If your warehouse stores long, awkward or oversized items such as timber, steel bar, pipework or sheet material, standard pallet racking is rarely the right fit. This is where cantilever racking comes in. Unlike shelving with front supports, it uses arms that extend out from a central upright, leaving the front of the bay completely open for loading and unloading long lengths of stock.
What Is Cantilever Racking Used For?
Cantilever racking suits businesses handling timber and building materials, steel bar and tube, sheet metal and panels, and pipework or other long, irregular loads. Because there are no front uprights to work around, forklifts can load and unload from either side without manoeuvring around fixed frames, which speeds up handling in a busy warehouse and reduces the risk of stock being damaged in transit.
New Cantilever Racking or Used Cantilever Racking?
Monarch Shelving stocks both new cantilever racking and used cantilever racking, so the right choice comes down to budget, lead time and how quickly bays need to be in place. New cantilever racking is available in single sided and double sided configurations, with arm depths of 600mm and 900mm, and uniform distributed load (UDL) ratings of up to 4,000kg for single sided bays and 8,000kg for double sided bays. Used cantilever racking offers a cost-effective route into the same storage capacity, with double sided arm depths available at 500mm, 900mm, 1,000mm and 1,200mm, and UDL ratings ranging from 600kg up to 8,000kg depending on the bay chosen. Every used bay is checked before it leaves our Oldham site, so businesses working to a tighter budget do not need to compromise on safety.
Single Sided or Double Sided?
Single sided cantilever racking works well against a wall or at the edge of a warehouse, where access is only needed from one side. Double sided systems allow loading from both sides of a central upright, which suits open floor layouts where space is at a premium. Both the new and used ranges are available as starter bays and extension bays, so a run can be sized to the exact length required rather than fixed to a set dimension.
Load Ratings and Safety Considerations
As with any pallet racking system, cantilever racking should be specified against a confirmed uniform distributed load (UDL) rather than an estimate, since arm depth, upright spacing and bay height all affect how much weight can be safely stored. Once installed, cantilever bays should be included in the same routine as the rest of the warehouse. A racking inspection check flags arm damage, upright movement or overloading before it becomes a safety issue.
Choosing the Right System for Your Warehouse
Whether you need a single starter bay or a full run of cantilever racking across a warehouse aisle, Monarch Shelving can help match the right arm depth, load rating and configuration to your stock. For businesses also reviewing storage for other long items, our sheet and bar racking range covers similar applications. Get in touch and our team will help specify the right system first time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Single sided bays are available in 600mm and 900mm arm depths. Used stock offers a wider range, from 500mm up to 1,200mm, depending on current availability.
Yes. Both new and used ranges are supplied as starter bays and extension bays, so a run can be extended to the exact length your warehouse needs rather than being limited to fixed bay sizes.
All pre-owned bays are inspected at our Oldham site before delivery, so condition and load capacity are confirmed before the racking reaches your warehouse.
Yes. Pallet racking, including cantilever systems, is classed as work equipment under PUWER regulations and should be checked regularly. Our racking inspections service covers this.
To find out more or to discuss your storage requirements, contact the Monarch Shelving team today on 0161 627 3444 or email sales@monarchshelving.co.uk.
