There’s a good reason you’re looking for free milk crates.
They’re awesome for storage, DIY projects, and organizing. I even use milk crates in my woodworking shop as see through storage containers.
But can you really get milk crates for free?
Can you just grab one from that stack behind a grocery store or is it illegal to take milk crates?
The answer is no and yes!
Taking one is technically theft because those crates are private property. In fact, industry reports show this costs dairies up to $100 million a year, which is why states have laws with serious fines for possessing stolen crates.
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The good news?
There are plenty of legit and legal ways to get free things locally including milk crates (and alternatives if you can’t find them for free).
In this guide, I’ll show you the best (and completely legal) ways to get free milk crates.
I’ll explain exactly who to ask and where to look, both in person and online, to get all the crates you need without breaking the law.
Table of Contents
Quick Answer: The 3 Best Places to Get Free Milk Crates Legally
- Ask the Dairy Manager at a Grocery Store: They often have damaged or unusable crates they are allowed to give away.
- Check Facebook Marketplace & Buy Nothing Groups: This is your best and fastest way to find free crates from people in your neighborhood who are moving or decluttering.
- Visit Local Restaurants & Cafes: Small, independent businesses usually have extra crates they’re happy to give you.
Where to Find Free Milk Crates Near You
So where do you actually score free milk crates without breaking the law?
Here are the top spots to check (and some insider tips to make your search easier).
1. Grocery Stores and Supermarkets
Do grocery stores give away milk crates?
Sometimes, yes.
Stores occasionally end up with cracked or broken crates that they can’t reuse.
If you ask a manager politely, they might let you take them off their hands.
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Don’t just ask a random cashier. They won’t know the store’s policy. Find the manager and ask him or her.
Pro tip: For the best results, go to the store during the during non-peak hours (like a weekday morning) and ask to speak directly to the Dairy Manager or the general Stock Manager. Politely explain what you’re using them for and ask if they have any damaged or unneeded crates they would be willing to part with.
2. Schools, Colleges & Daycares
Can you get free milk crates from schools?
Absolutely!
These places often get bulk milk deliveries, and by the end of a semester or school year, they’re clearing out storage rooms.
If you know a cafeteria worker or custodian, that’s your best in.
3. Local Restaurants, Cafes, and Bars
Restaurants and cafeterias (especially diners or smaller family-owned spots) usually get milk, juice, soda and even alcohol, delivered in those plastic crates.
They don’t always send them back, so asking politely can score you a few for free.
4. Convenience Stores & Gas Stations
Don’t overlook smaller convenience stores and gas stations.
They get smaller, more frequent deliveries of milk and other products.
Because they have less storage space, the manager might be happy to have you haul away a few extra crates that are taking up room in the back.
5. Yard Sales & Garage Sales
Milk crates show up all the time at yard sales, usually bundled with moving boxes, bins, or other storage items.
Pro tip: show up toward the end of the sale. Sellers will usually give them away for free just so they don’t have to haul them back inside.
6. Recycling Centers & Dumpsters
Don’t overlook recycling centers or even dumpsters behind apartment complexes.
A lot of people toss old or broken crates when moving. If you’re willing to dig a little, you can sometimes find perfectly good ones for free.
7. Factories & manufacturers near you
Factories are one of the first places I check when looking for free wooden pallets near me.
Now, when it comes to milk crates, most may not have any since they probably have no use for milk crates. But some places, depending on the kind of products they manufacture, may use crates as storage or shipping containers. So it wouldn’t hurt to ask.
Where to Find Free Milk Crates Online
If you don’t feel like driving around asking managers or checking behind cafeterias, you can still score milk crates online.
Your local community can be a goldmine if you know the right places to look online.
8. Check Facebook Marketplace and “Buy Nothing” Groups
If you’re wondering “Where can I get free milk crates near me?” your best bet is local online listings.
And Facebook is one of the best spots to find free stuff locally. I find all kinds of free stuff on my local Facebook group.
Use the search bar in Facebook Marketplace for “free milk crates” and see what pops up in your area.
Even better, search for your neighborhood’s “Buy Nothing” group.
These are groups where people in the same community give away items they no longer need, and it’s the number one online spot for finding crates, especially from people who’ve just finished moving.
9. Look in the “Free” Section of Craigslist
It’s a classic for a reason. Check the “Free” section on your local Craigslist page.
It’s a quick and easy way to find people getting rid of a bunch of stuff at once, and milk crates are a common item you’ll see on the list.
The amount of valuable free stuff people giveaway on Craigslist is just insane. I practically have furnished my whole house with art works and furniture that I have gotten for free on Craigslist, lol.
Just remember to be safe when meeting up with anyone from the site.
10. Check Freecycle
Freecycle is a community built around giving away items locally.
It’s free to join, and you’ll often find milk crates from people cleaning out basements, garages, or storage units.
Post a “wanted” request too, sometimes you’ll get replies within a day.
11. Browse Reddit / Free Stuff Forums
Reddit has subreddits like r/Freebies where people share local giveaways. You can even try r/BuyNothing or your city’s subreddit.
Many members post free moving or storage gear, including milk crates.
12. Ask at Local Marinas and Boatyards
Here’s an insider tip most people never think of: boaters love milk crates.
They are the perfect, waterproof, rugged storage solution for holding ropes, cleaning supplies, and equipment on a boat.
That’s why local marinas and boatyards always have a ton of them laying around. Sometimes boaters leave them behind when they sell their boat, or they get collected during seasonal marina clean-outs.
If I lived near a marina or boatyard, I’d definitely ask the dockmaster or the staff at the marina office if they have any extra or unclaimed crates they would give away.
13. Crate Exchange Networks
Here’s a cool idea you may want to try.
Instead of just scouring Freecycle or Facebook Marketplace, start your own local milk crate swap network!
This is a super practical and original way to get free milk crates while helping neighbors clear out clutter.
Plus, it’s more likely to score you exactly what you need for your DIY projects, storage solutions, or even garden setups.
Here’s how to get started:
- Pick a neighborhood platform: This could be a community Facebook group, Nextdoor, or even a simple Google Doc or email list for your local area.
- Create a clear post: Let people know what you’re collecting, why, and what you’ll do with the crates. Keep it friendly and simple.
- Set up a drop-off or pickup system: You can have people leave crates on your porch, schedule a brief meetup, or coordinate trades.
- Encourage sharing & swapping: Ask others if they have crates to spare or if they want to trade for another item.
Example template you can use:
“Hey neighbors! I’m collecting extra milk crates for DIY projects, storage, and small gardening setups. If you have any you don’t need, let’s trade or give them away! Thanks so much!”
This method is completely legal, safe, and super effective, and it gives you access to free milk crates that might not show up on typical online listings.
Can’t Find Any? Here Are Some Cheap Alternatives
If you’ve asked around and still can’t find any free ones, buying them is your next best bet.
You don’t have to spend a fortune, and you won’t have to worry about breaking any rules.
You can find very similar heavy-duty plastic “utility crates” or “storage crates” at stores like Home Depot, Lowe’s, and Target. They look and work just like milk crates, are 100% legal to own, and usually only cost a few bucks apiece.
Home Depot
- As low as: $11.98
You can usually pick up black utility crates for around twelve dollars at Home Depot. They’re heavy-duty and perfect for things like storing vinyl records or organizing your garage.
Target
- As low as: $12.00
Target is another great place to look. They often sell standard-sized milk crates for about $12. They’re sturdy and great for all kinds of home organization projects.
Walmart
- As low as: $7.99
Walmart sells a few different kinds of authentic-looking milk crates, usually starting around eight dollars. You can almost always find them in the home storage aisle.
Milk Crates Direct
- As low as: $6.99
If you need a bunch of them, check out a specialty site like MilkCratesDirect.com. You can often buy them individually for as low as $6.99 per crate, and they come in all sorts of different colors.
FAQs About Free Milk Crates
Here are quick answers to the most common questions about finding and using milk crates.
Yes. Genuine dairy crates are made from a thick, durable plastic designed to withstand heavy commercial use and constant stacking. The “utility crates” sold at stores like Home Depot or Target are great for household storage, but they are generally made of a thinner plastic and may not hold up to very heavy loads.
A standard, square milk crate is approximately 13″ x 13″ x 11″. This size is perfect for holding vinyl records, books, or serving as a base for DIY shelving projects.
Sometimes, yes, but always ask first. Most dairies consider their crates company property, so it’s illegal to just grab them. Your best bet is to ask stores, schools, or local businesses if they have extras they’re willing to give away.
A real dairy style milk crate can sell for $8–$15 online, depending on size and condition. Bulk packs or knockoffs from Walmart or Amazon can be cheaper, usually around $5 each.
Because they’re heavy, durable, and in demand for storage, DIY furniture, and even apartment gardening. Sellers know people are willing to pay for convenience, and that drives up prices on Amazon, eBay, and other marketplaces.
Yes. Taking crates without permission is theft and can result in fines.
It shows the crates belong to the dairy company and aren’t for personal use.
Your best bet is to ask a manager at a local business that receives dairy deliveries, such as a grocery store, convenience store, or school cafeteria. The second best place is to check online community boards like Facebook Marketplace or Freecycle for people who are giving them away after moving.
Not usually for free, but you can sometimes buy extras or discounted crates from their store.
Yes. End-of-term cleanouts at schools and daycares often have leftover crates to give away.
Final Reminder: Always Ask, Never Assume
Getting free milk crates is definitely possible, but it’s not as simple as grabbing one from a stack behind a store.
That’s a quick way to get yourself in real trouble. The most important thing to remember is to always ask for permission first.
By talking to a manager at a local grocery store or convenience store, you give yourself the best shot at getting some crates legally and for free.
It really just comes down to asking the right person at the right place.
Now, I’d love to hear from you. Where have you had the most luck finding free milk crates? Share your own tips in the comments below!
Honestly, “asking the store / restaurant” isn’t the safest way to ensure no legal trouble…..
I drive / deliver dairy products. Those products arrive at the schools, stores, bakeries, etc in milk crates. Each delivery, I pick up the empty ones and take them back to the warehouse (so they be refilled & used again). “The store or restaurant” manager may not care and give permission to take them, but the crates are technically not *their* property to decide to give away so their permission is pretty much useless. A person may be able to claim ignorance “I asked the store and they said it was ok”, but I wouldn’t bank on it (possession of stolen property, even if you’re unaware it was “stolen” / honestly feel you had the required permission, is still a crime)
I know a person who has Publix empty crates on the porch..It’s write on the crate the use is prohibited by law..
This is interesting
Thanks, Billy!
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If you get in trouble for having milk crates in you procession, then why do the stores like Walmart or Target sell them? What if there is no writing on them and was given away from a senior center? Could you still get in trouble?
The law is very weird about this. The whole issue of it being illegal in some places is that the law considers it “stolen property.” I know it doesn’t make sense, but that’s the law. So when they sell it and you buy it, you paid for it, proving that it is not stolen.
That said, even if you get free ones from here and there, I doubt anybody is going to enforce the law.