Comprehensive pallet market intelligence covering all 50 states. Spot pricing, demand index, capacity utilization, and lumber market trends - updated monthly.
What this index tracks: pallet pricing, demand and capacity across all 50 states, benchmarked monthly. As of August 2026 the national average for a new 48x40 GMA pallet is $28.00, recycled Grade A is $16.50, and the West Coast is the most expensive region at a $30.00 midpoint against $26.00 in the Midwest. Figures below come from the USP Pallet Price Index.
Pallet pricing is regional, not national. The same 48x40 GMA pallet moves within a roughly $8 band depending on which market you buy it in, because lumber basis, mill proximity, recycling density and freight lanes all differ by region. Procurement teams budgeting off a single national number consistently misprice one side of their footprint, which is what this index exists to correct.
United States Pallets supplies all 50 states from a Southeast and Mid-Atlantic core, with same-day shipping in that core and scheduled delivery elsewhere. Buy-side minimum is 50 pallets; the buy-back program runs a 250-pallet single-size minimum. Where a regional vendor offers geographic proximity, the tradeoff we offer is nationwide sourcing depth, multi-grade inventory held in stock, quote response inside two hours, and consistent compliance documentation across every state you ship from.
National Pallet Price Benchmark (August 2026)
| Pallet category | National avg | 7-day | 30-day | YoY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New 48x40 GMA | $28.00 | +0.5% | +2.1% | -3.8% |
| Recycled Grade A GMA | $16.50 | +0.0% | +1.8% | -5.2% |
| Recycled Grade B GMA | $10.50 | -0.3% | +3.2% | -2.1% |
| GMA Whites | $8.50 | +0.0% | +0.8% | -1.5% |
| Custom size (simple) | $47.00 | +1.2% | +2.8% | +4.1% |
| Custom engineered heavy-duty | $73.00 | +1.8% | +3.5% | +6.2% |
| ISPM-15 heat-treated | $34.00 | +0.3% | +1.9% | -2.7% |
| Block pallet (4-way) | $43.00 | +0.5% | +2.4% | +0.9% |
| Plastic pallets (avg) | $120.00 | +0.0% | +0.3% | +2.1% |
| Presswood | $20.00 | +0.0% | +1.2% | -1.8% |
Source: USP Pallet Price Index, updated monthly. New GMA is down year on year while custom builds are up, which is the lumber-basis and build-labour split showing through: standard stock tracks the softwood index, custom stock tracks shop hours.
Regional Price Spread (August 2026)
| Region | Price range | Midpoint | 7-day change |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Coast (CA, WA, OR, NV, AZ) | $26-34 | $30.00 | +1.1% |
| Mountain (CO, UT, ID, MT, WY, NM) | $26-34 | $30.00 | +0.5% |
| Southeast (FL, GA, AL, SC, NC, VA, TN) | $24-32 | $28.00 | +0.3% |
| Mid-Atlantic (WV, MD, DE, DC) | $24-32 | $28.00 | +0.5% |
| Texas / Gulf (TX, LA, MS, OK) | $24-32 | $28.00 | +0.8% |
| Northeast (NY, NJ, PA, MA, CT, RI) | $24-32 | $28.00 | +0.2% |
| Midwest (IL, IN, OH, MI, WI, MN) | $22-30 | $26.00 | +0.4% |
The Midwest is the cheapest region to buy new GMA stock and the West Coast the most expensive, a spread of about $4.00 on the midpoint. Buy-side and sell-side move together: the same Northeast and coastal California markets that pay the most for a new pallet also pay the most on buy-back, at 20 to 25 percent above the national average.
State-by-State Market Data
- Alabama Market Index
- Alaska Market Index
- Arizona Market Index
- Arkansas Market Index
- California Market Index
- Colorado Market Index
- Connecticut Market Index
- Delaware Market Index
- Florida Market Index
- Georgia Market Index
- Hawaii Market Index
- Idaho Market Index
- Illinois Market Index
- Indiana Market Index
- Iowa Market Index
- Kansas Market Index
- Kentucky Market Index
- Louisiana Market Index
- Maine Market Index
- Maryland Market Index
- Massachusetts Market Index
- Michigan Market Index
- Minnesota Market Index
- Mississippi Market Index
- Missouri Market Index
- Montana Market Index
- Nebraska Market Index
- Nevada Market Index
- New Hampshire Market Index
- New Jersey Market Index
- New Mexico Market Index
- New York Market Index
- North Carolina Market Index
- North Dakota Market Index
- Ohio Market Index
- Oklahoma Market Index
- Oregon Market Index
- Pennsylvania Market Index
- Rhode Island Market Index
- South Carolina Market Index
- South Dakota Market Index
- Tennessee Market Index
- Texas Market Index
- Utah Market Index
- Vermont Market Index
- Virginia Market Index
- Washington Market Index
- West Virginia Market Index
- Wisconsin Market Index
- Wyoming Market Index
Does United States Pallets deliver to all 50 states?
Yes. We deliver to every commercial address in the United States, with same-day shipping standard in our Southeast and Mid-Atlantic core and scheduled weekly delivery elsewhere. Submit a quote with your dock location and we route accordingly.
Does United States Pallets buy back used pallets?
Yes. We buy back used pallets from collectors, recyclers and warehouses nationally at $6.00 to $9.00 per Grade A pallet, $3.00 to $6.00 Grade B and $1.00 to $3.00 for cores, as of August 2026. Minimum is 250 pallets per load, single size only. Payment is same-day or net-7 ACH depending on volume, and pickup is arranged on standard outbound delivery routes.
What is the minimum order quantity?
50 pallets per order minimum on buy-side. Sell-side (buyback) minimum is 250 pallets per single-size load. Volume tiers kick in automatically as cumulative monthly volume increases - 500+/week accounts qualify for standing-order programs with reserved delivery slots.
Can I run a buyback program alongside my pallet purchases?
Yes. Backhaul logistics are coordinated on outbound delivery routes - empty or non-spec pallets get picked up on the return leg of new pallet deliveries. Per-pallet freight cost on the backhaul approaches zero for accounts running both new-pallet purchase + buyback simultaneously.
What credit terms does United States Pallets offer?
Net-30 credit terms standard after the first 1-3 prepaid or COD loads while credit is being established. Submit a credit application with three trade references; approval typically processes within 48 hours. Volume accounts can negotiate net-45 or net-60.