A pallet bookshelf is about the cheapest real storage you can build. The wood is often free, a single pallet can give you two to four shelves, and the simplest versions take under an hour. These 12 DIY pallet bookshelf tutorials each have a materials list and written steps on the maker's own page. They range from a 40-minute kids' book ledge to a 6-foot freestanding bookcase, with leaning shelves, wall-mounted shelves and floating ledges in between.
Before you pick a plan, a few things every maker below agrees on. Choose your pallet carefully. Look for the "HT" stamp, which means heat-treated, and skip any pallet stamped "MB" (methyl bromide) or one that has carried chemicals or food spills. Jen Woodhouse goes further and recommends buying heat-treated, sterilized pallets for anything indoors. Taking pallets apart is the hard part. Several makers cut through the nails with a reciprocating saw instead of prying the boards off, which saves wood and your back. Sand well. Pallet wood is rough and splintery, and most of these makers say sanding is the longest step. Anchor it. A loaded pallet shelf is heavy, so screw into a wall stud where you can, and use proper anchors where you can't.
Freestanding and leaning pallet bookcases
These are full-size bookcases that hold a real library, not just a few picture books.
Pallet Bookshelf — Ana White. Two same-size pallets stood end to end and joined with 12-inch boards saved from their own bottoms, with 2-inch screws. The pair leans back about 5° on two 2x4 blocks (9-1/2 inches in her example), and each shelf is a 1x4 or pallet board on a 1x2 support, with a 3/4-inch overhang at each end. A third pallet can donate the shelf boards. Beginner. The plan gives three ways to fasten the top to the wall, and the best one is a 1x2 across the back that hits two studs. Metric measurements are available too.
Crates and Reclaimed Pallet Bookshelf — Jen Woodhouse. The showpiece of this list: a 72-inch-tall bookcase built from 2x10s and 2x4s with pocket holes, then wrapped in reclaimed pallet boards and fitted with wooden crates as pull-out cubbies. The tools and steps are on the page; the full cut list (shelves at 39-1/2 inches, dividers at 10-1/2 inches) is in a free PDF on her site, with no signup. Intermediate. If you love the crate look, our crate shelves guide has 20 more crate builds.
Wall-mounted pallet bookshelves
These hang on the wall, so they take no floor space at all, which is handy in a small bedroom or hallway.
Homemade DIY Pallet Bookshelf — Lady Lee's Home. A deep, rustic wall shelf that cost less than $5, mostly in screws. Each shelf uses two 12-inch sides and four 23-inch planks: a bottom, two backs and a front. The planks are cut wider than the 16-inch stud spacing, so the back screws straight into two studs. About an hour of work. She uses 8 x 1-1/4 inch star-head screws to build and 8 x 2-1/2 inch screws into the studs. You'll want a helper to hold it level.
Wood Pallet Bookshelf With Chalkboard Panel — Popular Science. One pallet cut down to a bookshelf up to 48 inches tall, using the full 40-inch width. It has a wooden base added at the bottom, a coat of paint and an optional chalkboard-paint panel for notes. About $40, 2–3 hours, easy. The 12 numbered steps include sanding with 60 grit and letting the paint cure for 24 hours before hanging. The writer notes that one pallet can make up to three shelves.
Wall-Mounted Pallet Bookshelf — Stephen & Diane Fitzberger (Fox Chapel Publishing). An excerpt from their Wood Pallet DIY Projects book, free on the publisher's site. A 48 x 40 inch pallet is cut through its three stringers at the forklift cutouts, then bases are nailed into each opening with 1-1/4 inch nails. Hooks along the bottom hold a robe, an apron or keys, so it works in a bedroom or a kitchen. The authors like narrow pallets with a center stringer for a child's room.
Pallet Wall Shelf — Bosch DIY. A decorative back wall made from pallet boards cut to any shape you like, with two box shelves screwed on from behind. About £8–15 and 2–4 hours, easy. The six steps use 4 x 40 mm wood screws, a jigsaw and a sander. It's a tool brand's site, but any tools will do. It's best for a few favorite books, plants or a speaker rather than a full library.
Kids' pallet book ledges
Front-facing shelves let small children see the covers and pick their own books. All three of these are shallow, so they're easy to mount low.
How to Make a Pallet Bookshelf — Jenna Burger. The fastest build here: about 40 minutes, not counting stain. Pry off the center strip, nail it on as a bottom, then cut 1–2 inches above the next strip with a jigsaw. Each end of the pallet becomes one shelf, so you get two from one pallet. The shelves are only about 4 inches deep, and she hung hers with self-drilling drywall anchors. Easy to medium.
Wood Pallet Bookshelf, a Mini Tutorial — Me and Madeline. The same idea, stretched further: one pallet makes four shelves. Cut it into sections, then measure the inside of each bottom and screw in a 2x4 so books don't fall through. She distressed the wood with a hammer and nails, then wiped on stain. Each shelf holds 20–25 children's books. Let stain air out before bringing it inside; hers took a week.
DIY Pallet Bookshelf for Kids — Dinah, Wickerhill Workshop (on Hometalk). A painted, four-shelf kids' bookcase about 47 inches tall, hung from a robe hook by a loop of 1/2-inch sisal rope, so it leans gently against the wall. The cut list is exact: two 47-inch side rails, four 22 x 5 inch front boards, seven 22 x 3-1/2 inch back boards and four 19-inch bottoms. About $40 and 4 hours, easy. Add a strap at the top too if you have a climber.
Floating and hanging pallet shelves
These are smaller, quicker shelves for a few books, a plant or a row of picture frames.
Floating Ledge Shelf From Pallets — Old World Garden Farms. Three pallet boards, eight screws and some glue, in under an hour. The center shelf is 3-1/2 x 36 inches, with a 1-1/2 x 34 inch front lip and a back ledge. It's sized for picture frames, but it holds a row of paperbacks just as well. About a quarter of a pallet makes one, so you can build several. Their separate post on taking pallets apart is worth reading first.
Pallet Wood Floating Shelf — Knick of Time. Three or four pallet boards joined with three cross pieces, then stained, sanded back and hung from four eye hooks on sturdy twine. It's the simplest project here, and great for a spot where you can't screw into the wall, or to keep things out of toddlers' reach. It's a light-duty shelf: think a few books, not a set of encyclopedias.
Boat Shelf From Reclaimed Pallet Wood — Jonathan Ellis (on Hometalk). A rustic shelf shaped like the bow of a rowboat, with curved sides made from 6- to 9-inch slats, brad-nailed on, and trim traced and cut on a bandsaw or jigsaw. About $10 and 45 minutes, easy. It's a fun pick for a nautical nursery or a kid's room, and the maker sells them at craft shows.
More DIY storage ideas
If you'd rather work with new lumber, our ladder bookshelf guide has 20 leaning and A-frame plans with cut lists, and the crate shelves guide covers stackable crate bookcases. Got pallets left over? Build a pallet shoe rack for the entryway or a wood pallet planter for the porch. For a child's room, pair a book ledge with a dollhouse bookcase or a play teepee reading nook. Then fill the shelves with crochet baskets for toys and clutter, and tuck a crochet bookmark into whatever you're reading.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are pallets safe to use for an indoor bookshelf?
Usually, if you choose well. Look for the "HT" (heat-treated) stamp and avoid pallets marked "MB" (methyl bromide), pallets with oil or chemical stains, and anything that smells odd. Sand the wood well and seal it with paint, stain or polyurethane. If you'd rather not guess, some suppliers sell sterilized, heat-treated pallet wood.
How many bookshelves can you get from one pallet?
Between one and four. Jenna Burger gets two book ledges from each pallet (one from each end), Popular Science says up to three, and Me and Madeline cuts four. A full bookcase like Ana White's uses two pallets plus a third for spare boards.
How do you take a pallet apart without breaking the boards?
Cut through the nails instead of prying. Slide a reciprocating saw with a metal-cutting blade between the board and the stringer and cut the nails flush. A pallet buster bar, or a hammer and pry bar, also works, but more boards will split. Punch out the leftover nail stubs before you cut or sand.
How much weight can a pallet bookshelf hold?
It depends far more on how it's mounted than on the wood. Shelves screwed into wall studs, like Lady Lee's, will hold a full row of hardcovers. Shelves on drywall anchors or hung from twine are best for lighter loads like picture books and paperbacks. For anything that leans or stands on the floor, add an anti-tip strap or bracket at the top.
