Pallet Racking Dimensions – What You Need to Know

Choosing the right pallet racking dimensions is crucial for designing an optimal and efficient storage system for your warehouse. To do that, you must be familiar with the dimensions and sizes of various components.

In this article, you’ll find a short yet comprehensive guide that’ll help you understand the all-important dimensions of pallet racking systems. Moreover, you’ll learn how to choose the right pallet racking system for your warehouse. 

So, let’s get started!

Overview of Pallet Racking Dimensions

The three main pallet rack dimensions – Height, Width, and Depth – will determine the functionality and operational efficiency of the pallet racking system. So, here’s a quick overview of each of these three measurements. 

Height

The height of a pallet racking system usually means the overall rack height. This is a vertical measurement of the rack from the floor to the highest beam level. When measuring the height, you want to consider the following things:

  • Maximize the use of vertical space.
  • Leave proper clearance between the highest beam level and the ceiling.

20 to 30 feet is the standard height in most warehouses. However, with a taller ceiling and proper safety considerations, you can increase the height as per your needs.

Width

Pallet racking width, also called beam length, is a horizontal measurement across the face of the pallet racking system. This measurement will determine how many pallets you can store side by side in a warehouse racking. 

The standard pallet racking size for beam lengths usually ranges from 8 to 12 feet. However, depending on the size of the pallets, you can increase or decrease the beam length. Beam lengths will also directly affect the width of your aisles.

Depth

The front-to-back measurement of a pallet racking frame is called depth or frame depth. It’s measured horizontally and helps determine how deep you can store pallets in your pallet racking system. 

The standard frame depth ranges from 3 to 4 feet. However, you will have to consider pallet width as well as a minimum of 3-inch overhang when deciding the frame depth for your pallet racking system. 

Figure 1 - Pallet Racking Image

Standard Pallet Racking Dimensions

In this section, you’ll find the standard pallet rack dimensions for all major types of pallet racking.

Selective Pallet Racking

Dimension Standard Measurement Range
Height/Rack Height 8 to 40 feet
Depth/Frame Depth 36 to 48 inches
Width/Beam Length 8 to 12 feet
Beam Thickness 3 to 6 inches
Aisle Width 10 to 14 feet
Load Capacity (per Level) 2,000 to 5,000 lbs

 

Double Deep Pallet Racking

Dimension Standard Measurement Range
Height/Rack Height 12 to 40 feet
Depth/Frame Depth 36 to 48 inches
Width/Beam Length 8 to 12 feet
Beam Thickness 4 to 8 inches
Aisle Width 10 to 14 feet
Load Capacity (per Level) 2,000 to 4,000 lbs

 

Very Narrow Aisle (VNA) Pallet Racking

Dimension Standard Measurement Range
Height/Rack Height 20 to 50 feet
Depth/Frame Depth  36 to 48 inches
Width/Beam Length 8 to 12 feet
Beam Thickness 3 to 6 inches
Aisle Width 5 to 7 feet
Load Capacity (per Level) 2,000 to 4,000 lbs

 

Drive-In & Drive-Through Pallet Racking

Dimension Standard Measurement Range
Height/Rack Height 10 to 40 feet
Depth/Frame Depth  36 to 48 inches
Rail Height 2 to 4 inches
Rail Spacing 1 to 2 feet
Aisle Width 10 to 14 feet
Load Capacity (per Level) 2,000 to 3,000 lbs

 

Gravity Flow Pallet Racking

Dimension Standard Measurement Range
Height/Rack Height 10 to 40 feet
Depth/Frame Depth  36 to 60 inches
Width/Beam Length 8 to 12 feet
Roller Pitch 1 to 4 inches
Aisle Width 8 to 12 feet
Load Capacity (per Level) 2,000 to 3,500 lbs.

 

Push-Back Pallet Racking

Dimension Standard Measurement Range
Height/Rack Height 10 to 30 feet
Depth/Frame Depth  36 to 48 inches
Width/Beam Length 8 to 12 feet
Cart Depth 36 to 48 inches
Aisle Width 8 to 12 feet
Load Capacity (per Level) 2,000 to 3,000 lbs

 

Pallet Shuttle Racking

Dimension Standard Measurement Range
Height/Rack Height 12 to 40 feet
Depth/Frame Depth  36 to 48 inches
Width/Beam Length 8 to 12 feet
Shuttle Rail Width 3 to 4 inches
Aisle Width 10 to 14 feet
Load Capacity (per Level) 2,000 to 4,000 lbs

 

Factors Affecting Pallet Racking Size

Several factors can influence the final dimensions and configuration of your pallet racking system. Let’s take a closer look at FIVE factors that directly affect the size of pallet racking.

  • Type of Inventory: Heavy and bulky inventory requires wider and deeper racks for safe and secure storage. On the other hand, narrow racks are good enough for goods with smaller footprints. 
  • Size of Pallets: The width and weight of the pallets you use will also affect pallet rack dimensions. For standard pallet rack dimensions, use standard-size 48×40-inch pallets.
  • Load Capacity: Depending on what load capacity you want from your pallet racking system, you might have to customize the pallet racking standard sizes.

Figure 2 - Pallet Racking Image

Choosing the Right Pallet Racking Dimensions

The standard warehouse racking dimensions are not the best fit for every warehouse. That’s why when finalizing the pallet rack dimensions for your system, it’s important to consider the following:

  • Warehouse Layout: Ceiling height, floor space, and your warehouse’s layout will also directly affect the size of your pallet racking system.
  • Ease of Accessibility: Choose the dimensions that allow quick and easy accessibility to pallets as it will improve the operational efficiency of your warehouse.
  • Pick the Right Pallet Racking Type: Different pallet racking types have different pallet racking dimensions. If you’re not interested in a customized pallet racking system, choose a pallet racking type with standard dimensions that suit your warehouse layout and storage requirements. 

Conclusion

When you understand the various pallet racking dimensions, you can make informed decisions and choose the right pallet racking system for your storage needs. We hope this short guide will help you do that. Pay close attention to the factors that affect the pallet racking dimensions and don’t let the standard pallet racking dimensions limit your imagination.

FAQs

1. Can pallet racking dimensions be customized?

Yes. Although there are standard pallet racking dimensions for every type, you can customize pallet racks to better fulfill your storage needs. You can adjust the height, width, and depth of your pallet racking system to fit your warehouse layout. However, don’t compromise on safety and stability of your pallet racking system.

2. How can incorrect pallet racking dimensions affect warehouse operations?

Misaligned racks can cause pallets to fall off, inaccurate aisle width can cause forklift-related accidents in the warehouse, and inaccurate beam length can reduce the storage density of your pallet racking system.

In other words, incorrect pallet racking dimensions can compromise safety, reduce storage density, and affect the operational efficiency of your warehouse.

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