Our solution to making an affordable coffee table? Wood pallets! Get all the details on this DIY Pallet Coffee Table.

Is it just us or is there something wrong with the fact that you can buy a sofa for the equivalent price as some coffee tables?

Maybe it’s our student and newlywed budget talking, but we think that’s a little insane. It’s a table… that most people accidentally decorate with water rings and spilled milk.

Our solution to this? Wood pallets! It’s a great way to recycle wood for a DIY coffee table idea.

Conveniently enough, there is guy that lives in our apartment complex that uses pallets for transporting grass. And he so happens to sell wood pallets at a whopping $3 a pop.

A lot of times you can also source wood pallets for free. So if you have multiple ones, there are so many creative DIY pallet projects for your home.

To no surprise, our friend Erin and I have been scheming up ideas for all of the (almost) free furniture we can make ever since.

First up, a beautiful coffee table that won’t cost as much as our wedding ring…

Table of Contents

Materials and Tools Needed to Make a DIY Wood Pallet Coffee Table

Wood pallet — To source free wood pallets, check with large businesses that handle large shipments. Try asking the managers at Target, Walmart, Home Depot, Lowes, or your grocery store. You may also have luck on Craigslist or your local Buy Nothing group.

Make sure you are also only sourcing wood pallets branded with an HT symbol, which signifies that the wood has been treated with heat and not chemicals.

Fine and coarse sandpaper

Stairwell posts or wooden legs of your choice — Cut to the desired height. We opted for wood legs for a rustic coffee table. But if you want a more modern or industrial style look, opt for metal legs.

Wood stain in color(s) of your choice — We used American Walnut and Weathered Grey.

Drill and bit

Casters wheels — Optional if you want a mobile coffee table.

Wood glue

Hammer and long nails

Polyurethane spray for wood — To seal and protect your wood.

How to Make a DIY Coffee Table with Pallets

Prep your wood:

1 — First, sand your pallet with coarse sandpaper, and then, move onto the fine sandpaper.

This process is to ensure that your pallet board is smooth and without splinters.

We made sure to round the edges in case someone bumped into them. But we also left the rest of the wood somewhat rough so that it wouldn’t look too perfect.

If you have an electric sander, this will make the prep work go a lot faster. When it comes to sanding wood, we recommend working outside where there is lots of ventilation and space.

2 — Next, experiment with with wood stains to get the look you’re going for.

We started with an American Walnut (above photo) and ended up using a Weathered Grey over top of it to make it look more worn (end result).

We also ended up painting the legs white instead of leaving them stained because it meshed better with the rest of our current mostly white furniture. Plus, we love the contrast on the white painted legs.

Insert your table legs:

3 — Use a dab of wood glue on the bottom of the legs where they meet the pallet, and hammer the long nails into each side for extra security.

4 — Once everything is dry, using a drill bit that is big enough to allow your caster to twist into place, drill a hole in the bottom of the legs.

Then, twist the casters into place.

Seal your wood:

5 — Lastly, to give the wooden pallet protection against the spilled milk, spray a few coats of polyurethane over the wood, and you’re finished!

More Easy Living Room DIYs

We kept this coffee table design very simple and easy. So no saw is required (unless you want to cut down your legs).

We also did not place a glass top. Instead, we placed used a large tray for the small tabletop knick knacks.

For more quick weekend projects like our DIY pallet coffee table idea to spruce up your living room, check out a few of our favorites below —

Simple Scrap Wood Projects for Your Home — Get some inspiration and ideas from these 37 amazing and simple scrap wood projects that are perfect for your next DIY.
Creative DIY Pillow Ideas — Tired of the same old pillow options? Check out these 20 creative DIY pillow ideas for some inspiration!
DIY Canvas Art — Customize your walls with your favorite photos using printable canvas paper for this DIY Canvas Art Print tutorial for your wall!
Homemade Reed Diffuser — This easy 5-minute DIY reed diffuser is the perfect budget-friendly way to keep your house smelling naturally fresh!