# Wooden Pallet Compost Bin: Best Easy DIY Guide

- Link: https://lifeandwork.blog/making-a-compost-bin-from-wooden-pallets/
- Published: 2026-10-24T02:14:14-05:00
- Author: Bert Swope

Wooden pallets can be a quick, cost-effective, and easy do-it-yourself way of building
a compost bin made of pallets. Also, reusing wooden pallets is an environmentally
friendly way to put wooden pallets to use in and around your home.

## Advantages of making a compost bin of wooden pallets

 * Wooden pallets are low cost, generally free given a little research and sweet
   talking. You may even have a couple laying around from your last couple of projects.
 * Wooden pallets which are in good condition, they can last for years, even without
   any sealer treatment.
 * A large-capacity compost bin can be created in very little time, once the pallets
   and required supplies have been gathered.

## Where to get wooden pallets?

 *  Local small businesses are the best place to look if you don’t already have 
   some wooden pallets available. Smaller companies occasionally get a few pallets
   and then have to figure out how to dispose of them and, therefore, are often 
   willing to let someone have the pallets if nicely asked.
 * Larger companies tend to have arrangements to pick up their pallets already, 
   but there is no harm in asking.
 *  Also, construction sites usually have a few stray pallets lying around, which
   they are generally happy to be rid of.

## How to choose your Pallets?

 *  Pallets should be undamaged, not overly weathered, and free of rot.
 *  Pallets should be of the same length, width, and height.

How to Make a Compost Bin for Free Using Shipping Pallets

![](https://i0.wp.com/lifeandwork.blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/38efb-pallet-2260764.
jpg?resize=790%2C891&ssl=1)

![](https://i0.wp.com/lifeandwork.blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/b668b-depositphotos_10389288_ds.
jpg?resize=790%2C508&ssl=1)

## What supplies will you need?

 * Four pallets will be needed for a single stand-alone compost bin. If you make
   additional bins that share a wall with a previous bin, you will need three pallets
   for each additional compost bin. For example, two bins require seven pallets;
   three compost bins require ten pallets.
 *  Enough heavy-duty zip ties or enough heavy-duty wire (e.g., baling wire) to 
   bind the pallets. Approximately 15, 12 inches or longer heavy-duty zip ties for
   a stand-alone compost bin and each additional compost bin.
 *  A cleared, level spot for large enough compost bins and to permit access to 
   the compost bins to check, repair, fill, turn, and empty the bins. Be sure to
   consider the size of any equipment you may desire to have access to your compost
   bins; things like a yard tractor or a wheelbarrow.
 *  Fence posts to provide additional support (optional). For a stand-alone compost
   bin, four sturdy metal posts, at least as tall as the pallet once driven into
   the ground. Three more fence posts for each additional compost bin. Over the 
   years, I have found fence posts keep the pallets straight and upright.

## How to Assemble you Compost Bin

 *  If using fence posts for support, place you first corner post,
 * then attach the pallet securely with sturdy wire (like bailing wire) or zip ties
   to the fence post.
 * Proceed to the other end of the pallet and repeat the process adding the second
   pallet.
 * Then repeat the process the process to attach the third pallet.
 * While you are doing this, you will want to make sure that each pallet is maintaining
   a 90 degree angle, so your compost is in finishes as a proper square.
 * When you mount the fourth pallet, you will want to make it more like a gate, 
   so you have easy access to turn your compost pile and eventually empty the compost
   bin. So, you can either secure in a way that you can easily open it or add hinges
   on one end and some form of a lock on the final end.

## Working with wooden posts

 * If you would prefer to make your compost bin using wooden posts you will want
   to plant you wooden posts and secure your pallets with either nails or screws(
   which I strongly recommend) rather than tying the pallets in place. Nails have
   a habit of working loose.
 *  Otherwise, the process is essentially the same.

## To Make a Multi-bin system

 * You can by using either side of the compost bin, as you face the gate and add
   three more pallets for the new bin.
 * Don’t forget to make the last pallet a gate, just like the first compost bin,
   and you will want it on the same side as your existing gate.
 * You simply, repeat the process for each additional bin you wish to add starting
   with the side of the existing compost bins, where you which to add the new compost
   bin.

## Your compost bin is built, what now?

 * Once constructed, line the bottom with permeable a protective barrier to prevent
   grass and weeds from taking over your compost bins.
 * This permeable protective barrier can be a commercial landscape cloth or couple
   of layers of flattened cardboard boxes or several layers of newspaper work well
   for this purpose.
 * And begin adding your compost materials in layers, being sure to water to each
   layer.
 * Be sure to mix your ingredients and turn your compost bin regularly.

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