15 Places To Find Free Pallets Near You

Though many may see pallets as simply a necessary tool to help with transporting particular items, akin to cardboard boxes or other packaging, crafters or DIY enthusiasts view the simple wooden item through an entirely different lens. To them, pallets can be the starting point of a wide variety of projects, providing budget-friendly raw materials if you're ambitious, or even a base to work from, if you're still not fully comfortable with full woodworking. Either way, there's a good chance you've added a few ideas to your Pinterest board that involve pallets — as Simple Most demonstrates, whatever area of your home you're looking to revamp, there's likely a pallet project out there to inspire you.

So, where exactly can you find them for free? After all, many businesses are likely just tossing them out when they're done or discarding them in some way — so why not put them to good use by giving them to someone who will offer them a new purpose? With all the creative ideas percolating in your head, here are 15 places you can start searching for free pallets to get your projects started.

Pet stores or pet supply stores get constant shipments of bags upon bags of heavy food for the various creatures they serve, and these often come on wood pallets, as 1001 Pallets explains. As a bonus, if you have pets and there's a particular spot you go to for their food, you might even have a relationship established that could make the ask easier — after all, if the owner sees you coming in regularly to support their business, they might be more inclined to set aside a few pallets for you from their next shipment.

While many stores and businesses can be a good source for free pallets, you may also want to consider going right to the source. As The Balance Small Business reports, sometimes distribution centers will have pallets that may not be quite the right shape or have some type of issue where they're not the right fit for the purpose at hand. However, they could be perfect for you — ask if they have any they'd be willing to part with.

If you happen to know of a new business that opened in an area you frequent, consider stopping in to ask if they have any pallets they'd be willing to give away, as Old World Garden Farms recommends. After all, they had to get all their stock and various store furnishings in somehow — chances are, pallets were used for at least some of that process, and they may have a surplus they're looking to get rid of.

It may seem strange to ask hardware stores for what is essentially free wood when they actually sell wood products within their store. However, like many businesses, they get plenty of items shipped in on pallets, and likely have plenty on hand at all times. Plus, as Money Pantry explains, hardware stores deal primarily in dry goods, so the pallets are likely in good condition. As an added bonus, you can pick up any other supplies you may need for your project in the same stop.

If you're looking to source free pallets for your projects, chances are you're a crafty or DIY-savvy individual who already knows where to find the hobby and craft stores in your city. Like many other businesses, they receive plenty of items shipped on pallets. And, like with hardware stores, there's the bonus of being able to conveniently purchase any additional supplies you need for your project. There's just one thing to be mindful of: as WAH Adventures recommends, check to see if there are any paint spills or similar issues with the pallets.

If you're someone who has a massive green thumb, you probably know where various garden stores are in your city — and as Weekend Craft suggests, they can be a perfect spot to score free pallets. Sure, you may have to brush off a little dirt, but isn't that worth it for free materials? And, if your pallet project of choice is a hanging garden or planter beds, for example, you can even pick up the plants and other materials in the same stop.

Yes, we've already recommended checking Facebook Marketplace and other online selling spots for pallets. However, as The Saw Guy recommends, you may also want to check out the 1001 Pallets Facebook page specifically, particularly if you live in a large urban area. The page has a free map that details various free pallet "spots" for many cities that could make the searching process much easier.