The 10 Best Pallet Busters – [Reviews & Rankings]

Breaking down a pallet without a pallet buster is a burdensome task that can pose a threat to your safety. People often unnecessarily use tools like hammers, chisels, and saws, or worst of all, don’t use tools at all (Source). The best pallet busters can help you easily dismantle pallets without having to use power tools or putting yourself in danger. 

Pallet busters, sometimes referred to as pallet breakers or pallet pry bars, are sturdy handheld tools made for the purpose of dismantling pallets or skids. Pallets are abundant in the world of shipping. While they’re often reused, pallets sometimes need to be disassembled because they’re no longer effective or their wood is needed. A pallet breaker can help with this (Source).

A pallet buster is comprised of a handle, a pole, and a fork with two tines. When using the pallet breaker, the two tines of the fork are positioned under the pieces of wood. The handle and pole are then used as leverage to pry it out of place.

Pallet busters are particularly handy if you receive a lot of pallets but don’t have adequate storage for them. They’re also great to make wood for DIY projects like furniture or decks.

Prior to purchasing a pallet buster, you’ll want to consider their weight and portability. You’ll also want to consider if the handle has a comfortable grip and if it’s appropriate for the type of pallets you’re working with.

Don’t break down another pallet without one of these top-rated pallet busters.

What is a Pallet Buster?

Many people who work with pallets only need them for a short period of time and want to save the wood for something else afterward. In order to keep each of the wood pieces in good shape, a nice pallet buster will help you break off each wood piece without splitting the wood.

What Is The Easiest Way to Strip Pallets?

A Pallet Buster sometimes referred to as a Pallet Breaker, can help you easily dismantle pallets without damaging their components. While some use destructive tools like a hammer or a saw to take apart a pallet, a Pallet Buster achieves the same result safely and without excessive force.

How Do You Disassemble a Pallet Without Breaking the Board?

To disassemble a pallet without breaking any wooden boards, use a Pallet Buster. This tool is lightweight, handheld, and easy to use. Instead of destroying the boards, a Pallet Buster gives you the leverage to prop up the boards one by one.

Comparing The 10 Best Pallet Busters

1. Vestil SKB-DLX Deluxe Steel Pallet Buster – Best Overall

With a creative design and a handy long handle, the Vestil SKB-DLX pallet buster gives extra comfort and convenience when dismantling wooden pallets. This tool allows you to take apart pallets quickly and effortlessly. You can use it for removing the dock boards, too. That makes it a great addition to any construction and maintenance facilities.

This user-friendly product is well-constructed with the highly durable materials like solid steel so that the long-lasting lifetime is guaranteed. The robust steel design is intended for harsh conditions. It can retain a high durability over the time — pallets after pallets.

The Vestil pallet breaker comes with a 41-inch handle, and it weighs 12 pounds. Since the spacing between the forks is 3.75 inches, the buster works great for 4×4 boards and smaller pallets with three+ nails. The head bends are shaped in such a way to gently release the boards without splitting the wood or breaking the planks. This is ensured by the articulating head which delivers equal pressure throughout the board by tilting as the force is applied.

It’s quite easy to use. All you need to do is place its head beneath each of the pallet planks and press down on its handle. While moving down the handle, the head will make the planks effortlessly lift up one by one.  Due to the fact that the operation is pretty straightforward and quiet, your neighbors won’t be disturbed at all.

The only downside is there is no nail remover included. Nevertheless, it’s still one of the best pallet busters that easily cleans off of boards with embedded nails.

2. Vergo Industrial Pallet Buster/Pallet Breaker – Heavy Duty Pry Tool 

We’d like to present you another pallet breaker that is known as the Vergo Industrial Pallet Buster. One of the first features you’re going to notice is the weight of this product. Weighing 14.7 pounds, a little over the previously reviewed Vestil buster, this pallet breaker is a fairly heavy yet powerful tool. It suits most users as just about anyone can raise and use it without hassle.

The full measurements of this product are of 46.4 (L) x 8.5 (W) x 7.7 (H) inches; that’s regarded as the ideal size for comfortable use. No matter what pallet furniture project you are working on, you will enjoy a great convenience while disassembling the pallets with this amazing buster. Thanks to an articulating head, the wood will be neither broken nor splintered.

With these features, the Vergo pallet buster can help you get rid of unsightly or broken pallets safely and quickly. Without rushing or straining, you will be able to completely take apart a pallet in about 3 minutes. Aside from disassembling pallets, it can be used for deck board removal as well.

The next great thing about this product is that it values quality indeed. Being made of the top-grade steel, the Vergo pallet buster offers an excellent quality for the money. That ensures long life and sufficient strength for tough jobs.

3. Pallet Buster Breaker 1 Pallets – Great For Beginners

If you are in need of a simple, easy-to-use, affordable tool for pallet disassembly, be sure to look at this product. It is suitable for both large-scale disassembly projects and small DIY jobs. In addition to skids and pallets, it also works great for deck and dock boards.

The standard dimensions of this item are 7 (L) by 6 (W) by 5 (H) inches. If these dimensions don’t work for you, the manufacturer can customize them to fit your requirements. There’s a space of 3 inches between its tines.

Furthermore, this product is built from the superior-grade steel for the long-lasting use and durability. The weight is 5.2 pounds only so that it isn’t heavy to lift and use.

Note that the handle is not included. However, it comes with the 1.25-inch standard insert, so you’ll be able to put in almost any metal handle. We don’t recommend using wood handles because they are too flexible and don’t work well. The installation is very simple with screws — they are included in the package.

4. CTS WELDING Heavy-Duty Pallet Buster – Comfortable Pallet Breaker

Basically, this is the smaller variant of the above-reviewed product, which features the following dimensions: 7 (L) x 4 (W) x 4.5 (H) inches. This heavy-duty pallet breaker comes from CTS WELDING though. Not only that it is smaller but more lightweight as well. Having 4 pounds only, it offers a very comfortable feeling during the use.

Acting as an assistant, this tool is surely one of the best ways to quickly reclaim pallet woods. You can take apart approximately 8 wood pallets in one hour with it. That’s why many people choose this pallet buster for their DIY projects. Plus, this awesome tool is convenient for striping deck and/or dock boards likewise.

On top of that, the CTS WELDING pallet buster is made of durable steel for the best toughness. Despite the fact that it does not include a handle, you can easily adapt most handles, as it is fitted with the standard 1.25-ich insert.

5. Eizzy Bar Pro Pallet Buster – User-Friendly Pry Bar

If you’re looking for ultimate pallet pry bar, look no further than Eizzy Bar Pro Pallet Buster. With the size of 43 (L) x 8 (W) x 6 (H) inches as well as the weight of 8 pounds, this product is extremely suitable for the pallet disassembly. Additionally, it can considerably speed up the process of recycling the wooden and other types of furniture.

Because of its user-friendly and lightweight design, this tool is also great for various household uses. That makes it safe to use for both adults and children. You will be able to take apart different types of pallets, fencing, decks, or other materials.

This Eizzy pallet buster is equipped with a heavy-duty claw. In case of tight boards, it could be hard to simultaneously use two traditional tools. This is where the single claw comes in. With the long handle and massive claw, this pry bar can dismantle and recycle pallets easier, better, and faster than any traditional tool.

All these characteristics make this pallet buster a must-have tool for every business and home. It’s tailored for those people who care about the safety and quality whilst aiming to the best results possible in pallets disassembly.

6. Crescent DKB44X Pallet Buster

The DKB44X is a convenient and innovative machine that will help pry pallets quite easily. The dual claw support ensures ease at busting out the toughest of planks from pallets without damaging them.

The indexing joint is quite sturdy to keep the tool hooked in place while prying – thus, giving you the freedom of applying force as desired. Not to mention, the robust handle accompanies three adjustable lengths to provide you with the convenience of using the device as per your comfort.

Crescent assures balance and versatility through this pallet buster tool without compromising with the quality. Even the sleek red-and-black-color combo makes it quite appealing.

7. Angel Guard DD-201 Pallet Buster – High-Quality Buster

The DD-201 by Angel Guard ensures a top-grade pallet buster designed for efficient operations. The manufacturer has provided extra strength in this tool by constructing it using solid steel.

No doubt, this tool gives you high-end longevity. Besides, you are also provided with a solid, anti-skid grip to hold the bar firmly while using it. This tool is worth it if you are looking for a lightweight yet capable unit.

Not to mention, the dual forks are curved favorably to pry even through the toughest of pallets.

8. Spartan Tools Pallet Buster

This pallet breaker is worth considering if you need power for dealing with pallets. With a weight of 11.8 pounds, Spartan Tools has manufactured a heavy-duty tool for coping with demolition work efficiently.

While it does not have a grip on its handle, but it does come with protection gloves made of cowhide to give you a firm grip without scraping your hands. The claw is designed in such a way that it is usable for pulling out nails too.

Crescent assures balance and versatility through this pallet buster tool without compromising with the quality. Even the sleek red-and-black-color combo makes it quite appealing.

9. Yaheetech Pallet Buster – Quite Flexible

Yaheetech offers a versatile pallet breaker for managing maintenance and demolition jobs without any troubles. The unique claw design combines the versatility of curves with the efficiency of a plain base.

This unique design makes it a convenient choice for prying planks from pallets without breaking them. The steel-grade construction adds extra strength to ensure long-lasting durability as well.

This pallet buster is simple to use. Moreover, you adapt it with perfect as soon as you start utilizing it for your construction chores.

10. Molomax Deck Wrecker Pallet Buster – Customizable

The Deck Wrecker is a pallet buster explicitly designed for flexibility. The unit is modular, as you can insert a handle in it to adjust the length as per your convenience. To secure the system, it comes with a locking pin that ensures safety.

The forks are placed at a 4-inch wide gap to give you more space for prying thorough pallet planks that are thick. Such sizes are widely used for various pallet decks around the world.

Pallet breaking is undoubtedly much more comfortable through this tool as it easily pries the planks and lets you use them for other constructions.

What are the Most Common Issues People Have with Pallet Busters?

• Splitting the Wood: There is simply no reason to get a pallet buster if it isn’t good at what it’s supposed to do. Pallet busters don’t all have enough leverage to ensure that they pull each board of wood out successfully.
• Hand Blisters: Many people spend all day using a pallet buster, only to find themselves with blisters and sore hands at the end of the day. To make sure that this doesn’t occur, find a pallet buster which has comfortable handles. Or, you will need to use a nice pair of work gloves.
• Too Expensive: Pallet busters aren’t supposed to that expensive. When we look through the many different pallet busters available, it is clear that you don’t need to pay that much. Although many of the most affordable options aren’t durable enough, the most expensive pallet busters aren’t always that much better.

Features of the Best Pallet Busters

As we will illustrate, a pallet buster is a simple product which only has some features to check for. In reality, this a tool which is easy to understand.

After trying out several different pallet busters, here are some of the top features and specifications we recommend checking before buying a pallet buster.

Lightweight and Portable

When you use a pallet buster all day, you can quickly get tired. Especially if the device is heavy. A high-quality pallet buster can weight anywhere between 4 to 15 pounds. Determine what weight will work best for your needs and you can shop through your options much more efficiently.

When it is time to pack up at the end of a hard day’s work, you need to consider the size of the product and make sure you have enough storage space. The last thing you need is another tool laying around and taking up your workspace.

Strong and Durable Parts

A high-quality pallet buster is usually made with steel. If you get a steel pallet buster, it will never break simply from the process of breaking up pallets. Steel is also durable enough to last a lifetime. Just keep it out of the rain, and store it in a cool dry place when not in use.

Plenty of Leverage

If you get a pallet buster, the last thing that you need is to end up splitting more wood pieces than you can remove intact. The space between the tines in your pallet buster should ideally be anywhere between three to four inches. If the space between tines is less than this, you will be much more likely to split the wood.

Comfortable Hand Grips

Unless you want to wear work gloves each time you work with a pallet buster, try to get a product which comes equipped with a nice set of comfortable hand grips or a nice handle insert. That way, you will be a lot less prone to blisters and sore hands at the end of the day.

Affordable Price

Something as simple as a pallet buster shouldn’t be that expensive. Although you should definitely check to make sure that it is very efficient at breaking up pallets, models over $100, for example, don’t always offer durability or features of any sort which make them worth extra money.

Things You Must Know Before Buying a Pallet Buster

Although choosing a pallet buster is not a difficult task, you should take into account a couple of factors before buying one.

When searching for the best pallet buster, these things can help you distinguish high-quality from low-quality models.

1. Construction

As you can see, all the models are made of the premium steel to be extremely durable and sturdy. That comes as no surprise since the pallet busters are intended for the heavy-duty tasks in various construction or maintenance workplaces.

Premium-grade steel ensures the compact and sturdy design of a pallet buster, allowing you to take apart the boards and planks with ease.

2. Key Features

There are certain features that should be taken into consideration when selecting the pallet buster. These key features include:

• Forks – Each fork typically comprises 2 tines which can be wrapped around a pallet stringer. By prying on both sides at the same time, these tines help lift and remove the boards/planks evenly. While the narrow forks are suited for prying 2″ stringers, the wider ones are more favorable for 4″ stringers. In most cases, the space between the tines is anywhere from 3 to 4 inches.
• Handle – A handle is supposed to be strong and long enough in order to provide a lot of leverage when dismantling wooden pallets. In addition, it lets you work comfortably from a standing position.
• Handle insert – Keep in mind that some pallet busters are delivered without a handle. Yet, they usually come with the standard 1.25″ inserts that allow you to use a buster with most handles and poles.
• Articulating head – As you apply the pressure by pushing down on the handle, this part ensures that the pressure is delivered equally on both sides of the plank. That reduces the chances of breakage.

3. Weight

While the steel provides a solid design, it puts the tools on the heavy side. That could be a problem if you need to use a pallet buster for an extended period of time to take apart a lot of pallets. If you need to do it every day or very often, make sure to choose a lightweight yet durable model that will not make you tired while working long hours.

Ready To Buy The Best Pallet Busters?

After going through our curated list of the top 5 dismantling bars, we hope that some of these amazing products have caught your attention.

We have carefully selected these pallet busters based on their features, construction, and design.

Now that you know the best models on the market, you can easily pick the right one that will assist you in different dissembling tasks.

Also, check out our guide for the top wood chippers and shredders today!