet height) price better than partial loads.
7. Standard vs custom. Shops keep standard sizes in stock or on regular runs. Unusual sizes need setup.
8. Distance. Pallets are bulky and cheap per cubic foot, so delivery can be a large share of the price. Local shops usually win.
9. Timing. Softwood lumber prices often rise in late winter and spring; tariffs and mill capacity move prices too.
10. Payment and contract terms. Lumber-index escalator clauses, delivered vs pickup pricing and payment terms all change the quoted number.

#New vs recycled pallets

Recycled pallets cost less and are widely available in 48 × 40 in. They vary in appearance and remaining life, and grading is not standardized between vendors.

See new vs recycled pallets and pallet grades.

#Plastic, metal and other materials

Non-wood pallets are priced by material weight and process. Plastic pallets cost several times more than wood but can last many more trips; see the plastic pallet buying guide. Metal pallets are fabricated to order and priced by weight, material and finish. Presswood and paper pallets are low-cost, one-way options that avoid ISPM 15.

#Why pallet prices change

Wood pallet prices track lumber. Industry sources noted that tariffs on imported softwood lumber were adding to US pallet costs in 2026, and lumber prices generally rise with construction demand. Other movements:

• Labor. Pallet assembly and recycling are labor-intensive, and wage pressure feeds straight into price.
• Recycled pallet supply. When freight volumes drop, fewer used pallets come back to recyclers and recycled prices rise; when volumes rise, supply loosens.
• Freight. Diesel prices and trucking capacity change delivered prices, especially for long hauls.
• Resin. Plastic pallet prices follow HDPE and PP prices.
• Steel and aluminum. Metal pallet prices follow metal markets.

If you buy in volume, a price tied to a published lumber index shares these swings fairly between you and the supplier. See reduce pallet costs.

#Custom pallet pricing

A custom pallet is not automatically expensive. Shops quote wood pallets on the lumber in them, so a custom 44 × 36 in pallet with the same construction as a GMA pallet uses less lumber and can cost less. Custom pallets cost more when:

• The order is small (setup time is spread over fewer pallets)
• The design uses heavy or high-grade lumber
• Parts need special cutting (notches, chamfers, bevels, odd lengths)
• The shop must buy lumber it does not normally stock

Get a drawing and board-foot count before asking for a price, so every shop quotes the same pallet.

#Buy or rent?

For standard 48 × 40 in pallets in retail and grocery supply chains, renting from a pooler can cost less than buying, because you do not pay to recover or dispose of pallets. It only works where the pooler has coverage and the receiver accepts pooled pallets. Costco, for example, requires them. See pallet pooling and pooled vs white-wood pallets.

#Cost per trip, not cost per pallet

The cheapest pallet is not always the cheapest option. Compare cost per trip:

Cost per trip = (purchase price − resale or scrap value + repair costs) ÷ trips achieved

A $14 new pallet that makes 6 trips costs about $2.30 per trip before repairs; a $7 Grade B that makes 2 trips costs $3.50. Product damage from a failed pallet can outweigh either figure.

#How to get an accurate quote

Pallet quotes are only comparable when they price the same spec. Send suppliers:

• A drawing or spec sheet with every component: count, thickness, width, length
• Species group, grade and moisture
• Fastener type, size and count
• Treatment (HT) and marking
• Quantity per order, annual volume and delivery location
• Delivered or pickup, and payment terms

pallet.design produces that spec from a template and sends it to partner shops for competing quotes. Start at custom pallets, or read how to reduce pallet costs.