Cantilever Rack vs. Pallet Rack: Which One Do You Need?

Choose pallet rack if what you store sits on pallets, and cantilever rack if it's long, bulky or oddly shaped, like lumber, pipe, bar stock or sheet goods.

The deciding factor is load length. Pallet rack holds loads on pairs of beams inside a bay, so a load can only be as long as the beams. Cantilever rack has no front posts, so you can store longer material just by adding uprights. Many warehouses use both.

How do cantilever and pallet rack compare?

The two racks differ most in how they hold a load and how long that load can be. Specs below are for the MECO Omaha cantilever line, MECO Omaha structural pallet rack and the Space Plus USA teardrop pallet rack kits we list.

Cantilever rack Pallet rack
Best for Long, bulky or oddly shaped loads: lumber, pipe, tubing, bar stock, sheet goods, furniture Pallets, cartons and skids
How it holds the load Arms extend from a single upright column, with no post at the front Pairs of beams span between two upright frames
Load length No fixed limit. Add uprights and braces for longer material Limited by beam length: 48" to 144" on MECO structural beams, 96" on our Space Plus kits
Load depth Set by arm length: 12" to 60" on MECO Set by frame depth: 36", 42" or 48" on MECO structural frames, 42" or 48" on Space Plus kits
Heights MECO uprights from 6' to 20' MECO structural frames from 8' to 24'. Space Plus kits at 12', 16' and 20'
Level adjustment Arms every 3" on MECO Beams every 2" on MECO structural and Space Plus teardrop frames
Capacity ratings Per arm and per upright. MECO arms up to 4,000 lb, single-sided uprights up to 28,700 lb Per beam pair and per bay or frame. MECO structural rack up to 52,200 lb per bay, 96" beam pairs 5,000 to 13,750 lb
Loading Forklift or by hand from the open front Forklift, with pallets set on beams or decking

When is cantilever rack the better choice?

Choose cantilever when your material is longer than a pallet rack bay, comes in mixed lengths, or would hang off a pallet.

  • Long loads: lumber, pipe, tubing, conduit, bar stock and structural shapes. MECO's rule is to space uprights so the load overhangs the end arms by one-half the upright spacing, so a 24' load fits on 3 uprights spaced 8' apart.
  • Mixed lengths: with no front posts in the way, different lengths can be loaded and pulled from the same rack without working around a bay.
  • Round stock: inclined arms and bolt-on lips keep pipe and tubing from rolling off.
  • Heavy single pieces: a load on a MECO base doesn't count against the upright's rating, so the heaviest stock goes on the base.
  • Outdoor yards: Space Plus USA cantilever racks are powder coated for indoor and outdoor use, with galvanized available on request.

For sizing arms, capacity, spacing and height, see our cantilever rack buying guide.

When is pallet rack the better choice?

Choose pallet rack when your inventory is palletized, or when you need to stack many cartons or skids high in a small footprint. Size it with three measurements.

  1. Frame depth: your pallet should overhang the frame by 3" at the front and back. For standard 48" deep pallets, use a 42" deep frame. For deeper pallets, use a 48" frame.
  2. Beam length: MECO's rule is to add at least 10" to the width of two pallets, or 14" to the width of three. A 96" beam fits two standard 40" wide pallets per level, and 144" beams fit three.
  3. Height: add the height of the pallet, the load and each beam, with 4" of clearance between the top of each load and the beam above. Keep the top beam at least 6" below your forklift's maximum lift height, and check your ceiling and sprinkler clearances.

Then check capacity. Beams are rated per pair. Frames are rated at a given vertical beam spacing, measured from the floor to the top of the lowest beams.

  • MECO structural pallet rack: all-welded structural channel frames rated 34,800 lb per bay (3" channel) or 52,200 lb per bay (4" channel), at a vertical beam spacing of 60" or less. Bolted structural beams in 3", 4" and 5" channel run 48" to 144" long. A 96" pair is rated 5,000, 8,750 or 13,750 lb depending on channel size. Beams bolt to the frames with two heavy duty bolts per connection, so forklift impact can't knock them loose. Designed to AISC and RMI standards.
  • Space Plus USA teardrop kits: 96" step beams rated 6,980 lb per pair, and 12' x 42" frames rated 19,800 lb at 36" beam spacing. Kits include galvanized wire decks rated 2,200 lb each. Frames use the standard teardrop pattern on 2" centers, which works with most teardrop-style beams from other manufacturers. Designed for indoor use only.

MECO structural accessories include wall ties and row spacers (6" to 24"), drop-in cross supports rated 5,000 lb, structural post protectors, and coil cradles rated 10,000 lb for coils up to 48" in diameter.

Like cantilever, pallet rack comes as starter kits (2 frames) and add-on units (1 frame that shares a frame with the next bay), or as components. MECO also builds drive-in and drive-thru structural rack for high-density storage of similar pallet loads.

Storing drums? MECO drum pallet racks hold 30 or 55 gallon drums on removable cradles and convert to pallet storage when you take the cradles out.

Can I use both in the same building?

Yes, and many facilities do: pallet rack for palletized inventory, and cantilever for long stock like pipe, lumber and bar.

If you're not sure how to split your space, email us a list of what you store and we'll suggest a layout for both.

How do delivery and setup work?

Both racks ship by freight truck directly from the manufacturer as unassembled components. After you order, we quote freight to your address and send a separate freight invoice within 1 business day. Your order ships once the freight invoice is paid. See our Shipping Policy.

  • Liftgate delivery: no dock or forklift to unload? Tell us when you request your freight quote and we'll add liftgate delivery to it.
  • Anchoring: both cantilever uprights and pallet rack frames must be anchored to the floor before loading. Anchors are sold separately, or we can provide them at an additional cost.
  • Assembly: Space Plus USA beams drop into the frames and lock with pre-installed safety clips, and wire decks drop in with no hardware. MECO racks come with complete instructions and hardware.
  • Back-to-back pallet rack: you'll need row spacers between the rows. Post protectors are also available for high-traffic aisles.

Common questions

Can I store long items on pallet rack?

Only if the load fits within the bay and rests on both beams or on decking. Anything longer than the beams belongs on cantilever rack.

Can I store pallets or skids on cantilever rack?

Yes. MECO straight arms are made for stable loads like lumber, steel sheet, cartons and skids. For boxes and loose items, MECO deck support saddles hold a plywood deck on the arms.

Will Space Plus USA beams fit my existing pallet rack?

Usually, if your current frames are teardrop style. Space Plus USA frames use the standard teardrop pattern on 2" centers. Email us your frame details to confirm before ordering.

Can I add beam levels later?

Yes. Extra beams and decking can be added within a frame's height.

Can either rack go outdoors?

Space Plus USA cantilever racks are powder coated for indoor and outdoor use. Space Plus USA pallet racks are designed for indoor use only.

Do you sell sizes that aren't listed on your site?

Yes. We sell everything in the MECO Omaha Buyer's Guide plus the full Space Plus USA and Gillis Jarke lines, including 144" pallet rack beams and 60" cantilever arms. Email us for a quote.

Are anchors included?

No. Anchors are sold separately, or we can provide them at an additional cost.

Not sure which rack you need?

Email us for a quote. Tell us what you store (pallet size or load length, depth and weight), your ceiling height and your floor space, and we'll recommend cantilever, pallet rack or both, and quote the rack and freight to your address.

Written by Neel Doshi, founder of My Warehouse World.

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