Virtually every warehouse has a pallet rack system in place, whether bigger or smaller. Perhaps the most pertinent reason why this is the case is due to the shipping industry, which uses this unit load as a fundamental given.
Aside from compliance with logistics frameworks worldwide, buying a pallet rack system will greatly increase the storage capacity of your warehouse by augmenting your total storage density. However, there are numerous variables to be considered if you want to make a cost-benefit analysis of buying a pallet rack structure.
In this article, we’ll give you an overview of the approximate price of purchasing an average pallet rack system in 2019.
How Much Does Warehouse Racking Cost?
Before jumping to any assumptions regarding how much you can save with pallet racks, you should decide which type of racks fit your needs as a business. Depending on your inventory, as well as the latter’s turnover, some systems might be more suitable than others. Let’s take a quick look at some of the major types:
Pallet Flow Rack. Featuring high density storage, these racks are best suited for those warehouses that operate on a first-in, first out cycle. When a new pallet comes in, it is loaded from the back of the shelf, while older ones are pushed towards the front. One of the most appropriate businesses for this type of racking system is the food retail industry, since the perishability of goods is usually high and, thus, so is the turnover. Price can vary between $380 to $440 per pallet.
Selective (Single-Deep) Racks.Although each and every pallet can easily be accessed, Selective (Single-Deep) Racks. racks do not offer great storage density as a whole. These are only viable when immense amounts of space are available and pallet delivery expedience is a top priority for storage operations. These racks tend to be more affordable, starting at about $45 to $65 per pallet.
Double-Deep Racks. Ideally, any warehouse would have a pallet racking system that is at least double-deep, which means that it allows two pallets to be placed in each bay. Although better in terms of density, this does mean that access to the second pallet is difficult, so they’re more appropriate when you have a rather low variety of goods, but have to stock an abundance of each type of SKU. Prices can fluctuate from $50 to $70 per pallet.
Drive-through or Drive-in Racks. Another widespread type of racking framework is the drive-through or the drive-in rack. The former are also suitable for companies with a high inventory turnover, as the forklift is able to access each of the pallets that are stored. Estimated budgets start at around $160 and can go up to $185 per pallet.
How Many and How High?
The volume and height of your future racking system have a direct and noteworthy impact on the overall price. The more floor space you have, the bigger the system will be. This is also true in terms of height since tiers influence the final quota. The more shelves you need, the more materials will have to be used during production of the rack. If you plan on storing really heavy merchandise, you ought to take into consideration the maximum load of each bay, as well as of the individual pallets that you want to store.
The main reason for knowing the composite, as well as individual weight of what you want to store is that it will help you save a lot of money. Instead of ordering a heavy-duty system that is designed to hold almost 19.000 Kg (approximately 42.000 lbs.) you can opt for a more affordable one that is better suited for your particular load.
Other Important Factors that Influence Price
Custom warehouse conditions, as well as specific designs will likely increase the final price of your pallet rack system, so keep that in mind when talking to your manufacturer. Considering all of the above, as well as several other noteworthy assumptions – such as the lack of seismic risk or the availability of floor storage.
To avoid both over- and under-estimations, it’s best you call the manufacturer and discuss your particular needs. It’s usually a common practice to give a rough quota, free of charge.