Planning a pallet racking installation: what to know before you buy
By the ATIS team · · 5 min read
New pallet racking can unlock a lot of storage in your warehouse, but only if it's planned right. Order first and plan later, and you can end up with aisles that are too tight, racks that don't fit your loads or a project stuck waiting on paperwork. Here's what to sort out before you buy.
1. Know what you're storing
Everything starts with your product. Get clear on:
- Pallet sizes and how much a loaded pallet weighs
- How many pallet positions you need now, and later
- How fast product moves: fast-moving items and long-term storage often need different setups
- Any long or odd-shaped items that might need cantilever racks instead of standard pallet racking
2. Plan the layout around your equipment
Your forklifts decide your aisles. Aisle width, clear height, dock doors, columns, sprinklers and fire exits all shape where racking can go. A good layout balances storage capacity with safe, efficient traffic flow. That's exactly what warehouse space planning is for: mapping it out before anything is installed.
3. Check permit requirements early
In California, many cities and counties require a permit for storage racking, especially taller systems, and may require engineering for seismic safety. Requirements vary by location, so check with your local building department early. Permits can take time, and it's much better to know up front than to have racking delivered with nowhere to go.
4. Choose the right mix of storage
Not everything belongs on a pallet rack. Many warehouses use a mix:
- Pallet racking for palletized product
- Cantilever racks for long items like pipe, lumber or tubing
- Boltless shelving for smaller items, parts and hand-picked inventory
5. Plan the install around operations
If you're installing in a working warehouse, the schedule matters. Phasing the work, or doing it after hours, can keep your team shipping while racks go up. If you're moving into a new building, coordinate racking installation before your inventory arrives, so product goes straight onto the racks.
6. Moving warehouses? Plan it together
If new racking is part of a move, treat it as one project. ATIS can pack warehouse content, palletize it and move it to your new location, then install the racking there. See how it worked for Stellar Pizza in our case studies.
One team from plan to install
ATIS handles rack procurement, pallet racking and cantilever rack installation, boltless shelving and warehouse logistics, all with one point of contact. Tell us about your space and we'll put together a free quote.
