150 Cheap & Easy Pallet Projects

pallet projects

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)

Coffee Table Tray

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 Bookshelf

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

Pallet Desk Hutch Storage

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 Laundry Basket Holder

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