3-Bin Pallet Compost Bin Plans

Turn Pallets Into a Serious Compost System

A three-bin compost system lets you run compost in stages: fresh scraps in bin one, active cooking pile in bin two, finished compost in bin three. And the cheapest way to build it is from free wooden pallets.

This plan builds three bins, each roughly 3 feet square, using standard pallets and a few 2x4s for structure.

A Note on Pallets

Use heat-treated pallets (stamped HT) — never chemically treated ones (stamped MB for methyl bromide). HT pallets are safe for compost that will go on a garden. Avoid pallets that carried chemicals or look stained.

Tools You'll Need

  • Circular saw or reciprocating saw
  • Drill/driver with bits
  • Hammer and pry bar (if breaking pallets down)
  • Tape measure, pencil
  • Work gloves

Materials

  • 8–10 — HT-stamped wooden pallets (standard 40x48 in)
  • 4 — 2x4 x 8 ft boards (for posts and bracing)
  • 3 in exterior wood screws or deck screws
  • Optional: hardware cloth for the bin fronts

Cut List

PartQtySize
Corner posts82x4 x 42 in
Front slats (removable)12Pallet slats or 1x4s, ~36 in
Pallets (whole)7Used as back and divider walls

Step-by-Step Build

1. Source and inspect pallets

Check every pallet for the HT stamp. Pull any protruding nails or hammer them flat. You don't need pretty pallets — sturdy is what matters.

2. Set the back wall

Stand three pallets upright in a row to form the back wall of the three bins. Drive two 2x4 posts into the ground at each joint and screw the pallets to the posts.

3. Add the dividers

Stand pallets perpendicular to the back wall at the two divider points, creating three bays. Screw them to the back-wall posts and add posts at the front of each divider.

4. Build removable front slats

The fronts need to come off so you can turn piles and shovel out finished compost. Cut slats to span each bin opening and slot them horizontally between the front posts — stacked like a mini log wall. They lift out one at a time.

5. Leave the bottoms open

Compost bins work best sitting directly on soil — worms and microbes move up into the pile naturally. Don't put a floor in.

Composting Basics for Your New Bins

  • Greens and browns: Mix nitrogen-rich greens (scraps, grass) with carbon-rich browns (leaves, cardboard) at roughly a 1:3 ratio by volume.
  • Turn the pile: Fork material from bin one into bin two every couple of weeks — this is what the three-bin system is for.
  • Keep it damp: The pile should feel like a wrung-out sponge. Water in dry spells.
  • What NOT to add: No meat, dairy, oils, or pet waste — they attract pests and don't break down well in home piles.

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