If you typed "wood palette" into a search engine, you are not alone. Hundreds of buyers search that exact phrase every month — and almost all of them mean wood pallets, the flat wooden platforms used to stack, ship, and store freight. The two words sound the same, and autocorrect makes the mix-up worse. But a palette is a range of colors or a board for mixing paint, while a pallet is the shipping platform your warehouse, truck, and supply chain actually run on.
This guide is for the buyer who searched "wood palette" and needs wood pallets. We will cover what to look for, the standard sizes that matter, how to choose between new and used, and where to source them in Kent, WA and the surrounding area.
Why "Wood Palette" and "Wood Pallet" Get Confused
The confusion is simple: the words are homophones. "Pallet" and "palette" sound identical. But they refer to entirely different things.
A wood palette is an artist's tool — a flat board for mixing paint, or a selected range of colors used in design. If you are a painter or a graphic designer, that is what you need.
A wood pallet is a shipping platform — a flat structure built from wooden boards, designed to be lifted by a forklift or pallet jack, used to stack goods for storage and transport. If you run a warehouse, ship freight, or manage inventory, this is what you need.
A-1 Pallets Inc. has been supplying wood pallets to businesses in the Kent Valley for over 22 years. If you landed here looking for shipping pallets, you are in the right place. For a deeper dive into sourcing options, our guide to buying wood pallets breaks down every purchasing channel — local suppliers, bulk orders, and what to ask before you buy.
What to Look for When Buying Wood Pallets
Whether you call them palettes or pallets, the buying criteria are the same. Here is what matters.
Size
The standard wood pallet size in North America is 48 inches by 40 inches — known as the GMA pallet. It is the most widely used pallet in grocery, retail, and general freight. Other common sizes include 42x42, 48x48, 36x36, and 48x45 for specific industries.
If your product or warehouse racking requires a different footprint, custom pallets are an option. A-1 Pallets builds custom sizes on request. Our 48x40 pallet guide covers the standard GMA specs in detail — dimensions, weight capacity, and why it became the industry default.
Grade: New vs. Used
New pallets are built to spec from fresh lumber. They are clean, uniform, and free of damage. If you ship internationally, you need heat-treated pallets that meet ISPM-15 standards. Our treated pallets guide explains what heat treatment means and when it is required.
Used pallets cost significantly less — typically 40 to 60 percent below new — and work fine for internal warehouse moves, storage, or shipping non-regulated goods. A-1 Pallets inspects and grades every used pallet before it goes out the door.
Quantity
Most pallet suppliers offer tiered pricing: the more you order, the less each pallet costs. If your operation uses pallets consistently, setting up a recurring delivery schedule locks in better rates and ensures you never run short. For businesses in Kent and the surrounding area, A-1 Pallets delivers directly from our facility at 404 3rd Ave S, Kent, WA 98032.
Wood Pallet Specs That Matter
When you are comparing pallets — whether you call them palettes or pallets — here are the numbers that actually affect your operation.
| Spec | Standard GMA 48x40 | Typical Range | |------|-------------------|---------------| | Length | 48 in | 36–48 in | | Width | 40 in | 36–48 in | | Height | 5 in | 4.5–6 in | | Weight | 37 lb (avg) | 30–50 lb | | Static load | 4,600 lb | Varies by grade | | Dynamic load | 2,500 lb | Varies by grade |
For a full breakdown of weight, dimensions, and load capacities by pallet type, our wood pallet weight and dimensions guide covers every spec you might need before placing an order.
Where to Source Wood Pallets in Kent, WA
If your business is in the Kent Valley or the broader Puget Sound region, buying local saves you freight costs and delivery time. A-1 Pallets Inc. serves Kent, Renton, Auburn, Seattle, Tacoma, and the surrounding areas from our Kent, WA yard.
We stock:
- New and used 48x40 GMA pallets
- Custom sizes built to your spec
- Heat-treated pallets for export (ISPM-15 compliant)
- Odd-size and specialty pallets
We also buy back used pallets in serviceable condition. If you have surplus pallets taking up yard or warehouse space, our pallet recycling program can pick them up and put them back into circulation — or grind them into mulch if they are beyond repair.
Call (253) 395-3119 for current inventory, pricing, and delivery scheduling.
Common Questions About Wood Pallets
Can I order a custom size if the standard 48x40 does not fit my product?
Yes. A-1 Pallets builds custom pallets when the GMA standard does not match your load. Common custom requests include 42x42 for drums, 48x48 for bulk containers, and lightweight pallets for air freight. Call us with your dimensions and we will quote a build.
Do you deliver, or do I need to pick up?
Both. A-1 Pallets delivers across Kent, Renton, Auburn, Seattle, and Tacoma. For smaller orders, you can pick up directly from our yard at 404 3rd Ave S, Kent, WA 98032. Call (253) 395-3119 to coordinate either option.
What if I just need to get rid of pallets?
A-1 Pallets runs a pallet buyback program. We pick up used pallets in serviceable condition and pay based on pallet condition, quantity, and market demand. Pallets that cannot be repaired are ground into landscape mulch or biomass fuel — nothing goes to waste. Our pallet removal guide explains the process.
Do you carry heat-treated pallets for export?
Yes. We stock ISPM-15 certified heat-treated pallets for international shipping. If you ship freight across borders, customs requires compliant pallets. Our treated pallets guide covers what the stamp means and how to verify compliance.
The Bottom Line
If you searched "wood palette" and you are sourcing shipping materials, what you need is wood pallets — and the right supplier matters more than the spelling. A-1 Pallets Inc. has been supplying Kent Valley businesses for over two decades with new pallets, used pallets, custom builds, and a recycling program that keeps surplus wood out of landfills.
Call (253) 395-3119 or visit our yard at 404 3rd Ave S, Kent, WA 98032. We will match the pallet to the job and get it to your door.