Transform free pallets into creative and beautiful furniture, decorations, planters and more! There are over 150 easy pallet ideas here to give your home and garden a personal touch.
Before we dive into these projects, here is some helpful information:
You can get pallets FREE (or very cheap) from:
- Craigslist or Facebook’s Marketplace. A lot of the time people just put them on the curb for free for you to pick up.
- Local businesses, distribution centers and stores (e.g Garden and Hardware Stores, Motorcycle Shops, Home Improvement Stores). You will see them sitting out back of stores, but always ask the manager before you take them because they could be rented pallets and need to be returned.
- New Businesses – If you know a new business is opening in your area, that is a great time to find a lot of pallets too.
If you can’t find any free wood pallets, you can buy them for under $10 (typically in the $5-$7 range, depending on the type and size you are looking for).
Materials You Will Need:
- Hammer (with nail puller) & Nails OR Nail Gun
- Screwdriver and Screws (wood screws)
- Drill and Drill Bits
- Reciprocating Saw
- Safety Glasses and Gloves
- Tape Measure and/or Ruler
- Orbital Sander
- Sandpaper
- Jig Saw
- Wood Glue
- Circular Saw.
- Hand Saw
- Pry Bar
I won’t re-list these items below to save space, but you will need some of these tools and supplies for all of these projects. If you are just planning on doing one or two projects, you can rent the more expensive tools (e.g. saws and sander) at a Home Depot or Lowes to save money or borrow from friends, family or neighbors.
Handy Tutorials for Pallet Projects:
- How to “Quickly” Disassemble Pallets
- Many projects require dissembling the pallets.
- There are lots of different ways to disassemble pallets depending on the type of tools you have at your disposal.
- How to Get Weathered Wood Look
- How to Tell if a Pallet is Safe for Reuse -Don’t use pallets with MB or IPPC logo!
- Make Your Own Wood Stain For Less
While these DIY pallets projects are easy, some of them are time-consuming and may take more than a couple hours to complete.
Indoor Pallet Projects
Home Decor
Pallet Photo Frames
mod podge + printed picture (from laser printer)
Wood Pallet Shelf
extra boards + white paint
Check out this other tutorial for how to get a weathered look
Pallet Trays (Source Unknown)
drawer handles + paint or stain + screws
Pallet Tray with Rope Handles (Source Unknown)
rope + washers + screws
Pallet Plaque
craft boards + chalk paint + bulldog clips + jute rope + staple gun
Wall Decor Pallets
chalk paint + empty cans + mason jars + flowers + hose clamps
Home Sign (Source Unknown)
hose clamps + chalk paint (white and pastel blue) + stencils + brown acrylic paint + fake flowers + jute twine
Pallet Monogrammed Plaque (Source Unknown)
large wood letter + metallic spray paint
Pallet Barn Door Mantel
furring strip boards + wood stain
Mason Jar Candle Scone (Source Unknown)
white acrylic paint + small chain + hook + mason jars + votive candles
Candle Wall Shelf (Source Unknown)
All you need is various sized pillar candles
Wall Mounted Pallet Candle Holders
pallet slats + pallet blocks + tealight candles + red stain
Pallet Wood Candle Sconces
saw + pallet wood + stain + polyurethane + pillar candles
Hanging Mason Jar Lights
power cords + mason jars + light bulbs
Hanging Mason Jar Candles II (Source Unknown)
mason jars + small pillar candles + rope
Pallet Cube Light (No tutorial)
Laundry Sign
black spray paint + antique white eggshell paint + printed letters (traced) or stencils + black acrylic paint
Coastal Pallet Mirror
white chalk paint + gorilla glue + mirror + french cleat picture hanger
Beach Pallet Wall Art (Source Unknown)
stencils + white acrylic paint + shades of blue and tan paint
Pallet Photo Holder (Source Unknown)
mini clothespins + white paint marker (or stencils) + fabric (for flowers) + photos
Pallet Centerpiece
white paint + assorted plants and flowers
Pallet Wood Mirror (Source Unknown)
staining or paint + mirror
Decorative Wall Shelf
hammer + nails + drill + saw + sandpaper
Pallet Wall Decor
paint + cardstock + stencils + hanging hardware + tape
Kitchen Sign (Source Unknown)
wood letters + white acrylic paint
Pallet Wall Clock (Source Unknown)
clock parts (take apart a thrift store clock) + numbers + white paint
Furniture Pallet Projects
Pallet Floating Bookshelf
all you need is basic tools and wood stain
Pallet Coffee Table
sandpaper + glaze + caster wheels + carriage bolts/wood bolts
Mini Pallet Coaster For Your Pallet Coffee Table
craft sticks + wood stain + hot glue gun + craft knife
Modern Pallet Coffee Table
wheels + glass top + paint (optional)
Pallet End Table
just need the basic tools listed above to make this project and some wood stain, but thats optional
Easy Pallet Platform Bed
pocket hole screws + wood glue + finish of choice + wood screws
Fold-Up Pallet Desk
plywood + piano hinge + window sash + cables + eye hook
Pallet Headboard
mounting hardware + paint (optional)
Console Table
maple gel stain + clear sealant + chalk paint + wax sealant + wood plank
Pallet Sofa
wood sealer + paint + 2 planks of wood + square beam + angle icons + jointing plates + hinges
Reading Nook
scrap pieces of 2×4 + 3 rolling casters
Pallet Daybed
large casters + outdoor polyurethane + bolts, nuts, washers + pipes + flange + connectors + thick mattress + pillows
Pallet Dining Table
extra lumber + brackets + a-frame
Large Pallet Sofa
paint + flexible foam (at least 4″ thick) + furniture fabric + sewing machine + flat brackets and screws
Pallet Chair
4 leg boards + 2 arm boards + pillows + cushions or foam
Pallet Sofa Table
green and white paint
Pallet Cat Bed (Source Unknown)
Pallet Dog Bed
chalkboard spray paint + dog bed + black gloss paint + floor flanges + pipe fittings + 1X2 lumber
Pallet Desk
plywood + 4 ikea vika legs
Organization and Storage Pallet Projects
Pallet Coat Rack
saw + nails + chalk paint + decorative hooks
Entryway Pallet Organizer
gray, white, and turquoise stain + gloss sealer + hanging brackets + wood letters
Upcycled Pallet Storage Container
Shoe Rack (Source Unknown)
Kitchen Organization Pallet Projects
Coffee Cup Holder
hooks + screws + paint + letter stencils + sponge brush
Menu Sign
vertical slat sign + stencils + washi tape + acrylic paint + chalkboard paint + chalk
Pallet Wine Rack
paint or stain + heavy duty hooks
Kitchen Utensil Holder (Source Unknown)
wood knobs or hooks + wood stain + stencils + white acrylic paint
Pallet Pantry Sign
pipe fittings + paint + stencil brush + stencils + various hooks
Pot and Pan Holder
chicken wire + heavy chain + staple gun & staples + toggle hook bolts with nuts+ s hooks
Pot and Pan Storage Idea (Source Unknown)
Pallet Plate Display (No Tutorial Available)
Bathroom Organization Pallet Projects
Pallet Towel Rack
mirror with frame + nail gun + frame wire + picture hangers
Driftwood Pallet Towel Rack
wood stain + white paint + decorative hooks
Bathroom Towel Holder
I couldn’t find a tutorial for this project, but it looks pretty simple. There is a similar project here that might help: http://www.instructables.com/id/Pallet-Wall-Shelf/
Bathroom Shelf (Original Source unknown)
Mason Jar Pallet Organizer
hose clamps + wood stain + mason jars
Other Organization Pallet Projects
Pallet Storage Truck
small caster wheels + heavy duty rope for handles + wood stain
Pallet Jewelry Organizer
assorted hooks, paint or stain (optional) + chalk (optional)
Pallet Letter Organizer (Source Unknown)
Outdoor Pallet Projects
Garden Pallet Projects
Pallet Vertical Herb Garden
herbs + potting soil + chalk paint + chalk
Vertical Flower Garden
outdoor paint (green and white) + staple gun & staples + stencils + potting soil + flowers
Vertical Pallet Flower Garden II
potting soil + annual flowers + landscape fabric + staple gun + staples + sand paper.
Staggered Pallet Planter
2 x clamps + wooden boxes + wood stain + general-purpose tarpaulins
Upcycled Rainbow Pallet Flower Garden Planter
acrylic paints + flat head screw driver + worm clamps + zinc machine bolts and wing nuts + terra cotta flower pots + flowers + potting soil
Tin Can Pallet Planter
empty tin cans + colorful paints +acrylic varnish spray
Garden Tool Storage
plant pot strip + primer + hinges + tool hangers + wood screws + knob + magnetic closure
Pallet Planter Box
mitre saw + extra boards + black craft paint (for weathered look)
Large Pallet Planter (Source Unknown)
Pallet Planter Box II
plastic planter’s box + stencils + black acrylic paint + polycrylic sealer
Window Planter Box
flowers + potting soil + screen
Triangle Pallet Planters
2x2x6 board (per planter) + 2ft x 2ft piece of 1/4″ thk plywood
Pallet Garden
potting soil + starter plants of annual flowers + landscape fabric + staple gun + staples
Potting Table
2×4’s + brad nailer + paint (optional)
Pallet Compost Bin
4x4s + heavy-duty wire
Flower Pot Pallet Shelf (Source Unknown)
washers + screws + heavy duty chains
Pallet Garden Fence
porch paint + solar lights + planter box (DIY or buy it)
Backyard Pallet Projects
Pallet Swing Bed
lumber + rope + mattress (with cover) or cushion
Hanging Outdoor Bar
extra lumber + sure-ties + piano hinges + slide bolts + 3 feet chain + bolts with nuts + washers
Pallet Swing
twin headboard (thrift store) + heavy duty chain + outdoor paint
Pallet Outdoor Table
planter box + mending plates + four concrete half-blocks + primer + exterior paint
Pallet Patio Bench
carpenter’s square + 8-ft pressure-treated 2×4 + Box of Torx no-drill-needed deck screws
Patio Pallet Daybed
6 planks + screws + mattress + pillows + fence pain
Pallet Sectional Soda
extra lumber (for side and bottom trim) + high density foam sheets + outdoor fabric + outdoor paint
Outdoor Pallet Table
4×4 wood + 4 caster wheels with nuts & bolts + L-brackets & screws + gray stain
Pallet Lantern (Source Unknown)
natural stain + hook + lantern + tealight candles
Front Yard Pallet Projects
Welcome Sign
stencils + paint
Swing Chair
metal chain and u-bolts + carriage bolts and nuts
Basic Swing Chair (Source Unknown)
Pallet Stairs (Source Unknown)
Holiday Pallet Projects
Christmas
Winter Woodland Sign
dark walnut stain + white acrylic craft paint + stencils + sealer + jute twine
Pallet Christmas Tree
green paint + big red bow + clear string lights
Pallet Christmas Tree II (Source Unknown)
white paint + ornaments + christmas star + clear string lights
Christmas Star
wide red ribbon + nails
Reversible Snowman and Scarecrow Pallet
painters tape + black paint + white paint + brown paint + wood stain + craft paints
Rustic Pallet Christmas Tree
1 x 4 x 8′ lumber + brad nails + wood glue
Fall
Pallet Pumpkins
scrap plywood + stain + wax + sealer
Neutral Fall Pallet Sign
white paint + arrow stencil + letter stencils
Fall Chalkboard Sign
wood letters + chalkboard spray paint + natural raffia + burlap ribbon + wood stain
4th of July
Simple Pallet Flag (Source Unknown)
wire + red, white and blue acrylic paint + wood stars + picture hanging wire
Patriotic Star Pallet Signs (Source Unknown)
large star stencil + red, white and blue paint
Pallet Flag (Source Unknown)
star stencils + red, white and blue paint
Cindy says
May 31, 2017 at 5:46 amI love several of these. I’ll be trying some of them out soon.
Luz says
March 8, 2019 at 10:37 amLove this protects
KellyK says
July 12, 2019 at 10:46 amAnywhere that carries shingles for roofs will likely give you pallets for free. That’s where I got mine.
Carmen says
August 7, 2019 at 1:09 amThanks, good to know.