How Pallets Are Graded (and Why It Saves You Money)

Grading is the single most useful vocabulary in the used-pallet world, and also the most misunderstood. Pay for a grade higher than your load needs and you've overspent; buy under-grade and you risk product damage. Here is how to match grade to job.

The grades, decoded

Grade A (a.k.a. #1)

The premium reclaimed tier. Structurally sound, clean, few or no repairs, minimal cosmetic wear. These are the pallets you want when appearance matters or when you're running consistent, repeatable flows. Full detail lives on our grades reference.

Grade B (a.k.a. #2)

The workhorse. Repaired, structurally solid, cosmetically used — plugged blocks, replaced deck boards, honest scuffs. For the majority of internal and B2B freight, Grade B carries the same load for less money.

Reconditioned & remanufactured

Reconditioned pallets have been repaired back to a usable grade. Remanufactured (combo) pallets are rebuilt from reclaimed components into a fresh platform — a great middle path between new and used, which we cover under remanufactured.

Where heat treatment fits

HT / ISPM-15 is a treatment stamp, not a grade. Any grade can be heat-treated for export. If you ship internationally, read the ISPM-15 primer before you buy.

Matching grade to the job

1. 1Retail-facing or display load → Grade A
2. 2Standard warehouse and B2B freight → Grade B
3. 3One-way, low-value, or internal shuffle → sound Grade B or mixed
4. 4Export → any grade, but insist on the HT stamp

Tell us the load and the destination and we'll spec the grade — see also our full size chart to lock in dimensions at the same time.