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  • Writer's pictureDIYTechnician
    • Oct 25, 2019
    • 20 min read

25 DIY Simple and Easy Useful Pallet Projects For Free at Home

Updated: Jan 24

1. Pallet Playhouse


DIY Pallet Projects can be done by almost anyone and are quite a bit of fun. Each project is guaranteed to be unique. This is one that started with an idea then grew into a full scale pallet project. I obtained all of the materials for little to no cost at all. I used cement block pavers for the base and leveled them out so the pallets would sit level. The base is made out of four full size wooden pallets. I then used pine 2 X 4's around the perimeter to start framing it all in. I got lucky with the 2 X4's as all of them are reclaimed from a building that was being torn down. I got them for free and just had to pull all the old nails out of them. My brother in law was kind enough to deliver them to me. The obtaining of these free boards is truly what sparked this whole pallet playhouse project and my kids needed a playhouse. It's for that reason as well as having a bunch of pallets that were begging to be reused towards pallet projects. Once I got the walls all framed in I built three identical trusses. I didn't have any plans to construction on this. I notched out the trusses, spaced them out equally, then nailed them down. This playhouse started as a playhouse but as the kids grew older and grew out of wanting a playhouse it turned into a chicken coop. It was used as a chicken coop for a number of years. Once the chickens were gone I cleaned out all the mess and it turned into a garden tool storage shed. Also a place I kept all my fuels for lawn equipment and chainsaws etc.


2. Pallet Wood Trash Can


This "How to" make a pallet wood trashcan project was super fun to make. This was actually the second pallet wood trash can that I made. The first one was made as a gift and turned out so good I decided to make a second one and make a video during the process. The beauty of making pallet projects is that you can totally goof them up, which I have, and you aren't out of a bunch of money. It really puts the fun fun factor back into wood working and takes the pressure off. Especially for non-carpenter types like myself. Not only are these great from a practical standpoint but they make really good gifts as well. Each one, like many other pallet projects, is guaranteed to turn out unique.

In order to properly obtain your raw materials you will need a simple set of tools for pulling the boards apart and extracting the nails. My favorite two tools to use is a hammer and a crow bar. I use a Cobalt brand one. I also used a brad nailer and compressor. This makes it nice you can "tack" your pieces together with one hand while holding them with the other. The drawback is that you need to make sure you are shooting your brad nails nice and straight so they don't go through your thumb and also so they don't protrude from the wood. Next is to pull all the nails out of the slats. Now you'll want to determine your bottom dimension or footprint. This will be based on the size of trashcan you want to use. This is easier than trying to find a trashcan that will fit into your pallet rubbish bin. Now make your bottom square out of the slats based on this dimension.


Once you've built your bottom square, now put the bottom slats on so you are essentially making a tray. This will hold the load inside. Upon completion of that it's time to make your top square just the same as you built your bottom one. Now the easy part. Cut and nail in your sides connecting the top and bottom squares together. You may need to make some long cuts so all of your slats fit as they are of different widths which is part of what makes these unique as well as the different tones of wood. It's kind of amazing to think about where each of these pieces of wood originally came from and where they have been during their life as a pallet. Now it's time to construct the line. You can make your lid hinged or just have it set on top of your bin. The lid was given a slightly oversized dimension to fit the style I was going for. The handle used in the video came off an old U-haul truck that was scrapped. My kind auto mechanic neighbor supplied me with this. You can now stain your bin with varnish or just leave it as is.


3. Pallet Shoe Rack Organizer



The above video provides step by step instructions on how I made a DIY Pallet Shoe Rack that lasted for years for FREE!

After hand selecting which pallet I wanted to use I gathered up the necessary few tools I thought I would need. I didn't want the shoe rack to be too high so I but the pallet right in half with my hand saw. I also needed it to be limited to a certain width based on where I wanted to install it so I cut 1/3 of it off, widthwise with a skilsaw. Although I switched to a power tool here, you could do it all with a handsaw.

I then took my crowbar and hammer and removed the lower board. This gives me a top row for shoes and then a bottom row as well. I blew it all down with my air compressor to remove the saw dust.I then secured it to the wall with a couple of screws. Quick, easy, and free shoe rack organizer. You can paint it or have one of you kids paint it too for for an added custom touch.


4. Pallet Table With Shelf


In this DIY Pallet Project: Shop Table From Pallets "How to" video, I take you step by step through my process on using old pallet wood to create a shop table. For the Table top, the first step was to get all my slats separated, get the nails pulled out, and clean them all up. I cut them all to the same length and placed them on two longer aluminum clamps. Pipe clamps work well here too. Once I get them square, flat, and straight, then I took two perpendicular lengths of wood and drilled and screwed them up through the bottom to hold it all in place. I then drilled and screwed 4 equal legs on. I then cut a couple of blocks for extra reinforcement, drilled, and screwed those on as well in between the legs and the cross members on the underside of the pallet table surface. I custom made the metal angle iron brackets as well. I had some old metal bed rails laying around so I sectioned them up and drilled holes in them to facilitate screws and used them for reinforcing brackets. I used some repurposed lag bolts to secure these. I sanded the top surface of the table so it was nice and smooth and flat. I decided that I needed a shelf down below for extra storage so I hit up my pallet pile again. I pulled off some more slats carefully so as not to crack or break the boards in the process. I got the nails all pulled out and cut to length on the table saw. I used some of these for the trim around the top of the table so it had a nice finish. I then created the second shelf down below using more pieces from the pallet pile and nailed them together with a brad nailer.

Tools used:

Cordless Drill: https://amzn.to/31WRgiO

Air Compressor: https://amzn.to/35ftvop


5. Pallet Swing



In this video, DIY Pallet Project: Super Easy Pallet Swing Built Simply with Minimal Tools, I take you step by step through my process of simple construction in my back yard.

The first step is to carefully and gingerly remove the wood slats from the middle (or just beyond) of the pallet. Keep them, you'll need them later. Make a cut through the pallet at just beyond the half way point. One section will be the back of your swing/chair, and the other will be the seat. Then make cuts where you want your vertex to be. This is the angle or joint portion of your seat and how it will sit. See how good your are at making them all the same, especially with a hand saw. The goal is for them to have a nice tight, flush fit. Set the back portion of the seat up so you can screw it onto the flat or sitting portion. I predrilled the holes before sinking long woodscrews into them. I even had some galvanized brackets that were laying around I used for reinforcing the joint. After you have it assembled and locked into place place (nail) your wood slats back on so there is no longer a big gap where at your cut location. For the next portion I used some of the chains from the old swings that were no longer being used. I attached them to each side of the pallet swing and hung it up. This swing passed the weight test and held up for years until I took it down to replace it with new kids' swings. Fun pallet project and recommend you give it a shot.


6. DIY Pallet Planter Box-Raised Garden Beds


I found myself with quite the collection of pallets just begging to be used for a project. I planned on a garden the year I made some raised beds. Once I knocked all of the nails out of the pallet boards I tried to reuse as many of the nails as I could. Some of them required a little bit of straightening. Be careful when cutting pallets on a table saw for the inherent risks that accompany using this saw but also because many times there are nails buried inside the wood that you don't readily see from the outside. I've hit a few nails with the table saw and you know it when you hit one. This project was relatively simple, just created the bottom square then nailed some vertical side pieces in. After that I just went around and nailed all of the boards to the vertical side pieces. Once I had it flush with the top I cut some boards for the trim at 45 degree angles in the corners for a specific look. I decided not to paint them but as an idea you could paint them the same color as your house, shed, or barn. In this project I had some extra boards so I created a bottom for this but really there is no need if you don't plan on moving them. They are super heavy when they are full of dirt anyway. Not only that but once you start watering whatever plants go in there the boards are going to start rotting. I had some triangular pieces left from one of the pallet disassemblies so they were a perfect fit for the bottom corners. You can't go wrong using pallets to make your planter boxes.

Tools used:

Cordless Drill: https://amzn.to/31WRgiO

Air Compressor: https://amzn.to/35ftvop


7. Vertical Pallet Garden


How to make a Vertical Pallet Garden-Simply Done Pallet gardening Project-Instructional "how to" style video with detailed step by step procedural instructions for making a vertical pallet garden for almost free. An old trampoline mat was used at the backing for this but you can use landscaping plastic sheeting, felt, garbage bags, or whatever else you can think of just to sort of hold the soil in from the back. I tried to use all recycled materials that I had laying around as part of the fun. After cutting to size I nailed the trampoline mat with some roofing nails I had left over. I had quite a few roofing nails that needed to be put to good use so I was liberal with their use on the backside of my newly constructed free vertical pallet garden. In this example I planted some strawberries that I had already started. They took off great and made for a nice crop. This project worked really well and is recommended if you have space restrictions you are concerned about. This would also work really well for flowers or an herb garden.


8. Wall Mounted Pallet Shelf Organizer


With some simple hand tools and a free old pallet you can make an up cycled DIY Pallet Project-Simple Wall Mounted Pallet Paint Shelf Organizer in no time flat. When choosing pallets, if I have the option, I try to pick ones that have all of the slats in good shape and also I like to pick the ones that are a little heartier. It's not always an option and often times I've had to just settle with what I can get. It is never a waste though because if a pallet just went to hell when I was taking it apart, I'd just use it for firewood to generate heat. If I didn't use it in the fireplace I could use it for outdoor burning in the firepit. Pallet wood burns quick and lights up nicely prepping a good coal bed to toss some longer burning logs on. So, in making this wall mounted pallet shelf I easily cut my pallet roughly in half, using the middle cross member as my cut line so it was nice and straight. I wanted it a little smaller so I sectioned it off once again basically making a smaller rectangle out of the bigger one. This left me with a section of pallet containing four cross members. I then took my hammer and pryer and carefully removed every other wooden slat. I used one of those wooden slats as bottom piece for this shelf. I even removed as many nails as I could and straightened the salvageable ones for reuse. No use in tossing out a perfectly good nail. I then took my cordless drill and a few drywall screws and mounted this sucker to the outside of my shed. After I mounted it I cut some bottom pieces for the leftover scraps for the bottom portion of the upper shelf on this fixture. This worked out perfectly for my storage needs.


9. Recycled Pallet Wood Repurposed Planter Box Construction Instructions


🌿 Ready to turn previously used pallets and scrap wood into a beautiful garden planter for nearly free? Join me in this inspiring DIY tutorial, "Recycled Pallet Wood Repurposed Planter Box Construction," where I guide you step by step through the upcycling process. Watch as we transform waste materials into a functional and aesthetically pleasing planter box, adding a touch of sustainability to your garden.

🪚 Introduction to Upcycling:

In this unique project, we dive into the art of upcycling, giving new life to discarded pallets and scrap wood. As we embark on the journey of creating a repurposed planter box, discover the beauty of transforming overlooked materials into something both useful and visually appealing.

🔨 Materials and Tools:

I'll share the essential materials and tools needed for this DIY venture. From reclaimed pallets and scrap wood to the basic tools required for woodworking, we'll ensure that you have everything on hand to make this garden planter for nearly free. Embrace the spirit of sustainability and resourcefulness.

🔄 Step-by-Step Construction Process:

Follow along as I take you through the detailed construction process. We start by disassembling the pallets, salvaging usable wood for our planter. Learn how to carefully separate the pallet slats, remove nails, and prepare the wood for crafting. Witness the step-by-step assembly, including creating the sides, bottom, and reinforcing structure of the planter box.

🧰 Creative Design and Customization:

Discover the creative freedom of designing and customizing your planter box. I'll share insights on how to arrange the pallet slats for a visually appealing pattern and provide tips on incorporating scrap wood for added character. See how we make the most of available materials to craft a unique and personalized garden planter.

🌱 Upcycled Garden Delight:

As the planter box takes shape, witness the beauty of upcycling in action. Experience the satisfaction of repurposing waste materials into a functional and eco-friendly garden addition. This planter not only serves a practical purpose but also becomes a conversation piece in your outdoor space.

🎨 Finishing Touches and Staining:

Explore the finishing touches that elevate the aesthetics of your repurposed planter box. Learn about staining options and see how a touch of color or protective finish can enhance the overall appearance of the project. Discover ways to make your upcycled creation stand out in your garden.

🌟 Conclusion:

Congratulations on completing your DIY Recycled Pallet Wood Repurposed Planter Box! Subscribe for more upcycling projects, sustainable DIY ventures, and creative solutions for turning waste into treasure. Join the community of eco-conscious creators and let's continue exploring the endless possibilities of repurposing for a greener world.


10. Buck Horn Pallet Mount Framed with Bed Rail Metal

I had to do this nice buck some justice by mounting his horns in this Instructional "how to" style video with detailed step by step procedural instructions for mounting buck horns out of pallet wood and a metal bedrail frame. The pallet I found happened to be a nice oak one. This project posed a few challenges and one of those was that the horns were in two pieces rather than one and there wasn't a heck of a lot of material to nail to the wooden back pieces. So to start I pulled the nails out of the oak pallet I had found and cut the cross members into three equally sized pieces for the mounting boards. It love the density of oak wood. It's so heavy too and really nice to work with. After getting the proper size I grabbed the scrap bed rail I had laying in the metal scrap pile and cut it to match the wood pieces. I took a power wire brush to the cute pieces and removed the paint followed by a coat of clear coat to the bed rails. I coated the wood with some clear varnish as well. Now I had to cut the horns to the proper angle in order to properly mount them to the wood. This took a few tries match it up so it looked both even and natural. I drilled a hole up through the horns then a hole I backboard as well once I got the horns in proper position. Then I hit it with a few brad nails and some epoxy. For the back I used an old pop can tab. Then I hung it up. Fun project made with all up cycled or reused materials.


11. DIY Wall Mounted Pallet Key Chain Holder

This is a demonstration on a DIY Pallet Key Chain Holder From Repurposed Reclaimed Pine Pallet Slats Torch Burned for Effect. Got the pallets out of a pile that had a "free" sign on them. I do like to always ask the business owners before I make off with any pallets as some of them do have to pay for them. This pallet project was a simple yet fun one as well as practical. I needed a key rack for the wall so we could get a system down of putting the keys in the same place every time we come in the house rather than having to look for them all over before we leave. In building this I used by table saw to make my cuts, and my cordless drill for the holes and the fastener installation. I purchased some hooks from Lowe's just for this. I also used my brad nailer to secure much of it as well. I used pop can tabs for the backside for hangers. My daughter was teasing my while I was filming the final result here.


12. Firewood Storage Bin

In this DIY Homemade Pallet Firewood Wood Storage Bin-Repurposed Pallet Wood video I demonstrate how to simply construct a useful and practical all weather log seasoning rack. Since I used so many pallet slats for other projects I had many of the big pallet cross member pieces left over. Typically I would slice them up into burnable pieces and use them for getting my fire started as they are great for this. In this case I needed racks in which to store all of my firewood so these were just what I needed. So I started sorting them out and getting 4 that were nearly identical to start out with and then of course pulling the nails out of pounding them in. In some cases I had to knock them off to the side and pound them flush. The reason to start out with 4 that are identical is so the sides will be close to equal height. For the bottom all you'll need is two that are nearly identical. The top is less important as long as you have pieces that are long enough as you can trim the top or even use slats if you have long enough ones. As far as the nails go, whenever I pulled them I tried to staighten them if needed and save them for future use. In this case I was able to reuse them for building these things. After sorting the pieces I laid them out on the ground in a "U" shape making two identical parts right next to each other. The bottom portion of the "U" gets nailed together to the side pieces. Once the two identical parts are constructed I stacked them on top of one another. I then used some pallet slats as securing pieces to hold the two modules together. After standing the pieces upright I completed the square by nailing the top portion on. This adds strength to the side pieces when storing firewood and also adds to the visual appeal. These are nice to make because they are free and also you can make as many as you want and stack them next to each other in a nice organized fashion without the fear of your firewood falling over. It also makes it easier to secure a tarp to it if you need to keep it dry.


13. Twelve Gauge Shotgun Shell Coat Rack from Pallet Wood or Old Barn Wood

In this Do it yourself 12 gauge shotgun shell mounted coat rack made from old torn down boat house wood and spent shotgun shell I show you step by step on how to make this cool arts and crafts project. This is a great addition to your home, cabin, or shop. You don't necessarily have to use old wood even though it does add to the cool factor. Just get a piece of cedar or any piece of wood and template out your holes to drill with the spent shotgun rounds. When I did this I measure to find the centerline of the pieces I used so all of the holes lined up right. If you want to offset them as I did in a couple of the racks, just measure out two horizontal lines evenly spaced. Once I figured out where I wanted to drill the holes I did just that. I used an auger bit because that was the size that I had in my toolbox that matched just a gnats ass over the shotgun shell diameter so it would fit in there nice and snug. For visual effect I used a heat gun and gave it a burnt look. I inserted the shells into the holes and used a brad nailer to secure them to the piece of wood. You could also use some epoxy. Now it's ready to mount to the wall. You could also do this with pallet wood which would look pretty cool as well as keep it cheap. Shotgun shell ashtray: https://amzn.to/35IcPWA.


14. DIY Pallet Cabinet for Wall Mounting


15. DIY Pallet Project Doorbell Pallet Cover | Cover Exposed Ugly Wires


Doorbell cover made from pallet wood covers up exposed doorbell fixture. Made for free! This was definitely a simple custom job that required some special DIY work. The wires are low voltage but just to be safe I lined the inside of the pallet box with flame retardant cement hearty backer. Once the box was fit up I pulled it back down I glued the hearty backer to the inside of the box then screwed a soda pop can tab to the top of the lightweight box in order for it to hook around the top of the fixture. Although not shown in the video, the box got painted the same color as the wall for blending in purposes.



16. How to Reuse and Recycle Free Nails Pulled from Pallets [FREE PALLET NAILS]


Free pallet nails for free pallet projects are a blast. What makes this so good? To me there is satisfaction that comes from making something out of something that would have otherwise gone to the landfill or get wasted. Pallets are a hoot. Also the pallet cut-offs from projects are great for use in wood stoves and especially for backyard bonfires. It takes a little elbow grease to get some of them out and some are easier than others. A good claw hammer works as a nice tool for removing them but many times a nice crow bar or pry bar works the best and can also provide the most leverage. I like to use a combination of the two when harvesting pallets and nails from pallets. Some nails you pull from pallets are actually really nice and stout and just perfect for reuse and repurposing. The upcycling or repurposing of pallet nails takes a little extra time but when you get a decent collection of them and can make a project using those hard earned nails you pulled out, it really makes it that much better. Many times it will add to that popular rustic decorative look that many folks are after.


Paid amazon link here for a steel pallet buster:

Vestil SKB-DLX Deluxe Steel Pallet Buster with Handle, 41",blue: https://amzn.to/3rtzvUU


17. DIY Wood Pallet Entry Way Sturdy Sitting Bench From Old Crate Pallet FREE!! [Pallet Project Bench]


Pallet project bench made from a discarded pallet into an upcycled and repurposed useful bench for an entry way (shoe tying bench), porch bench or even as part of the general furniture population. The request for this came out of the need for a spot to sit down and take off your shoes when you come in the door or put on your shoes before leaving. These custom (every one is almost guaranteed to be different) are a blast to make and the supplies are as free as free gets.



18. DIY Pallet Planter Easy Raised Garden Bed Project From Repurposed Pallets [Pallet Raised Bed]


DIY Pallet Project: Easy Raised Garden Bed From Repurposed Pallets [Pallet Raised Bed]. The first thing I did was secure my building supplies by harvesting a pallet. I heavily relied on my chopsaw for this project. I then created two identical (same size} frames from the pallet slats. Once they were done, I stood them uprights so they were positioned parallel to each other. I then ran pallet slats vertically from one frame to the other until I had all four sides covered. I used my craftsman 18Gauage brad nailer extensively for this project as well. Once the sides were complete I trimmed out the top with basically another frame with 45 degree cuts in the corners of the pieces. I then used pre-stain (let dry for 30 minutes or so) and then walnut stained it. Easy and FREE!! Ready to plant some stuff in there now.


19. DIY Large Raised Garden Bed Pallet Wood Planter Project Tutorial Demonstration



20. Quick and Easy Pallet Garden Planters FREE with Minimal Tools "How to" Tutorial




21. Farmhouse Style Pallet Wood Deck with Repurposed Treated Wood Fence Post Cut Offs


Cheap and easy DIY Farmhouse Style Pallet Wood Deck with Repurposed Treated Wood Fence Post Cut Offs [Pallet Deck] "How to" style instructional step by step tutorial. The first thing I did was dig out the area a little bit so I could place my bricks level as well as the correct depth so the top of the deck would be the same height at the porch. While digging this out I made a very cool find. An old axe head!! Looking forward to the refurb on it. Once I got the area dug out I placed the bricks for all four corners at the correct depth as well as level. Then I put the old treated wood fence post cut offs in place on top of the bricks as the foundation. I then made sure they were square before I tacked them in with a brad nailer simply to hold them in place enough to start placing the pallet slats on top for the decking. Now it was time to measure and cut the pallet slats for the cross members for the the top decking. Once the pallets slats were all installed I installed some border trim on the edges for edge protection as well as a more finished look. Then it was basically done aside from filling the dirt back in around it and staining it. I used some used motor oil as stain and it gave it a nice look. I always like the idea of reusing old materials that may have otherwise gone to the landfill and reusing them giving them a fresh and useful new life.


Woodworker's Treasure Chest:


Some of the tools I used (paid links):

SKILSAW SPT77W-01 15-Amp 7-1/4-Inch Aluminum Worm Drive Circular Saw: https://amzn.to/2OTG5WH


DEWALT Sliding Compound Miter Saw, 12-Inch (DWS779):


22. Homemade Pallet Porch BBQ Table from Slats of Pallet Wood



These pallet tables are nice when you are out back running the gas grill and need some extra place to set your meat or veggies. Good for setting out snacks or even a nice serving table when the food is done. The cross members tying the legs together offer support from wiggling. Fun to make this baby and was a nice asset to my BBQ operation. Not only that but it also didn't cost me a dime!


23. Bar Stool Butcher Block Pallet Project and Reused Bed Wood Bed Rails


For this rustic looking bar stool project I used a variety of recycled materials. I had some extra left over butcher block material I used for the seat portion and also an old wooden bed rail that was due to go on the bonfire for the legs. Pallet slats were used for the trim around the seat and the foot rest around the legs.


24. DIY Quick and Easy Wood Cheap Pallet Planter Project Tutorial [Pallet Planter Project]


Below are some (paid) links to some of the tools I use for these projects.


CRAFTSMAN V20 Cordless Brad Nailer Kit, 18GA (CMCN618C1):


RYOBI RTS12 15 Amp 10 in. Table Saw with Folding Stand:


DEWALT Sliding Compound Miter Saw, 12-Inch (DWS779):


25. DIY Shop Bar Stool From Pallets and Butcher Block Basic Tutorial [Pallet Garage Bar Stool Project]


To make this bar stool the model basically revolves around making two of the same size squares for both the seat perimeter and the foot hold portions. The butter block goes into the top square or you can frame the square around it. Then the legs go on. I cut these legs from the thicker portions of the pallet, ripped with my Ryobi table saw. Then place the foothold square around the legs after attaching the legs. Overall, really simple project and can be made with just some simple tools for nearly free. You can even turn around and sell these for profit.


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