New vs recycled pallets: cost, consistency and when you need new

Recycled pallets cost less and are widely available in the standard 48x40 size, which makes them a practical fit for many one-way and warehouse uses. New pallets cost more and are quote-only, but they give you uniform dimensions and appearance, and they are the realistic choice for odd sizes or when your customer's spec says new. Neither ISPM 15 nor the FDA's Sanitary Transportation rule requires new pallets.

The short comparison

Factor	Recycled	New
Price (48x40, delivered, full truckload)	Grade B $4.75–$6.75, Grade A $6.75–$8.75, AAA $8.50–$10.50, block $6.25–$8.50	Quote only; follows lumber
Consistency	Varies with repairs, wood and supplier grading	Built to one design from fresh lumber
Sizes	Mostly 48x40	Any size you specify
Heat treatment	Available; ask for the certificate	Available; ask for the certificate
Lead time	Depends on core supply in the region	Depends on lumber supply and the mill's schedule

Prices are Pallet Forecast's published ranges as of October 15, 2026. Heat treatment adds $1.00–$1.50 per pallet. See current prices.

Cost

Recycled pallets are built from cores, used pallets that recyclers collect, sort and repair. The wood is already cut, so the price depends on core supply, labor and freight rather than new lumber. New pallets need fresh lumber, and raw materials are the largest cost in making a pallet. That's why new pallets are quoted one order at a time: the price follows the lumber market. See what drives pallet prices.

Within recycled, price climbs with grade. Higher grades allow fewer repairs and defects, so fewer cores qualify.

Consistency

This is where new pallets earn their price. A new pallet is built to one design from fresh lumber. A recycled pallet carries its history.

• Repairs. Recyclers typically fix damage by replacing broken deckboards or by adding companion stringers or metal plates to cracked stringers. A Virginia Tech study of repair firms found companion stringers were the most common stringer repair.
• Wood. Replacement boards can be newer or older wood than the rest of the pallet, so color can vary.
• Grading. Grade names such as Grade A and Grade B are trade terms, not one industry standard. Suppliers grade in different ways, even in the same region. See pallet grades explained.

None of that means recycled pallets are weak. Research summarized in the same Virginia Tech study found new and repaired wood pallets had similar resistance to rough handling, with comparable service lives in some supply chains. It does mean you need a written spec and an inspection on arrival. Use our receiving inspection checklist.

Availability and sizes

Recycled supply is concentrated in 48x40. In a Virginia Tech industry survey, 48x40 made up 69 percent of the recycled pallet market in 2016. New production is more spread out: about 39 percent of new wood pallets that year were custom sizes. If you use a nonstandard size, expect new pallets to be your main option.

When you actually need new

Export and food rules don't require new pallets. Here is what they say.

Export (ISPM 15)

Under ISPM 15, wood packaging in international trade must be treated with an approved method and marked. The standard doesn't require new wood. A treated and marked pallet that hasn't been repaired or altered doesn't need retreatment for the rest of its service life.

Repairs change that. Under ISPM 15, a pallet with more than about one third of its components replaced counts as remanufactured and must have old marks removed, be treated again and be marked anew. In the U.S., the American Lumber Standard Committee's rules for its inspection agencies go further for repaired pallets: the existing mark must be obliterated unless the facility has an agency-approved process showing all components were treated, and the pallet can be re-marked only after heat treatment.

So a recycled pallet can be export-compliant, but don't rely on an old stamp. Ask for the heat-treatment certificate. See heat-treated pallets and ISPM 15.

Food (FDA Sanitary Transportation rule)

Under the FDA's Sanitary Transportation rule, pallets count as transportation equipment. Transportation equipment must be kept in sanitary condition so the food it carries doesn't become unsafe, and stored so it doesn't harbor pests or get contaminated. The rule sets a condition standard, not a requirement for new pallets.

Customer specs and audits

New becomes required when your customer, auditor or internal quality program says so in writing. If a spec calls for new pallets, follow it. If it only says clean, dry and sound, a well-inspected recycled grade may meet it. Ask for the written requirement instead of guessing.

Sustainability

Some verifiable points on reuse:

• Reuse is large-scale. The same Virginia Tech survey estimated 326 million pallets were recovered and sold as recycled, repaired or remanufactured in 2016, alongside an estimated 513 million new wood pallets.
• Repair is the most common outcome for used pallets at repair firms. The repair study reports that repair for reuse was the most frequent end-of-life option for used pallets those firms received. Pallets that can't be repaired may become boiler fuel or mulch.
• Pallets are most of the wood packaging stream. The EPA estimates pallets account for over 90 percent of wood packaging, and it estimated wood pallet recycling (usually chipping for mulch or bedding) at 3.1 million tons in 2018.

Lead times

Lead times move with supply, so treat any quote's date as the real answer.

• Recycled stock depends on how many cores recyclers can collect in your region. When cores are scarce, filling a full truck of one specific grade can take longer.
• New pallets have to be cut and assembled, and heat treated if you need it. Lead time depends on the mill's schedule and its lumber supply.

Either way, get the dock date in writing on the quote.

How to choose

• Pick recycled if you use 48x40s, ship one way or within your own network, and your customers don't specify new.
• Pick new if you need an odd size, uniform appearance, tight dimensional consistency, or a customer spec that says new.
• Either way, write the spec down, inspect the first load and compare delivered prices.

Chesapeake Pallets (our sister company) sells recycled Grade B, Grade A, AAA and recycled block 48x40s by the full truckload, and quotes new pallets individually.

FAQ

Are recycled pallets cheaper than new?

Typically, yes. Research on the pallet repair industry points to lower prices as likely the main reason buyers choose repaired pallets. New pallets need fresh lumber, so they are quote-only and follow the lumber market.

Can recycled pallets be used for export?

Yes, if they are properly heat treated and marked under ISPM 15. Repaired pallets have extra rules on removing old marks and retreating, so ask for the heat-treatment certificate instead of relying on an old stamp.

Does the FDA require new pallets for food?

No. The FDA's Sanitary Transportation rule treats pallets as transportation equipment that must be kept sanitary and stored to prevent pests and contamination. Your customer or auditor may still require new pallets in writing.

Are recycled pallets as strong as new ones?

They can be. Research summarized by Virginia Tech found new and repaired wood pallets had similar resistance to rough handling, with comparable service lives in some supply chains, but quality varies with repairs and grading, so inspect every load.