How to Choose Your Storage Rack
Whether you need a complete racking system, individual parts for repairs or replacements, or professional installation, StorageRack.com has you covered. We’ll guide you through the selection process below.
If you need personalized help, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team.
Assess Your Warehouse Needs
Before you click “Add to Cart,” you’ll need to assess your needs. That means thinking about your storage space, inventory, and future plans.
To do that, ask yourself:
- New, upgrade, or repair? This will tell you if you need a complete system or just a few parts.
- What do I need to store? Assess the size, weight, and shape of your items to make sure you have the right type of shelving. Keep in mind the weight of your heaviest items, and consider potential weight increases as your business needs change.
- What are the typical dimensions of my pallets? Measure the length, width, height and weight of a fully loaded pallet to ensure it fits in your new storage system.
- Do we plan to expand in the near future? If you anticipate increasing your inventory soon, you may want to account for those needs now. It’s better to have more storage capacity than you need than to have less.
- What type of storage system will I use? Whether you’re using Last-In-First-Out or First-In-First-Out, you’ll need to make sure you can easily stow items and access them in the right order.
- What other logistical considerations do I have? For example, if you have space limitations, or need to access your inventory frequently or navigate large machinery between storage racks, this will impact your configuration.
Write down your answers to the above questions. You’ll use them for steps later in the process. The more details you have in advance, the easier it will be to order the right products.
Measure Your Space
Once you have a general idea of your needs, measure your storage space to get an idea of what will fit and your potential layout.
You’ll want to know:
- Your total floor space and ceiling height
- The size and placement of overhead obstructions
- Where your aisles and workspaces may be
- How much clearance you’ll need to use any necessary warehouse equipment
- Dimensions of access points like doors and loading bays
This will help you understand how many storage racks you can accommodate — and, by extension, how much inventory.
Choose Your Storage Solutions
Now that you’ve got an idea of your needs and storage environment, it’s time to choose your racking solution.
You’ve got four options to consider:
Pallet Racks
This is probably what you need if you want to store a variety of items, including large items and pallets, with easy access.
Cantilever Racks
This is most likely what you want if you’re dealing with long, oddly-shaped inventory like lumber or pipes.
Wire Decking
Used in conjunction with pallet racks to add support and to accommodate smaller products.
Individual Parts
If you’re upgrading or repairing an existing storage solution, this is what you need. Think beams, uprights, and similar.
Decide on Installation
Before your shipment arrives, consider your installation process. Specifically, do you plan to install the storage racks yourself? Or do you need professional installation?
If you have enough people, expertise, equipment, and time, you may want to save money and install it yourself.
Check out our installation guides here:
If you’re short on time—or if you just don’t want to do it yourself—we can install your new equipment for you.
We’ll take care of:
- Handling facility permits and building codes
- Determining the optimal layout
- Any necessary equipment rentals (i.e., heavy machinery)
- Safely and securely installing your new storage racks
One of our expert project managers will oversee everything to make sure everything runs smoothly.
For more information, visit the installation services page.
Plan for Maintenance
Our storage racks are designed to last—but sometimes, repairs are inevitable.
If your storage equipment is going to see heavy use, consider stocking up on spare parts. This will make it easier to conduct ongoing maintenance to extend its lifespan.
To get started, check out our:
Complete Your Order
By now, you should have a thorough understanding of what you need.
Double check your specifications and quantities. Then, add the storage racks, wire decking, and parts you need to your cart. Complete the checkout process for more information about shipping costs and estimated delivery dates.
We accept Purchase Orders and all major credit cards, including Visa, American Express, MasterCard, and Discover. If you need to use another form of payment, contact customer service at 888-357-1107.
Finally, don’t forget to schedule your installation!
Need More Help Choosing Your Storage Rack? Contact the Experts
Our team at StorageRack.com is ready to help everything you need—from choosing the right system to scheduling your installation.
Don’t hesitate to reach out to our customer service team at 1-888-357-1107 or by email if you have any questions along the way.t