From cargo type, load capacity and storage method to warehouse space — a step-by-step guide to choosing the right warehouse rack.
Load capacity. First clarify the unit weight of each item and the full-pallet weight. Light-duty shelf rack suits light-load manual picking, medium-duty shelf rack suits classified storage of small and medium items, and heavy-duty pallet rack is designed for palletized forklift operations with a higher per-level load.
Cargo form. Long bar materials (steel bars, profiles, pipes, plates) suit cantilever rack; palletized and cartoned goods suit beam (pallet) rack; small items in frequent turnover can use flow rack for first-in first-out storage.
Storage method. For manual picking, give priority to medium- or light-duty shelf racks with adjustable shelf heights; for forklift operations, prefer heavy-duty pallet rack or drive-in rack; sorting areas with frequent picking suit flow rack.
Warehouse space. Warehouses with a high clear height can consider mezzanine rack or steel platform to expand a second level; goods with few SKUs and large batch sizes can use drive-in rack to raise storage density; aisle width must match the forklift turning radius.
Heavy-duty pallet (beam) rack: used with pallets and forklifts, suits palletized, forklift-based heavy-duty warehousing — a mainstream, widely used rack type.
Medium-duty shelf rack: Type A / Type B series with adjustable shelf heights and easy assembly, suits fine management of spare parts and small-to-medium goods.
Light-duty shelf rack: light load with many sizes, suits supermarkets, convenience stores, light warehouses and home storage.
Mezzanine rack · steel platform: a steel-structured second-level expansion, suits warehouses with a high clear height that need three-dimensional space use.
Cantilever rack: suits long bar materials such as steel bars and profiles. Drive-in rack: forklift drive-in dense storage for goods with few SKUs and large batch sizes.
Answers to common questions about rack selection, load capacity, installation and warehouse planning.
They are distinguished mainly by per-level load and structure: light-duty shelf rack suits light-load manual picking, medium-duty shelf rack suits classified storage of small and medium items, and heavy-duty pallet rack is designed for palletized forklift operations with a higher per-level load. Exact figures follow the specifications and drawings.
Start from the unit weight and size of goods, picking frequency and clear warehouse height, then weigh them against budget and operation mode. You can also pass your requirements to the manufacturer and have engineers assist with the design.
It suits warehouses with a high clear height that need a second-level expansion. The second level can be used for storage, office or picking platforms, and must be fitted with stairs and safety guardrails.
Cantilever rack suits long bar materials such as steel bars, profiles, pipes and plates. It comes in single-sided and double-sided versions, selected by material length and unit weight.
