Used pallets are sold in quality grades, and the price difference between the grades is significant. Yet many buyers do not know what A, B and C actually mean, so they either pay for quality they do not need or buy a pallet that does not stand up to use. Here we explain pallet grades in plain language and say what each one is suitable for.
This guide is based on practical experience: we sell and buy used pallets in Hyvinkää, and we inspect the condition of every pallet before delivery.
Why pallet grades matter
The grade is not just a matter of appearance. It tells you how much use the pallet has already had, and therefore how many trips it still has left. It also affects whether the pallet is accepted in a pallet exchange system and whether you can send it to a customer without it telling the wrong story about your company.
In practice, the choice is a balance between two things. Too high a grade means you pay for features you do not need. Too low a grade shows up as pallets breaking sooner and having to be bought more often. So the cheapest pallet is not automatically the most economical one.
Grade A: almost as good as new
Grade A
A grade A pallet is used, but in practice it is almost like a new pallet. The wood is light in colour, the boards are intact and clean, and there are no visible repairs, or only very few. The pallet is dry and clean.
Suitable for: export, the food sector, shipments that customers see and uses where the pallet’s appearance matters.
Grade B: a pallet in good working condition
Grade B
A grade B pallet is in good condition, but it shows signs of use. Its tone is greyer than grade A, and it may have individual repaired boards. The structure is still intact and load-bearing, and the pallet withstands normal forklift handling.
Suitable for: your own warehouse circulation, domestic transport and normal day-to-day logistics. This is the most sensible choice for most companies.
Grade C: worn but usable
Grade C
A grade C pallet is clearly worn. The wood has darkened, there are more repairs and the pallet may show heavier signs of use. The pallet is still usable, but its remaining service life is shorter and it is not suitable for demanding uses.
Suitable for: one-off transfers, internal warehouse use and situations where the pallet does not come back. Not recommended for automated warehouses or for export.
Pallet grades compared
| Grade | Condition | Tone | Suitable for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Almost as good as new, no repairs or only a few | Light | Export, food, visible to customers | Highest among used pallets |
| B | Good condition, signs of use, possible repairs | Greyish | Warehouse circulation, domestic transport | Mid-range |
| C | Clearly worn, more repairs | Dark | One-off transfers, internal use | Cheapest |
The grading is common practice in the industry rather than a standard confirmed by an authority, so the limits may vary slightly from seller to seller. That is why it is always worth checking what the particular seller means by each grade, and preferably looking at a pallet or a photo before placing a large order.
What about a new pallet?
A new pallet is a category of its own above the grades. It is of uniform quality, clean and completely unused, so it suits uses where the quality has to be exactly the same every time. In practice, a new pallet is chosen when even the variation within grade A is too much, or when a large batch of identical pallets is needed.
Most companies do not need new pallets for everything, though. The most common workable solution is to buy new pallets where they are genuinely needed and used pallets for everything else. You will find a comparison in the article new or used pallets.
Pallet grades and pallet exchange
In a pallet exchange system, the pallet must meet the standard and be in good enough condition for the recipient to accept it in exchange. In practice, grade A and B pallets are accepted for exchange, whereas clearly worn grade C pallets are often rejected.
If your pallets circulate in an exchange system, take this into account at the buying stage. The cheapest pallet becomes expensive if it is not accepted. We cover markings and authenticity in the article how to identify a genuine EUR pallet.
How to choose the right grade
- Think about where the pallet is going. Will the customer see it, or will it stay inside your own warehouse? This usually decides the whole choice.
- Check whether the pallet is going abroad. For export, choose grade A, and for destinations outside the EU, a heat-treated pallet as well.
- Estimate how many trips you need. If the pallet will circulate for years, grade B pays for itself. If it leaves once and does not come back, C is enough.
- Check the weight of the load. Heavy loads and racking require an intact structure, in which case grade C is not the right choice.
What to look at when checking condition
Whatever the grade, the same things decide whether a pallet is usable. Check these yourself if you are buying pallets from an unknown seller:
- The top and bottom deck boards are intact, not split or missing.
- The nails are in place and the boards do not wobble.
- The frame is straight and the pallet is not warped.
- The blocks (feet) are intact, so the forks go in without problems.
- The pallet is dry and clean, not mouldy or oily.
When you buy from us, this has already been done for you. We inspect the condition of every used pallet before delivery, and the pallets are stored in our own heated warehouse, so they have not been standing in the rain. You can go through the full checklist in the article what to check in a used pallet before you buy.
Tip: do not buy on the basis of the grade but on the basis of the use. Tell us what the pallet will be used for and how often, and we will suggest a suitable option. That way you do not pay for features you do not need, and you do not have to buy again next month.
What quality costs
The price difference between the grades is real, but it should be weighed against service life. A grade A pallet costs more but lasts the longest, whereas grade C is the cheapest at the time of purchase but is the first to go out of use. When you calculate the price per trip, the difference between the grades narrows considerably.
Besides the grade, the price depends on the pallet type, the quantity and availability. Larger batches are cheaper per pallet. The article pallet price explains how the price is made up, and the pallet buying guide covers the whole selection process.
Tell us the use and we will suggest the right pallet
We deliver inspected used EUR and FIN pallets and other pallet types from our own warehouse in Hyvinkää. We also buy your surplus pallets.
