homestead.fyi / PALLET3

Three-Bay Pallet Compost Bins

Three 4 ft bays of free pallets wired to eight 4x4 posts, with removable 2x4 boards across the front.

Draft plan, generated from the model. Not yet build-tested.
3Bays
144 x 43.5 inSize
44 cu ft a bayCapacity
4 to 6 hrBuild time
$171.67Materials

Drawings All dimensions in inches

3D viewfinished
3D view
3D view, framingsiding and roof removed
3D view, framing
Front elevation
Front elevation 144 in 60 in
Right elevation
Right elevation 46 1/2 in 60 in
Plan viewfrom above
Plan view 144 in 46 1/2 in

Cut list: lumber Long-point lengths; angles noted

QtyStockLengthPartCut
12x240Cleat 1bscrewed to the front face of the post, 3/4 in from the board slot
12x240Cleat 2ascrewed to the front face of the post, 3/4 in from the board slot
12x240Cleat 2bscrewed to the front face of the post, 3/4 in from the board slot
12x240Cleat 3ascrewed to the front face of the post, 3/4 in from the board slot
12x240Cleat 3bscrewed to the front face of the post, 3/4 in from the board slot
12x240Cleat 4ascrewed to the front face of the post, 3/4 in from the board slot
42x444 1/2Front board 1.drops between the 2x2 cleats, lifts out
42x444 1/2Front board 2.drops between the 2x2 cleats, lifts out
42x444 1/2Front board 3.drops between the 2x2 cleats, lifts out
44x4 PT60Back postburied 12 in
44x4 PT60Front postburied 12 in

Lumber cutting diagram Lengths chosen for the lowest cost; 1/8 in kerf, 1/2 in end trim

2x2 x 8 ft
Cleat 1b 40Cleat 2a 40
2x2 x 8 ft
Cleat 2b 40Cleat 3a 40
2x2 x 8 ft
Cleat 3b 40Cleat 4a 40
2x4 x 8 ft
Front board 1.1 44 1/2Front board 1.2 44 1/2
2x4 x 8 ft
Front board 1.3 44 1/2Front board 1.4 44 1/2
2x4 x 8 ft
Front board 2.1 44 1/2Front board 2.2 44 1/2
2x4 x 8 ft
Front board 2.3 44 1/2Front board 2.4 44 1/2
2x4 x 8 ft
Front board 3.1 44 1/2Front board 3.2 44 1/2
2x4 x 8 ft
Front board 3.3 44 1/2Front board 3.4 44 1/2
4x4 PT x 8 ft
Back post 1 60
4x4 PT x 8 ft
Front post 1 60
4x4 PT x 8 ft
Back post 2 60
4x4 PT x 8 ft
Front post 2 60
4x4 PT x 8 ft
Back post 3 60
4x4 PT x 8 ft
Front post 3 60
4x4 PT x 8 ft
Back post 4 60
4x4 PT x 8 ft
Front post 4 60

Shopping list $171.67 checked / $0.00 estimated

ItemStoreQtyEachLineNote
2x2x8 furring stripHome Depot3$2.97$8.91see lumber cutting diagram
2x4x8 stud, SPFHome Depot6$4.15$24.90see lumber cutting diagram
4x4x8 ground-contact pressure-treatedHome Depot8$11.28$90.24see lumber cutting diagram
UV zip ties 11 in, 100 ct (also used for tie wire)Home Depot1$17.65$17.65
Exterior wood screws #9 x 2.5 in, 5 lb boxHome Depot1$29.97$29.97
Total before tax$171.67
Filled dot: price read from a store listing on Oct 20, 2026. Hollow dot: estimate. Prices come from the master price list, so they change when it changes.

Build steps

  1. Collect eight pallets, the heat-treated kind (stamped HT) and not the ones stamped MB, which were fumigated. Check for nails and chemicals.
  2. Mark the eight post positions, 4 ft apart along the back and the front and check square. Dig each hole 12 in deep and set the 4x4 posts plumb in gravel.
  3. Wire a pallet on edge across the back of each bay to the posts every 12 in, and one on each side wall and each divider.
  4. Screw a pair of 2x2 cleats on the inside of each front post pair, 3/4 in apart, as a slot, and drop the 2x4 boards in.
  5. Fill bay 1 with a mix of brown and green, turn it into bay 2 after 3 weeks, and bay 2 into bay 3. Finished compost is ready in about 3 months.

Before you start