We've seen countless upcycled and hacked together projects with wood shipping pallets over the years, and more often than not they're ugly, but totally useful. Pallets are great for the DIYer because they're cheap and easy to work with, but you do need to pay close attention to what you're grabbing.


DIYers have made some great upcycled projects from pallets and they're always a popular resource on sites like Instructables. But the appeal isn't always obvious at a glance, so let's look at why pallets are great for DIYing, and take a look at how to pick out the right kind so you don't accidently bring hazards into your house.

Why Pallets Are So Appealing for DIYers


At a glance, wood pallets are ugly, cheap wood that most people wouldn't bother using for kindling, let alone make a table out of one. Oddly, that's really the appeal of them. They're essentially Legos for adults because they can be turned into just about anything with minimal effort or skill.

It's also about upcycling and using materials that are already out there for new and creative uses. You can usually grab them for free from old warehouses and shipping areas. Since most pallets are about the same size, you can find directions online and get to building something without really knowing anything about woodworking.

It's not all about ease of use of use though. Pallets take a bit of work to tear apart, and since they're often treated with chemicals you need to use a mask when you're sawing into them. If you do want to make them look a little nicer, it takes a bit of work (including sanding and resealing the wood), but the appeal really isn't the look, it's just the function. Even a woodworking amateur can make something useful out of wood pallet in an afternoon. Photo by troye owens.


How to Pick the Right Wood Pallets


As you'd expect with anything that's using reclaimed materials, you need to watch what you're doing with pallets. As cabinetmaker and blogger Nike Love points out, pallets get exposed to everything from harsh chemicals to mold and bugs. Which is to say, even if a pallet looks good, you probably shouldn't be using it for a children's bed or a dining room table. As CBS News points out, pallets come into contact with all types of crazy things in their journeys, so it's important to pay attention to what you're grabbing.

That said, pallets are still excellent for outdoor projects, and if you can get a good idea of their history they're useful indoors too. Either way, you need to seriously clean them up before you get anywhere near the inside of your house. If you can find pallets with a "HT" (heat treated) stamp on them that means they're free of bugs, but it also means the wood may have been treated with chemicals (which also means it's not great for firewood either). All modern pallets require a logo that says how it was treated, if there's no logo, don't bother with it.


Here are a few a few things to keep in mind when you're looking for a wood pallet:

Most pallets are reused throughout the industry and usually stay within an industry. That means you don't want pallets from a pesticide or chemical processing company because they're probably drenched in chemicals.

The nicest pallets seem to come from dry goods industries. They're usually shipping a lightweight, dry product, so there's no spillage or stains to worry about.

Termites are everywhere in pallets (and all outdoor wood really). Look for for tiny "wood piles"

Old grocery store pallets might seem okay, but they're often covered in spillage and stains which leads to mold. Look at them closely and smell it. Common sense rules here (and with any pallet): if it looks weird, or it smells strange, don't take it.

Use gloves. This seems like common sense, but since pallets often have nails pointing out and can easily give you a splinter it's worth noting. If you're going to cut a pallet, use a mask.


It's entirely possible to grab pallets that are safe, but it's just as likely you'll grab one covered in chemicals. So, if you can trace the history you're better off. Picking up any reclaimed wood is going to come with a set of dangers, so be smart and keep your eyes out for signs of contaminants. Shipping pallets make for easy weekend projects for regardless of your skill, and when you choose the right ones they'll last a surprisingly long time. Photo by Tatiana Popova/Shutterstock.

Title photo by Walt Stoneburner.