A How-to Guide
Pallets are incredibly useful, and even more so when you upcycle them. Making a crate from pallets is an easy way to reuse those currently sitting in your garage. All you need is a few tools and some easily accessible materials.
Read on to get the DIY process of building a crate using pallet wood.
What’s the Difference Between a Crate and a Pallet?
Typically, pallets are used for shipping, storing, and moving assets that don’t require much protection or packaging. They are often the most economical choice for oversized and heavy items.
Crates are more secure, enclosing the goods inside them, offering more security than pallets. They are especially beneficial for fragile or high-value items or shipments.
Using the wood from pallets is an efficient way to build a crate, whether for moving, storing, shipping within the United States, or decoration. For shipping internationally, check out our ISPM-15 certified wood crates.
What Do I Need to Build a Crate from Pallets?
Making your own crate using pallet wood is cost-effective, often more manageable, and less confusing than buying large pieces of wood or cutting down large slabs of plywood. Pallet wood is already cut down, removing some guesswork and the need for excessive sawing.
Materials you’ll need to make a crate from pallets:
- At least two pallets
- Plywood
- Sandpaper
- Wood glue
- Brad nails 1¼” (if the pallets are ⅜” to ½” thick) to 2” depending on the thickness of the pallets
- Screws
The materials needed will depend on the size and type of crate you’re making.
Tools you’ll need to make a crate from pallets:
- Crowbar to break apart pallets
- Bandsaw, jigsaw, and hand saw to cut the wood to size
- Drill to screw sides together
- Brad nail gun
- Measuring tape and pencil
Engineering Your DIY Pallet Wood Crate in 10+ Steps
Once you’ve gathered everything you need, you can begin the crate build. Follow the steps below or download this handy pdf how to checklist you can keep with your project.
Step 1:
Take apart the pallets so you have several pieces of wood
Step 2:
Thoroughly sand each piece of wood
Step 3:
Lay the wood out on a flat surface and choose pieces that fit nicely together
Step 4:
Cut down any pieces that need to be shortened
Step 5:
Lie the pieces together for each of the four sides
Step 6:
Glue the wood pieces together for each side and use a nail gun to help keep them secure
Step 7:
Once each side is glued and nailed, use wood screws to fasten and hold them together, creating a box with no bottom or top
Step 8:
Use plywood for the bottom of the crate by setting the box on top of the piece of plywood and outlining the appropriate size
Step 9:
Use the jigsaw to cut the plywood and then sand it down
Step 10:
Connect the bottom to the sides using wood glue and nails
If you’re enclosing the box completely, repeat steps 8 to 10 for the top of the crate.
This may be your crate complete; however, here are some additional steps in case you want to take the project further:
HANDLES:
Step 11:
Use a handle template centered on opposite sides of the crate to establish where handles will be placed and create an outline
Step 12:
Drill a hole in the template outline that’s large enough for the jigsaw blade to fit in so you can cut out the traced handles
Step 13:
Sand for the last time, removing any splinters
FINISH:
Step 14:
Your crate may be complete at this point, or you may want to add a finish or paint for decorative pallet crates.
Craters & Freighters Nashville for All Your Crating Needs
Building your own crate might not be in your wheelhouse. That’s okay; we’re professional crate builders and will happily help. Our Nashville crating company works with many individuals and organizations, helping them with their crating, packaging, and shipping projects.
Some of the solutions we offer include:
Let us make the perfect crate for your needs. We are committed to sustainability and are confident we can make your crating project run smoothly.
Tell us about your project, and Craters & Freighters Nashville will provide a tailored quote to meet your needs.
Provide some information, and we’ll get back to you right away with a figure you can use in your planning. Serving most of Tennessee and Alabama, including Nashville, Chattanooga, and the rest of the United States!
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