Wooden pallet grades refer to different conditions of recycled pallets. At FALM, we rarely quote pallets that are beyond Grade A and Grade B, as they become less structurally sound the further you move away from Grade A.
Grade A Recycled Pallet (also referred to as #1)
“Grade A” pallets are recycled pallets that have been refurbished to near original condition. All damaged boards have been replaced, making this a pallet that’s in near-new condition and is highly dependable.
A-Grade pallets are more readily available but will have a more worn appearance than a Premium A Grade pallet. The specs on an A-Grade are more consistent than on a B-Grade pallet and will never have any block repairs to the stringers. The overall appearance is also better as A-Grade pallets are likely to have had shipment fewer cycles than a B-Grade.
Grade B Recycled Pallet (also referred to as #2)
“Grade B” pallets have been previously used and typically have experienced damage to one of its stringers. To fix, or reinforce, the damaged wood, an additional runner is placed alongside the broken or cracked piece. The top and bottom deck boards may have also been replaced in previous repair cycles, which means the deck configuration on “B” pallets may not be consistent, but they are still a reliable alternative to new pallets.
B-Grade wooden pallets are considerably less expensive than A-Grades and are used primarily for warehousing or shipping where it is likely the pallet will not be coming back. Grade B wooden pallets will typically show much more wear and tear. Between 5 to 7 boards on top, depending on board width, which can be 3.5 to 5.5 wide. There is no less than 3 boards on bottom and average top deck spacing is 2-1/2” to 3-1/2” but can be up to 4.” Stringers are (1-1/2” x 3-1/2”ea) and the pallet is a 4-way entry. Grade B pallets have plugs (repairs) on stringers, they can have plates or staples on cracks. B’s can be vary in length.