Buy Used Pallets in Iowa
Available Listings in Iowa
10 Pallets listings in Iowa.
Pallets Prices in Iowa
Condition-level pricing for pallets in Iowa will appear here when current market data is available.
| Condition | Avg. Price | Available Qty | Listings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Current market data | Pending | Pending | Pending |
Use the full price index for broader market pricing while this condition breakdown updates. View full price index
About Iowa
#1 Supplier of Used Pallets Across The State of Iowa
Save 40-60% on Pallets: Your Complete Guide to Buying Used Pallets in Iowa
Why read this? You'll learn how to cut your pallet costs in half while supporting local recycling. This guide shows you exactly where to buy, what to pay, and how to get the best deals in Iowa.
Why Choose Used Pallets?
Used pallets offer three main benefits:
Save money: Pay $3-7 instead of $15-20 for new pallets
Help the environment: Keep wood out of landfills
Get reliable quality: Grade A used pallets work like new ones
Most businesses save 40-60% on their pallet costs by buying used.
What You Need to Know First
Standard sizes: Most pallets are 48×40 inches (called GMA pallets). These work with almost any truck or warehouse.
Two main grades:
Grade A: Like new, perfect for shipping products to customers
Grade B: Some wear but still strong, great for warehouse storage
Where to Buy in Iowa
Iowa has pallet suppliers across the state. Here are the main types:
Statewide suppliers: Cover multiple cities, good for large orders Local recyclers: Best for small quantities and pickup Online marketplaces: Good for comparing prices
Most suppliers offer:
Free delivery on large orders (usually 500+ pallets)
Pickup services for small orders
Drop-trailer service (they leave a trailer, you fill it)
What You'll Pay
Here's what most Iowa businesses pay:
Grade A pallets: $6-12 each
Average across Iowa: $7.25
Grade B pallets: $3-7 each
Cedar Rapids average: $4.21
Bulk orders: $3.00
Example: A warehouse needing 1,000 pallets saves $8,000-15,000 buying used instead of new.
How to Order
Figure out what you need
How many pallets?
What size? (48×40 is most common)
Grade A or B?
Get quotes
Call 2-3 suppliers
Ask about delivery costs
Check if they offer buyback programs
Choose delivery method
Small orders: Pick up yourself
Large orders: Free delivery
Regular needs: Drop-trailer service
Common Services Available
Free pickup: Many suppliers remove old or broken pallets for free
Buyback programs: Sell your used pallets back when done
Custom sizes: Special orders for non-standard needs
Payment terms: 30-60 day payment plans available
Getting the Best Deal
Order in bulk: Truckload orders get the best prices
Choose Grade B: Save more money if appearance doesn't matter
Use buyback programs: Get money back for pallets you're done with
Compare local prices: Prices vary between cities
Example: A Des Moines manufacturer orders 500 Grade B pallets monthly. They pay $3 each instead of $18 for new ones. Annual savings: $45,000.
What to Watch For
Quality issues:
Check for broken boards
Look for loose nails
Avoid pallets with chemical stains
Hidden costs:
Delivery fees for small orders
Fuel surcharges
Minimum order requirements
Major Iowa Markets
Des Moines area: Best selection and prices
Cedar Rapids: Good for eastern Iowa businesses
Davenport: Serves Mississippi River corridor
Iowa City: Several local recyclers
Each area has multiple suppliers, so you can compare prices easily.
The key to success: Start with one supplier for a small test order. Once you find quality and service you like, build a relationship for better pricing on larger orders.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the standard pallet size?
The North American standard is the GMA pallet at 48" x 40", and it is what most pallet listings on Repackify are. The other common footprints are 42" x 42" (telecom and paint), 48" x 48" (drums), 48" x 45" (automotive), and the 1200 x 800 mm Euro pallet.
How much does a pallet weigh?
An empty 48" x 40" wood pallet weighs 30 to 48 lbs. A 48" x 48" drum pallet weighs 55 to 70 lbs and a 24" x 40" half pallet 18 to 25 lbs. Block pallets sit at the heavy end of each range because they carry up to twelve blocks instead of three stringers.
How much weight can a used pallet hold?
A sound Grade A 48" x 40" stringer pallet holds about 4,600 lbs dynamic (moving on a forklift), 7,500 lbs static, and 2,800 lbs spanning a rack beam; the manufacturer's rating for the specific pallet governs. Grade B is about 3,500 lbs dynamic, 6,000 lbs static, and 2,200 lbs racked. Grade C is light-duty only and is not rated for racking. Those are ceilings for sound boards of each grade: construction (block versus stringer) matters more than grade, and a damaged pallet may keep as little as 0 to 50 percent of its rating, so never run a pallet with a cracked stringer or missing board near these figures.
What do Grade A, Grade B, and Grade C pallets mean?
Grade A is like-new with no repaired boards and full structural integrity. Grade B has moderate wear and may carry a repaired stringer or replaced deck board (1 or 2 repairs). Grade C is heavily used with visible damage and suits light-duty or one-way shipping. Grades describe observed condition and repairs, not remaining trips; inspect before every reuse. Cores are damaged or end-of-life pallets valued for their lumber, priced per ton or per truckload; a worn but repairable pallet is graded C, not a core.
What is the difference between stringer and block pallets?
A stringer pallet is built on 2 or 3 parallel boards and is 2-way or partial 4-way entry; it is the cheaper of the two. A block pallet uses 4 to 12 blocks, gives true 4-way forklift and pallet-jack entry, and is the stronger choice for racking and export.
How many pallets fit in a 53-foot truck?
A 53-foot dry van has a 52'6" x 98.5" floor and about 110" of clear height. Loaded straight, 48" x 40" pallets sit 40" across (2 x 40" = 80") and 48" deep, 630" / 48" = 13 rows, for 26 stacks; pinwheeled in 88" four-stack blocks, 630" / 88" = 7 blocks, 28 stacks; turned 48" across (2 x 48" = 96") and 40" deep, 630" / 40" = 15 rows, 30 stacks, the least stable pattern. Empty stringer pallets are about 5" thick, so stacks run 20 to 22 high (100" to 110") built inside a true 110" trailer, and 23 only on 4.75" stock; a stack pre-built at the dock must clear the 105" rear door, so band 20 or 21 and finish the column inside. Ordinary loads are 26 to 30 stacks x 20 to 22 = 520 to 660; 24 stacks x 20 = 480 when weight or thick stock caps the load; 30 turned stacks x 23 on thin stock is 690. Carriers quote 480 to 680.
Who buys used pallets, and what do they pay?
Pallet recyclers and brokers pay by grade for 48" x 40" pallets at volume: roughly $4 to $8 for Grade A, $2 to $5 for Grade B, $0.50 to $2 for repairable Grade C, and $0.25 to $1 for cores, the damaged pallets worth only their lumber ($30 to $60 a ton), with free pickup once the lot fills a truck (480 to 680 pallets). Below a full truckload the seller usually delivers or pays the freight. Clean Grade A and Grade B pallets sold direct to an end user bring more than a recycler pays, which is why sellers list them on Repackify instead of calling a recycler.
Do used pallets need an ISPM-15 stamp?
Only for export. Domestic shipments do not need heat treatment, but any solid-wood pallet leaving the country must carry the ISPM-15 HT stamp, so check each listing's specifications before buying pallets for international loads. A repair with an untreated board voids the mark until the pallet is re-treated and re-stamped, so on a repaired Grade B pallet confirm the replaced board was heat treated, not just that an old stamp is present.