When you shop for liquidation stock you’ll see it sold in several sizes: case packs, boxes, gaylords, pallets and full truckloads. Picking the right size affects your cost per unit, your shipping bill, your storage space and your risk. Here’s how each option works and which one suits your business.

The Main Liquidation Lot Sizes

Lot size	Typical footprint	Best for
Case pack / box	One carton	Testing a product line, small online sellers
Gaylord	Large box on a pallet base, often 4 ft tall	Bin stores, loose small items, mixed returns
Pallet	Roughly 40 × 48 in base, stacked 4–6 ft	Most resellers and small shops
Truckload	Around 20–26 pallets in a 53 ft trailer	Established stores, bin stores, wholesalers

Case Packs and Boxes

Small lots are the lowest-risk way to try a new category. Your cost per item is higher, but you can learn what sells without tying up cash or floor space. They ship by parcel carriers, so there’s no need for a forklift or loading dock. Our mystery box guide covers this option in detail.

Gaylords

A gaylord is a big corrugated box strapped to a pallet. They’re popular with bin stores because they’re usually full of loose, mixed customer returns. Expect a wide range of conditions and plenty of sorting. If you’re planning a bin store, read how to start a bin store.

Pallets

The pallet is the sweet spot for most resellers. The unit cost is lower than boxes, a single pallet ships by LTL freight, and one pallet is manageable in a garage or small unit. You can choose general merchandise or category-specific loads such as tools, apparel or electronics.

Truckloads

Truckloads give you the lowest cost per unit, but they demand the most cash, space and labor. You’ll need a place to unload a 53 ft trailer, a pallet jack or forklift, and enough sales volume to move hundreds or thousands of items before they go stale. Buy truckloads only once you know your sell-through rates.

How to Choose the Right Size

Budget: don’t spend more than you can afford to have tied up for 60–90 days.
Storage: measure your space and remember sorted stock takes up more room than a wrapped pallet.
Receiving: freight to a business address with a dock is cheaper and easier than residential delivery. Liftgate service adds cost.
Sales speed: buy the amount you can realistically list and sell within a month or two.
Experience: start with boxes or single pallets, then scale up.

Don’t Forget Freight Costs

Shipping can add a significant amount to the price of a pallet, especially over long distances or to a residential address. Always calculate your landed cost (lot price plus freight plus any fees) before you compare deals. Our guide to local pickup vs nationwide shipping explains how to cut this cost.

Try it yourself: start small with a mystery electronics box, step up to a single clothing pallet or power tools pallet, or ask us about Hamilton Beach appliance pallets and truckloads.

Compare Other US Liquidation Marketplaces

It pays to compare suppliers before you buy. These are some of the best-known US liquidation marketplaces:

B-Stock: auction marketplace for returns and overstock from major retailers
Liquidation.com: online auctions for pallets and truckloads
Direct Liquidation: pallets and truckloads from US retailers
Via Trading: wholesale closeouts and liquidation loads
888 Lots: liquidation pallets and truckloads

Looking for fixed prices with no bidding? Browse the Coast to Coast Liquidators store.

Trusted Resources and Further Reading

Frequently Asked Questions

How many items are on a liquidation pallet?

It varies widely: a pallet of small accessories might hold hundreds of items, while a pallet of large appliances might hold ten.

How many pallets are in a truckload?

A standard 53 ft trailer usually holds around 20 to 26 standard pallets, depending on how they’re loaded.

What size lot should a beginner buy?

A single pallet or a few boxes. It lets you learn grading, pricing and selling without a large upfront risk.

Ready to start? Browse current loads in our store.