Richmond sits next to an international airport and a working port, so a large share of the pallets leaving the city are not staying in Canada. That changes the buying decision: the first question here is usually not price, it is whether the pallet will clear a border.
Does Your Richmond Shipment Need ISPM 15 Pallets?
If the load leaves Canada, yes. Wood packaging crossing an international border must be heat treated and stamped to the ISPM 15 standard, and a shipment can be refused over it. If the load stays inside Canada, no – and paying for heat treatment you do not need is one of the more common ways money gets wasted on pallets.
| Where the load goes | Pallet required | Cost each |
|---|---|---|
| Air freight out of YVR | Heat-treated ISPM 15, stamped | $20 – $30 |
| Ocean freight, any international | Heat-treated ISPM 15, stamped | $20 – $30 |
| Anywhere in Canada | Standard new or used | $4 – $28 by grade |
| Inside your own facility | Grade B used is usually enough | $4 – $8 |
We stock stamped pallets in standard sizes and build them to spec when a load needs something specific. Full detail on the heat-treated ISPM 15 pallets page.
Pallet Prices in Richmond
| Type | Price each | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| New 48×40 | $18 – $28 | Consistent spec, heaviest loads, longest service life |
| Grade A (No. 1) used | $8 – $14 | Sound structure, cosmetic wear only |
| Grade B (No. 2) used | $4 – $8 | Visible wear and repairs, fine for internal work |
| Heat-treated ISPM 15 | $20 – $30 | Required for export, stamped |
| Euro / block | From $4.50 | European handling and four-way entry |
| Custom | Quoted | Built to your dimensions and load weight |
Volume pricing starts improving from around 100 units. Base prices for every type sit on the pricing page.
Air Cargo and the Weight Question
Air freight charges by weight, so on an export pallet every kilogram of wood is a kilogram of billable freight. That pushes some Richmond shippers toward lighter decks or smaller footprints – but a pallet that is too light for the load fails in transit, which costs far more than the freight saved.
The practical answer is to tell us the load weight and the mode of transport together. A pallet specified for a sea container and a pallet specified for air cargo are not the same pallet, even when the product is identical.
Food Processing and Seafood Handling
Richmond has a concentration of food and seafood processors, and this work sets its own standard. Clean, dry, sound decks with no protruding fasteners and no staining – normally new pallets, or Grade A used that has been checked rather than assumed. If you work to a specific retailer or audit standard, tell us which one and we will match the spec rather than guess at it.
Sizes We Hold
| Size | Also called | Where it fits |
|---|---|---|
| 48 x 40 in | Standard / GMA | North American distribution default |
| 48 x 48 in | Square | Drums, wide cartons |
| 40 x 40 in | Compact | Tight racking, smaller runs |
| 1200 x 800 mm | Euro | European lanes and some export routes |
| Block | Four-way entry | Busy bays where handling time matters |
| Custom | Built to spec | Machinery, overhang, fragile assemblies |
Delivery Into Richmond
We deliver across Richmond from the Surrey yard, including the Bridgeport and Crestwood industrial areas, the businesses around the airport, and out to Steveston. Orders placed before noon generally go out same or next business day.
If your delivery point is inside an air cargo zone with controlled access, say so when you order – access arrangements decide the drop window more often than distance does.
Bulk Orders and Export Schedules
Export work tends to run in waves rather than a steady line. If your shipping calendar is known in advance, a scheduled order against those dates prices better than calling for a load the week it is needed, and it means stamped stock is held for you rather than sold to whoever asks first. See bulk pallet supply for volume pricing.
What Changes Your Quote
- Export or domestic – this is the biggest single swing on a Richmond order, because it decides whether ISPM 15 applies.
- Grade – a quote with no grade attached is not a quote.
- Load weight and transport mode – air, sea and road all specify differently.
- Quantity – per-unit pricing improves with volume.
- Size – anything off 48×40 costs more to source or build.
- Site access – controlled-access and dock-free sites take longer to serve.
Pallet Collection in Richmond
Inbound freight leaves pallets behind, and for a lot of Richmond operations more arrive than leave. We collect surplus pallets for recycling across the city, and where the schedule allows the pickup runs on the same trip as a delivery.
What to Send Us
- Quantity, and whether it repeats
- Size – 48×40 or other
- Does the load leave Canada? (yes means ISPM 15)
- Load weight and transport mode
- Richmond delivery address and access details
Unsure about grade? Describe the load and where it ends up. To compare every type first, see pallets for sale in BC.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need heat-treated pallets for export from Richmond?
Yes, if the shipment leaves Canada. Wood packaging crossing an international border must be heat treated and stamped to ISPM 15, whether it goes by air out of YVR or by sea. For shipments staying inside Canada, standard new or used pallets are fine and cost less.
How much do wooden pallets cost in Richmond, BC?
Used pallets run about $4 to $14 each by grade, new 48×40 pallets $18 to $28, and heat-treated ISPM 15 export pallets $20 to $30. Euro pallets start from $4.50. Volume pricing improves from roughly 100 units.
Can you supply pallets for air cargo out of YVR?
Yes. Air freight bills by weight, so the pallet spec matters more than usual. Send the load weight and the transport mode together and we will recommend a stamped pallet that carries the load without adding unnecessary billable weight.
Do you supply food-grade pallets for Richmond processors?
We supply new pallets and checked Grade A used pallets suited to food and seafood handling – clean, dry, sound decks with no protruding fasteners. Tell us the retailer or audit standard you work to and we will match the spec.
How fast can pallets be delivered in Richmond?
Orders placed before noon usually go out the same or next business day across Richmond, including Bridgeport, Crestwood, the airport area and Steveston. Controlled-access sites should mention their access arrangements when ordering.
Do you collect used pallets from Richmond businesses?
Yes. Richmond operations often receive more pallets than they ship. We collect surplus pallets for recycling across the city, and where scheduling allows the collection runs alongside a delivery. Call 778-385-1070 to arrange it.
Order Wooden Pallets in Richmond
Send the quantity, size, grade and destination and you will get a per-unit price for your address. Call 778-385-1070 or request a quote. We also supply Vancouver, Delta and our main Surrey pallet supply page.
