Used plastic pallet grades, plainly
A grade on a used plastic pallet is a working definition and not a standard, because no universal plastic standard exists. We use four: like new, used and clean, repaired, and mixed lot, each described by what the deck, corners, runners and fork pockets show.
- Grades
- Four working grades
- Standard
- None universal for plastic
- Walk-around
- Deck, corners, runners, pockets
- Marks
- Paint-pen letter on each row
The four grades in a table
| Grade | Mark | Wear shown | Fit for | Not fit for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Like new | A | A few trips, clean, no cracks, deck and runners flat | General warehouse work and closed loops | A food or racking promise without papers |
| Used and clean | B | Scuffs, gouges, colour variation, but whole | General shipping and storage, uniform lots | Racking or food contact without papers |
| Repaired | R | A cracked or chipped part welded or swapped | Floor-level shipping where a repair is acceptable | Racking, food contact, heavy stacking |
| Mixed lot | M | Several makers, colours and sizes, sorted by footprint | Buyers who care about footprint and count | Automation or racking that needs one rating |
Why we define the words
Sellers use their own grade words. One marketplace pairs a Grade A listing that says "Good as New, Barely Used and No Cracks" with a Grade B twin that never defines the letter. A reconditioning guide offers a different scale: A is good as new, B is serviceable with visible wear or cosmetic repairs, C is utility, single trips and light storage.
A buyer comparing sellers is comparing vocabularies. So our grade pages say what each word means in terms you can check with a tape and a flashlight.
The other grades you will meet
Three more words come up in a search: new and unused, broken or scrap for regrind, and pool-marked or branded. They are not graded here for resale. New and unused is a different market. Scrap goes to recyclers who grind it into regrind. Pool-marked pallets may belong to a pool operator and cannot be sold as ordinary used stock.
- New, unused: factory overrun or cancelled order, no marks of use
- Broken or scrap: cracked, burnt, crushed or missing decks, sold by weight to recyclers
- Pool-marked or branded: an ownership question before it is a grade
Why four grades and not a score
A numeric score would suggest a precision the wear does not have. Four named grades match the decisions a buyer actually makes: take it as is, take it if it is clean, accept a repair, or buy by the load and sort later. Each grade page states what the wear looks like and what the pallet is fit for, so you can match a job to a page instead of reading a number.
No grade changes what a maker rates a pallet for. A pallet that carried a racking rating new may no longer meet it after a crack, a weld or years of floor scuffing, and only the maker or a lab can say whether it does.
Grades and your insurer
Insurers care about condition when pallets support valuable goods. If your policy mentions pallet condition, ask what the insurer accepts and show them the grade description. A written lot description can be attached to your records.
What to write down about a lot
- Footprint in both units, with the readings you took rather than the label.
- Number of stacks, pallets per stack and any odd stacks left over.
- Makers and model numbers seen on plates or moulded into the ribs.
- Count of repaired, mismatched or cracked pieces, and where each sits.
- Marks, colours and any smell, with a note on who confirmed each.
When something looks wrong
- Stop unloading and photograph the fault before anything moves.
- Count how many pallets show the same fault, to see if it is a lot problem or a one-off.
- Tell the desk or the seller in writing the same day, with the photographs attached.
- Hold the affected stacks apart until you hear back.
- Keep one sample pallet unused, so the maker or an inspector can examine it.
Walk-around checklist
The same four stops for every lot, in order. Tick each as you go.
- 1Deck: flat and continuous, no cracks to an edge
- 2Corners: gouges are scuffs, chips are noted
- 3Runners: whole, scuffed, not split
- 4Fork pockets: open and square
- Repairs: welded or swapped parts counted
- Marks: any owner name, logo or tag noted
Words used on this page
- Pooling
- Renting pallets from a company that owns, tracks and collects them instead of buying.
- Fork pocket
- Opening in the pallet where the forks go.
- Closed loop
- Pallets that travel between known sites and come back, so they are never lost to a downstream user.
- Regrind
- Plastic ground from used or scrap parts into flakes for moulding again.
- Runners
- Bottom rails that touch the floor or rack and carry the load.
What the sources say
- That Nelson model is under 5 in tall, which the page says suits air freight, and works with automation and most roller conveyors. nelsoncompany.com
- 48 x 48 plastic pallets hold four 55-gallon drums without overhang; 48 x 45 matches North American auto parts bulk containers. nelsoncompany.com
- Only pallets designed for unsupported racking carry a racking rating. nelsoncompany.com
- Plastic pallets weigh about 3 to 15 lb when light and up to 300 lb when heavy; a typical GMA wood pallet weighs about 37 lb. en.wikipedia.org
How a request works
- Pick the footprint, then the grade you can live with.
- Say what the pallets will carry and how many you need.
- Read the written lot description that comes back.
- Agree the lot before anything moves.
The four grades, in a line each
- Like new. A few trips only. Clean, no cracks, no missing parts, deck and runners flat.
- Used and clean. Many trips, scuffs and colour variation, but whole and usable for general-purpose or closed-loop work.
- Repaired. A cracked or chipped part welded or swapped. Some designs use snap-lock parts for repair.
- Mixed lot. Mixed makers, colours and sizes sold by the truckload, sorted by footprint.
Questions people ask
Is there an official grade for plastic pallets?
No. There is no universal plastic standard, so suppliers use their own words and a grade only means something with its wear described.
Which grade is best for racking?
None, by itself. Racking depends on the pallet being designed for it and carrying a rating. A repaired pallet should not go on racking.
What is a mixed lot?
Mixed makers, colours and sometimes sizes sold by the truckload and sorted by footprint.
Pages in this section
Ask for a lot
Pick a footprint and a grade. The reply describes a matched lot in writing.