Guide · Grading
Pallet grades, defined properly
Every yard in the country uses the letters A and B. Almost none of them define them. Here is our written standard, and how to read anyone else's.
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Pallet grades describe repair history and consistency, not raw strength. Grade A (#1) has original stringers and at most two replaced deck boards; Grade B (#2) permits companion stringers, plugs and up to four replaced boards; Grade C is a core — serviceable lumber rather than a serviceable pallet.
Grades are not an industry standard with legal force. They are a supplier's promise, which is why you should ask for the written definition before you order, from us or from anyone else.
The RePallet Co. standard
| Criterion | Premium (A+) | Grade A (#1) | Grade B (#2) | Core (C) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Replaced deck boards | 0 | ≤ 2 | ≤ 4 | Any |
| Companion stringers | None | None | Permitted | Permitted |
| Stringer plugs | None | None | Permitted | Permitted |
| Missing boards | None | None | None | Permitted |
| Top deck boards | 7 | 7 | 5 – 7 | Any |
| Colour and species | Matched | Mixed acceptable | Mixed | Any |
| Staining | None | Minimal | Permitted | Any |
| Protruding fasteners | None | None | None | Permitted |
| Mould or rot | None | None | None | Rejected |
| Racking | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Automation | Yes | Yes | No | No |
What the terminology actually means
Companion stringer
A full-length board nailed and usually glued alongside a cracked stringer to restore its load path. Structurally effective and visually obvious. It adds thickness on one side, which is why companion-stringer pallets are unsuitable for conveyors and rack beams.
Plug
A shaped block routed into a damaged notch area and fastened in place. Repairs notch blow-out — the most common stringer failure on partial four-way pallets — without replacing the whole member.
Shiner
A nail that has backed out and is protruding, usually because it was smooth-shank rather than ring-shank. Shiners tear packaging, cut hands and jam automation. Any grade we sell has had shiners sheared or reset.
Lead board
The outermost deck board at each end. It takes the impact from fork entry and mis-set forks, so it fails first and is the most commonly replaced board on any pallet.
Core
A pallet bought as raw material rather than as a pallet. Cores feed the repair line. Selling a core as a Grade B is the single most common dishonesty in this industry.
Reading someone else's grades
Since grades are not legally defined, a supplier's "Grade A" can mean anything. Five questions will tell you what you are actually buying, and the way a supplier answers is as informative as the answers.
- How many replaced deck boards are permitted in this grade? A precise number is a good sign. "A few" is not.
- Are companion stringers allowed? This is the single biggest determinant of whether a pallet can be racked.
- Is the standard written down, and can I have a copy? If the answer is no, the grade is marketing.
- What happens if a load misses the grade? The answer should be swap or credit, with a stated window.
- Can I see photographs of the actual lot? Stock photography in a recycled-pallet quote is a red flag.
For a focused comparison of the two grades most people are choosing between, see Grade A vs Grade B.
Specifying grade by application
| Application | Grade | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Rack storage | A or Premium | Consistent structure; unsupported span is unforgiving |
| Conveyors, AS/RS, robotic palletising | A or Premium | Dimensional consistency; no companion stringers |
| Retail-facing delivery | A or Premium | Appearance is part of your brand |
| Floor stacking in your own warehouse | B | Sound and far cheaper |
| One-way outbound shipping | B | The pallet will not come back |
| Internal movement between buildings | B | Low risk, high volume |
| Dunnage and load stabilising | Core | Structure is barely loaded |
| Export with ISPM 15 | A, heat treated | A rejected container dwarfs the pallet cost |
Grade vocabulary across the industry
The same pallet gets four different names depending on who is selling it. This is the translation table we use internally when a customer arrives with somebody else's terminology.
| Our grade | Also called | Regional usage | What it usually means |
|---|---|---|---|
| Premium / A+ | AA, Premium A, Number One Plus | Nationwide | No repairs at all, matched species |
| Grade A | #1, A Grade, Grade One | #1 in the east, A in the west | Original stringers, minimal repair |
| Grade B | #2, B Grade, Repaired | #2 in the east | Repairs visible and permitted |
| Core | Grade C, Scrap, Cores, Culls | Nationwide | Raw material, not a working pallet |
| — | Combo, Mixed | Nationwide | Unsorted; whatever arrived |
| — | Economy | Marketing term | Usually B, sometimes core |
| — | Recon, Reconditioned | Plastic mostly | Washed and inspected |
Grading recycled versus grading new
There is a structural difference that explains a lot of the confusion in this market. New-pallet quality is a manufacturing specification — you state what you want and it gets built. Recycled grade is a sorting decision about something that already exists.
| New pallets | Recycled pallets | |
|---|---|---|
| Quality set by | Specification | Sorting accuracy |
| Variation within a load | Very low | Inherent; managed by grading |
| What you are buying | A build to spec | A promise about a sort |
| What can go wrong | Spec not followed | Sorting not accurate |
| How to verify | Measure against the spec | Sample the load and check the standard |
| Remedy | Rebuild or replace | Swap or credit |
| The supplier's real skill | Production control | Sort-line judgement |
That last row is the point. When you choose a recycled pallet supplier, you are choosing a sorting operation. Ask what their sort accuracy is and how they measure it. Ours is spot-checked on 3% of the reuse lane, and the numbers are on the journal.
Auditing a delivered load in ten minutes
You do not need to inspect every pallet. You need a sample large enough to catch a systematically wrong load, which is smaller than people think.
- 1
Pull 20 units at random
From different parts of the trailer, not the top of the nearest stack. Twenty is plenty to catch a load that is a grade out.
- 2
Check the structural criteria first
Cracked stringers, missing boards, protruding fasteners. Any of these in a Grade A sample is a real finding.
- 3
Count the repairs
Replaced boards and companion stringers against the written standard for the grade you ordered.
- 4
Set three down on a flat floor
A pallet that rocks tells you something no visual check will.
- 5
Photograph anything you find
Two or three images with a tape measure settles the conversation instantly.
- 6
Report within two business days
Ours is a swap-or-credit policy with a stated window, and we do not debate photographs.
| Finding in a Grade A sample | Interpretation | Action |
|---|---|---|
| 0 – 1 units marginal | Normal variation | Accept |
| 2 – 3 units marginal | Borderline sort | Note it; mention it on the next order |
| 4+ units marginal | Systematically wrong | Report and request a swap |
| Any cracked stringer | Should not have passed | Report immediately |
| Any mould | Rejection criterion | Isolate the load and report |
| Any companion stringer | Grade B in a Grade A load | Report |
Questions people actually ask
Is there an official pallet grading standard?
What is a premium or A+ pallet?
Can a Grade B pallet be upgraded?
Why do grades differ between suppliers?
Do you photograph loads before dispatch?
Do grades mean the same thing across the country?
Can I specify my own grade standard?
Why is there no official grading body?
Does a stencil or a company mark affect grade?
How often do loads miss grade?
Let's keep your pallets in the loop
Whether you have 40 broken cores behind the dock or need 4,000 Grade A pallets a month, the conversation starts the same way.