DIY Pallet Compost Bin: Easy Backyard Composting Upgrade

We started composting in 2008 and have enjoyed the benefits ever since—free fertilizer, less waste, and a nudge to eat more compostable foods. For a long time our efforts were limited to a small homemade compost container we built a few years back. We later added a second bin, but neither compared to the larger pallet-style composting systems often shown in stores or DIY magazines.

When we first started, I wanted to build a more substantial system out of shipping pallets but tracking down and moving bulky pallets felt like more than I was ready for. I decided to begin with a small bin and upgrade later. Three years later, after receiving patio supplies on pallets, I finally had the excuse to build the pallet compost bin I’d envisioned. It took a few months to decide on the exact location, but we settled on a quiet corner of the yard.

For a clearer reference, here’s a simple, not-to-scale map of our yard with an arrow marking where the compost station sits. My partner created the map to help visualize layout and traffic flow around the house.

We chose this spot because it met a few practical criteria:

• It’s mostly hidden from view.
• It doesn’t disrupt the main landscape or lawn.
• It’s convenient to reach without being right up against the house, reducing any concern about occasional odors.
• The only landscaping we sacrificed was some ivy and a few weeds.

Clearing the area uncovered a few unexpected items—an old frisbee and a plastic tire—so the cleanup paid off with some free finds.

After more work with a shovel and rake I created a flat square of dirt for the bin base. Online advice varies: some recommend placing a pallet as a base for drainage and support, while others warn it makes turning the pile harder. Some suggest a slanted base to collect compost tea. For simplicity I left the base flat and bare earth, which worked well for our needs.

Supplies were minimal and items we already owned:

• Three shipping pallets
• A few 2-inch wood screws
• An electric screwdriver or drill
• Work gloves
• A shovel

Since we had everything on hand, the project cost nothing. It also only took about 20 minutes to assemble, not counting photos. I usually expect small projects to take longer than planned, so it was a pleasant surprise that this one went quickly.

First, I dug a shallow trench about 4 inches deep at the back of the area so the rear pallet had a groove to sit in and stand stable while I attached the sides.

I set a second pallet next to the rear pallet to form one side. Make sure the side with more closely spaced slats faces inward so compost doesn’t spill through. The slatted design still allows air to circulate, which helps decomposition and reduces odors.

To secure the pallets I drilled three screws—one at the top, one in the middle and one at the bottom—to join each adjoining pallet. Some guides recommend zip ties as an alternative. The pallets were fairly sturdy on their own, so the screws served as reliable insurance.

I repeated the process with the third pallet to complete the three-sided enclosure.

Some tutorials suggested using a fourth pallet as a hinged front door, or adding an extra pallet on the bottom for a base. I chose a simpler route because I didn’t want to add hinges or extra complexity. Initially I considered leaving the front open, but because the site is on a slight slope and a heavy rain could wash compost out into the yard, I improvised a removable front panel instead.

I found a nearly perfectly sized piece of scrap wood and used two leftover stakes to hold it in place as the front wall. It fits securely but can be easily lifted when it’s time to turn the pile or remove finished compost.

As the pile grows we can stack more boards or use taller stakes to increase capacity and height, but this setup is functional for now.

To start the compost we added a layer of brown leaves collected from the yard. Simple materials like brown leaves, vegetable scraps, grass clippings and coffee grounds will all contribute to the pile.

We’re still beginners at composting. Over the years we developed simple routines: stirring the pile when adding new material, keeping a small lidded container under the sink for kitchen scraps and emptying it into the compost bin a couple of times a week, and keeping a printed list of compostable items handy for quick reference. Composting tends to be forgiving and mostly self-regulating, and we’ve never had smell problems with our previous bin.

If you’re concerned about chemically-treated wood in pallets, limit the compost produced from those pallets to non-edible plants—use it in flower beds rather than on vegetables or herbs. We’ll follow that precaution as well.

We’re unlikely to get a large volume of usable compost this season, but by next year we hope to have plenty of free fertilizer for our beds. Over time ivy and plant growth may help the pallets blend into the landscape, or we may choose to stain or paint them to better match the yard.

If you use a pallet compost bin or another backyard composting method, we’d love to hear about your experience—what worked, what didn’t, and any tips you’d share for beginners. For now, this simple pallet bin is a low-cost, low-effort way to expand composting capacity and make good use of reclaimed materials.