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Pallet ROI Calculator
Compare total cost of ownership: Wood vs Plastic vs Metal
Your Requirements
✅ Recommendation: Plastic Pallets
Plastic pallets save $356,302 over the analysis period due to their durability. Higher upfront cost is offset by fewer replacements.
🪵
Wood
$518,536
$8.64 per trip
Initial Investment
$39,961
Replacements
$439,575
Repairs
$27,000
Disposal
$12,000
🧱
Plastic
Best Value
$162,234
$2.70 per trip
Initial Investment
$130,195
Replacements
$26,039
Repairs
$6,000
Disposal
$0
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Metal
$466,586
$7.78 per trip
Initial Investment
$467,586
Replacements
$0
Repairs
$9,000
Disposal
-$10,000
Potential Savings
Plastic vs Wood
+$356,302
Metal vs Wood
+$51,950
Metal vs Plastic
$-304,352
Positive values indicate savings, negative values indicate additional cost.
Cost Comparison
Understanding Pallet Total Cost of Ownership
The true cost of a pallet extends far beyond its purchase price. Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) includes initial investment, repairs, replacements, and disposal over the pallet's lifecycle.
🪵 Wood Pallets
- Lowest upfront cost ($8-15)
- 5-10 trips average lifespan
- Repairable but frequent repairs
- Best for: Low volume, single-use
🧱 Plastic Pallets
- Medium cost ($25-80)
- 50+ trips average lifespan
- Minimal maintenance needed
- Best for: Closed loops, hygiene-critical
🔩 Metal Pallets
- Highest cost ($80-200)
- 200+ trips average lifespan
- Virtually indestructible
- Best for: Heavy loads, extreme conditions