Have you ever wondered how the crafty folk find all of those fabulous pallets for projects?
Better yet, how they find them for free? Today I am sharing where to get free pallets and what has worked for me.
Pallet project books
If you need some ideas for fun pallet projects, you are in luck. Here are 3 of my favorite pallet project idea books.
Crafting with Wood Pallets: Projects for Rustic Furniture, Decor, Art, Gifts and more
The Pallet Book: DIY Projects for the Home, Garden, and Homestead Make One-of-a-Kind Useful Items for Your Home and Garden from Reclaimed Wood
Where To Get Free Pallets
1. Near dumpsters
Dumpsters are everywhere, you just have to look a little harder next time and I bet you will never drive right by one again.
2. New construction
New construction is a great place to find pallets..BUT, you need to ask before you take.Many times contractors receive building materials on these and get credit if they return them.
3. Retail stores
Retail stores such as garden centers, home improvement stores and hardware stores have deliveries
every single day.
Our local hardware store displays a sign every few months saying they are giving them away, and they even load them up for you. Couldn’t be any easier than that.
4. Local shops
In the town that I live in there are many little historic antique shops and small businesses. Many times they have to pay people to take their pallets away, so think of it as doing them a favor.
It never hurts to ask them to notify you if they ever need to discard them quickly.
Remember my Rustic Glam Cabinet Makeover?
Well it was sitting outside of this church ready to go to the dumpster. I noticed it out there for a few days and attached a little note to it asking if they were getting rid of it and if so I would like to take it.
They called me right away and one thing led to another and now I have become good friends with some of the church members. A win/win for all of us just by leaving a little note.
5. Craigslist, free-cycle, community groups
Do you ever check the free ads? There is all kinds of stuff out there that people just don’t know what to do with or have no time to deal with.
I found the above listing in just 2 minutes after searching my local Craigslist. And what a bonus, they are giving away a free desk as well!
And finally, get the word out, in my case everyone knows that I like Curb Alerts and I like free stuff.
I have no shame!
………………
My neighbor who is building a new home called me and asked it I would like 5 free pallets.
I said “Heck Yes!” And he even delivered them for me!
Now wasn’t that easy? I’m not sure why I haven’t started hoarding “collecting” pallets sooner!
Now what to do with all of these. off to Pinterest Heaven I go!
I see them behind our Walmart Neighborhood Market all the time…along with tons of cardboard boxes!
Great resource list! I find mine at a firetruck manufacturer of all things. Never ending supply at a place that ships big stuff all the time!
While all of your ideas are great, I must comment on one of them. I work in new construction and this is NOT the place to get pallets unless you know the contractor. Subs cannot give pallets away. Many times the contractor has to haul the pallets to the company that delivered them or they get picked up. Several companies charge for the pallets and give us a credit when we return them. If you take these, you’re stealing something that is of value to this industry. Pallets come with shingles, brick, mortar, tile, huge sand sacks, and more on them and these companies reuse them regularly. So ask a contractor and see if the pallets you’re eyeing are garbage or if he has to return them. Thank you!
Thanks Leigh, I’m updating this tonight to make it more clear that you need to ask first.