Pallet Wood-Is It Safe?

 The Answer Might Surprise You

🌿 Garden Talk | by Guy Saldiveri | February 24, 2026

You just finished watching some DIY video on YouTube. There are 5 pallets rotting away in your backyard, and you're just itching to build a raised bed for your strawberries. 

Do you go out and buy some nice expensive lumber, or can you use some of those old pallets that are just taking up space?

Like the title implies, the answer might surprise you.

Here are the industry standard markings for pallets and what they mean. The big question is whether or not you can trust those stamps.

The one with the "MB" stamp can definitely be trusted. There is no doubt about that one—it's unsafe to use. 

The one with the "HT" stamp MIGHT be safe to use. I know, I'm showing a graphic that shows a pallet that's marked "HT" as safe to use, but like my mom would have said, "You don't know where that pallet has been!" 

It's hard to argue with mom on this one… Even a pallet marked safe may not be safe because you don't have any idea what was stacked and transported on it. Just because it was okay from the manufacturer (and that's what that stamp means) doesn't mean no one else used it to haul something toxic.  

Pallets are regularly used to transport pesticides, industrial chemicals, motor oil, and many other chemicals that can easily leach into the wood. Oftentimes, not leaving any evidence that anything dangerous occurred.

If you want to use a pallet for a garden bed, I would definitely check it and give it the once—scratch that—the three‑times‑over. 

And, if there was any doubt, I would definitely use it for something else besides a raised bed.

Believe it or not, this safety warning applies to dyed mulch as well. Many times, dyed mulch will use shredded wood from pallets that came from who-knows-where. This is one time where safety is definitely a priority. 

That pile of pallets would make a great strawberry bed, but the risk of chemicals leaching into your soil makes the more expensive lumber a much smarter (and less risky) investment.

For me, unless I am very sure about the history of that pallet—it's a no-brainer—I'll play it safe. I'll buy a couple of 4x4s, some nice cedar, pine, or redwood for slats, and make a bed that will last for years.

Now if I can only find that hammer…

Happy Gardening 🌱