Cantilever Rack

Cantilever racks provide open-front storage for long, bulky, and irregular materials such as lumber, pipe, tubing, steel, furniture, and building supplies. Instead of front columns, the system uses horizontal arms connected to upright columns, allowing materials to extend across multiple support points.

What Is a Cantilever Rack?

A cantilever rack is an industrial storage system that supports material on arms extending from vertical uprights. The front of the rack remains open, so long loads can be placed across several arms without front columns interrupting access.

A complete system normally combines uprights and bases, horizontal and diagonal bracing, arms, and compatible hardware. Stops or other accessories may be added when appropriate for the stored material. The correct combination depends on the load dimensions, weight, support requirements, layout, and handling method.

With no front columns, forklifts can load long materials straight from the open face, and arm levels and single- or double-sided layouts can be set up around your inventory. See the full benefits of a cantilever racking system.

Which Cantilever Rack Product Do You Need?

Cantilever Rack Builder

Use the builder when you need a complete rack configured from compatible uprights, bracing, arms, bases, and optional stop pins. This is the primary path for buyers selecting a structural cantilever racking system.

Prefer a Pre-Grouped System?

If a pre-grouped setup fits your height, arm length, and layout, see the cantilever rack starter kit for what is included.

Cantilever Rack Components

Shop individual uprights, arms, bracing, and stop pins when you need compatible parts for a new system, an addition, or a replacement. Do not mix components from different systems unless compatibility has been confirmed.

What Can Cantilever Racks Store? 

Cantilever storage is commonly considered when the material is too long, bulky, or irregular for conventional shelving or pallet positions.

• Lumber, boards, plywood, drywall, and other building materials
• Pipe, conduit, tubing, and bundled cylindrical products
• Steel bars, structural shapes, sheet material, and other long stock
• Furniture, rolled goods, and oversized inventory

Suitability still depends on the load. Material length, depth, stiffness, weight, distribution, support spacing, and handling equipment must be considered before selecting the final system.

How Do You Choose the Right Cantilever Rack?

Start with the material you need to store. Before selecting a rack, gather:

1. Material type and shape
2. Longest item or bundle length
3. Load depth and height
4. Maximum expected weight and how it is distributed
5. Required number of storage levels
6. Single-sided or double-sided access
7. Forklift or manual handling method
8. Available floor area, aisle space, and clear height
9. Indoor or outdoor placement
10. Any anchoring, permitting, seismic, or site requirements

Do not choose a system from a light-duty, medium-duty, or heavy-duty label alone. Allowable capacity changes with arm length, upright height, number of levels, bracing, component series, and load distribution.

Need a Complete Cantilever Racking System?

Use the Cantilever Rack Builder when you are ready to select a complete system. The builder organizes the available upright, bracing, arm, base, and stop-pin options and produces a selected-specification summary and bill of materials.

If the project involves unusual loads, a large layout, outdoor exposure, complex forklift access, or permit and engineering questions, contact Speedrack West before ordering. A CAD warehouse layout can help account for aisles, columns, doors, turning space, and other facility conditions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a cantilever rack used for?

Cantilever racks are used for long, bulky, and irregular materials such as lumber, pipe, tubing, steel stock, furniture, and building supplies. The correct configuration depends on the load and how it will be handled.

What are the main parts of a cantilever rack?

A typical system includes uprights and bases, bracing, arms, hardware, and compatible accessories. Each component must belong to the selected rack system and configuration.

Can I buy individual cantilever rack components?

Yes. This category includes individual uprights, arms, bracing, and stop pins as well as complete systems. Confirm compatibility before combining components.

How is cantilever rack capacity determined?

Capacity must be checked for the complete configuration. Arm length, upright height, number of levels, bracing, component series, load distribution, and installation conditions can affect the allowable load.