Grade A Recycled Pallets in Indianapolis and Noblesville

What Grade A means

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Grade A, sometimes called #1, is the top grade of used pallet. These pallets have usually made only a trip or two. They are sorted by hand and should have:

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• Solid stringers with no plates or extra boards nailed alongside

• Full, consistent deck boards with no big gaps

• Clean wood without heavy stains or grease

• No protruding nails or broken boards

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Recyclers grade by eye, and there is no single national rulebook. That is why it matters who is doing the sorting. Curt has spent more than 40 years in packaging and knows which suppliers grade honestly.

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Who buys Grade A

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Grade A is the default for outbound loads. If a customer, a retailer or a 3PL is going to receive your pallet, Grade A looks professional and handles well on their equipment. It is also a good fit for conveyors and stretch wrappers that jam on warped or broken boards.

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Shipping food? Grade A is clean and dry, but it is still a used pallet. If your customer requires pallets that have never been used, go with new hardwood or softwood pallets instead.

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Grade A vs. Grade B vs. new

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• New: highest cost, exact spec, never used

• Grade A recycled: near-new look and strength at a lower price

• Grade B recycled: more repairs and wear, lowest cost, best for in-house or one-way use

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The right grade depends on who sees the pallet, how heavy the load is and whether it comes back. Grade B wood pallets make sense for loads that never leave your building.

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Why not just take free pallets?

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Free pallets from behind a store can work for a garage project. For a business, they cost more than they save. You get mixed sizes and grades, no idea what was spilled on them and no way to get the same pallet next week. A pallet that breaks under a load costs far more than the pallet ever did.

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How to order Grade A pallets

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Grade A is the first grade to run short when shipping volume climbs. As a broker, we buy from several recyclers, so one tight yard does not stop your order. Call or text Curt at 765-661-3643 with the quantity, delivery address and date. Delivered orders start at 50 pallets.

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Need export pallets too? Grade A pallets can be heat-treated and stamped for ISPM-15.

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Questions about Grade A pallets

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What size are Grade A recycled pallets?

Most are 48x40 GMA-style pallets. Other common sizes are available in Grade A when supply allows, so ask and we will check.

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Are Grade A pallets as strong as new?

A good Grade A pallet carries a normal load about as well as a new one. For your heaviest loads or racking, ask about heavy-duty block pallets.

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Do you buy used pallets?

No. We source and sell pallets, but we do not buy back or pick up used pallets.