Everything a reseller needs to buy liquidation pallets profitably — sourcing by retailer, valuing manifests, calculating ROI, and picking a sales channel. This is our master hub linking to every specialized guide on the site.
What's in this guide
What is a liquidation pallet?
A liquidation pallet is a bulk lot of retailer or manufacturer inventory sold together at a deep discount — typically 70-95% below MSRP. Retailers use liquidation to recover capital from customer returns, overstock, shelf pulls, discontinued SKUs, and end-of-season inventory instead of writing it off.
For resellers, that gap between wholesale-liquidation price and street-resale price is the profit. See the full definition in What Are Closeouts? and the condition comparison in Closeouts vs Liquidation.
Where to buy pallets — by retailer
Most Fortune 500 retailers route their surplus through one of a handful of authorized B2B liquidation marketplaces. The retailer determines what shows up on the pallet — Amazon skews to small-parcel returns, HomeGoods to furniture and décor, Costco to bulk consumables.
Best pallet categories for resellers
Category drives everything — margin, sell-through speed, storage footprint, and platform fit. Electronics carry the highest per-unit margin but require testing. Apparel moves fastest on TikTok Shop and flea markets. Home goods have the strongest year-round demand on Amazon FBA and eBay.
Pallet types & risk tiers
| Type | Condition | Discount | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Closeouts / Overstock | New, sealed | 70-90% | Low |
| Shelf Pulls | New, minor wear | 75-85% | Low |
| Customer Returns | Mixed | 85-92% | Medium |
| Salvage / Damaged | Damaged pkg | 90-95% | High |
How much do liquidation pallets cost?
$85-$300
Entry pallet
Amazon small-parcel returns, mixed general merch
$300-$1,500
Standard pallet
Manifested apparel, home goods, HoMedics
$1,500-$5,000
Premium
Electronics, small appliances, premium brands
$5k-$25k+
Truckloads
24-26 pallets, freight-forwarded
Deep dive: $85 Amazon Return Pallets · Pallets Under 10% of MSRP
Calculating profit & ROI
The winning bid is the one that leaves margin after every cost: pallet price, LTL freight, platform fees (Amazon 15% + FBA, eBay ~13%, TikTok Shop ~8%), packaging, and dead SKUs. As a rule of thumb, target 30-40% of estimated recovery as your max bid on manifested lots.
Where to resell what you buy
Your best sales channel depends on the category and pallet type. Amazon FBA prefers new-in-box closeouts. eBay handles mixed conditions well. TikTok Shop rewards video-friendly consumer goods. Flea markets absorb the tail.
Complete liquidation topic hub
Every specialized guide on Royal Closeouts, grouped by intent. Bookmark this page.
By Retailer
- Amazon Return Pallets
FBA lots, customer returns, $85+ starting bids.
- HomeGoods Pallets
Furniture, décor, patio. $300+ manifested lots.
- HoMedics Wholesale
Massagers, air purifiers, wellness closeouts.
- Hanes & Champion Liquidation
Brand-name apparel closeouts by the pallet.
By Category
- Electronics Liquidation
TVs, laptops, small electronics. 70-90% off.
- Apparel Closeouts
New-condition clothing lots from Hanes, Champion, Nike.
- Home Goods Liquidation
Kitchen, décor, seasonal home merchandise.
- General Merchandise Closeouts
Mixed-brand closeout inventory across categories.
By Pallet Type
- Manifested vs Unmanifested Pallets
Which type has better ROI for your channel.
- Closeouts vs Liquidation
Condition, risk, and margin comparison.
- Liquidation vs Wholesale
Cost-per-unit vs volume commitment tradeoffs.
- Pallets Under 10% of MSRP
How to find the cheapest quality lots.
How to Buy
- How to Buy Liquidation Pallets (Beginner)
Step-by-step starter walkthrough.
- How to Get Pallets from Amazon
Official Amazon liquidation channels.
- Where to Buy Amazon Return Pallets
Verified marketplaces and warning signs.
- $85 Amazon Return Pallets
Where entry-price pallets actually exist.
Profit & Reselling
- ROI Calculator
Estimate profit before you bid.
- Calculate Profit Margins
Fee math for Amazon, eBay, TikTok Shop.
- Best Pallet Categories for Profit
Which categories return the most $/hour.
- What Should I Buy? (Quiz)
Personalized recommendation in 60 seconds.
Sell What You Buy
- Amazon FBA Liquidation Sourcing
Turn pallets into FBA-ready inventory.
- TikTok Shop Inventory
Best pallet types for TikTok Shop resellers.
- Top Brand Closeouts 2026
Highest-demand brands right now.
- What Are Closeouts?
Full definition, examples, and reseller math.