If you hold a warehouse, a manufacturing facility, or a storage space, efficient space management is the key to a successful business, effective workflow, and reduced downtime. One of the most essential systems used by every facility to help businesses with these is pallet racking. These have diverse benefits and have helped many businesses shape their system. But before investing, there is always a common question among customers: how much does a pallet rack cost? This guide will explore everything about pallet racks, from the different types of pallet racking to the cost of pallet racking, the factors influencing it, and many more. So let us dive in and collect more information for you to make an informed and smart decision.
What is pallet racking?
Before delving deep into the cost breakdown of pallet racks, let us know what pallet racking is. Pallet racking is a material handling system, designed to store goods on pallets or skids. These racks find their wide application in distribution centers, warehouses, and storage facilities as well. For an area with limited ground space, this is a prominent storage option as they allow vertical stacking of the items, thus helping businesses save their floor space and utilize the leftover high-ceiling space.
The pallet racks are made of high-quality steel and are designed to accommodate heavy weights of raw materials, finished goods, and sometimes machines or equipment as well. Some of the common types of pallet racking available in the market and at Simco Steel, to cater to diverse business needs, are given as follows:
- Double-deep Pallet racks: these pallet racks allow storage of items in two-deep pallets, while easy loading or unloading using special forklifts like the reach-out trucks. These racks are an ideal choice for businesses with high inventory turnover of the same products, thus offering a balance between both easy accessibility and space savings.
- High-Rise Pallet Racks: For warehouses or distribution areas with high ceilings, these racks are used as they can be built up to a height of 30 feet and more, thus enabling better vertical space utilization. Without expanding the available space of the area, they significantly increase not just the storage area, but also the load bearing capacity from its heavy-duty construction and accessibility through forklifts like reach trucks.
- Movable Pallet Racks: Best for the area that does not require racks for string items 24 x 7. These racks are mounted on mobile bases or rails, thus allowing entire rows to shift for easy aisle access. By offering increased space with eliminated fixed aisles these systems are an ideal choice for warehouses with limited space, or cold storage areas. To be noted: these racks might need high investment and careful load management as compared to the other pallet racks.
- Selective Pallet Racks: One of the most common types of pallet racks, which funds their application in almost every business setting, from manufacturing facilities to warehouses or even distribution centers. They are well-known for their versatility in use, easy installation, and compatibility to access items with standard forklifts. While these racks offer less density and features than others, they are still a popular choice among businesses for their great flexibility.
Why is it important to know the cost of pallet racking?
Investing in pallet racking is not a short-term decision, but plays a significant role in businesses. Thus, having a thorough knowledge of the cost of pallet racking helps them with:
- Effective budget planning – Avoiding unexpected expenses.
- ROI Calculation: Ensure the system they are investing in pays them off in the efficiency gains.
- Comparing options: Deciding between the new and the used pallet racking costs based on their budget and the budget constraints too.
- A well-planned purchase always prevents a business from overspending and ensures that the systems meet not just their warehouse storage needs, but also complement their budget constraints very efficiently.
What factors affect the cost of pallet racking?
Several factors influence the cost of pallet racking, including:
- What type of pallet racking you are choosing? Different pallet racks have different features, some offer heavy-duty construction for heavy inventory management while some offer flexibility but less-density storage solutions. So selection of the types of pallet racks affects the overall cost.
- What type of rack material are you opting for? The premium quality steel, used by Simco Steel and others, might sometimes suffer the estimated standard cost for the racks, while the low-grade steel effective for lightweight management will be cheaper than that. So make sure to have a well-known understanding of the type and weight of inventories you intend to store in the pallet racks.
- Configuration & height of the racks- If you have a high ceiling and are looking for better vertical space optimization, be ready to pay more than usual as taller racks require stronger frames and other structural parts for long-term use with premium durability and utmost safety, thus increasing the overall cost of the racks.
- What are you choosing – new or used racks? Used pallet racks often come with some dents or scratches and will cost less than the new ones that are either standard in size or come in a customized way for your business needs.
- Trends in Market- Have you ever experienced the price of anything in trend be it cloth, equipment, or even storage equipment going on top of the sky during season and hype? The same is the case with pallet racks. At the season when everyone needs pallet racks, the prices are sure to surge up and touch the sky. Thus, one of the major factors that influence the pallet rack price is the dynamic trends of the market.
How much does pallet racking cost?
Let’s take a closer look at how much a pallet rack costs on average in India. And for you, here’s our general price range for different pallet racking:
| Types of Pallet Racking | New Pallet Racks | Used Pallet Racks |
| Selective Pallet Racks | Rs 8000 – Rs 20,000 | Rs 5000 – Rs 12,000 |
| Movable Pallet Racks | Rs 40,000 – Rs 80,000 | Rs 25,000 – Rs 50,000 |
| High-rise Pallet Racks | Rs 30,000 – Rs 60,000 | Rs 18,000 – Rs 35,000 |
| Double-deep Pallet Racks | Rs 12,000 – Rs 25,000 | Rs 7000 – Rs 15,000 |
What are the Additional Costs to Consider?
The cost of pallet racking does not end at load capacity, material, market, and price. Rather it still gets influenced by many more factors, such as:
- Installation Fees: Installing a pallet rack by yourself and your inexperienced team can be not just hectic but problematic too. In case, you need a professional installation team you will have to pay an extra amount for it too.
- Safety Accessories: For tall pallet racks to ensure safe working conditions for the workers and prevention of accidents with stored inventories, having a safety guard is prominent. But when paying for it an extra cost is also required.
- Maintenance & Repairs: Sometimes unusual handling or not maintaining a proper operational environment for the racks and lack of regular site inspection, might lead to wear, tear, or bending of the racks leading to quick repairs especially in the case of used pallet racks.
- Permits & Inspections: Used in the high capacity system or seismic prone areas. If you reside there, then having a seismic test is important to follow local codes, which might add to your pallet racks’ overall cost.
New vs. Used Racking: Cost Comparison
When choosing between new or used pallet racks there’s always some question popping up in the client’s mind. How much does the new pallet racking cost? What is the used pallet racking cost? What will be their state? Will there be any warranty? Will the customization be available? What will the lifespan be? And many more. Thus the answers to all your questions are here in the below table:
| Factors | New Pallet Racking | Used Pallet Racking |
| Price | Higher price (Rs 1000 – Rs 50,000) | Lower Price (Rs 500 – Rs 20,000) |
| Condition | Excellent | Varies (requires inspection) |
| Durability | Longer lifespan | May have wear & tear |
| Customization | Fully customizable | Limited Options |
| Warranty | Included | Rarely available |
What are the advantages and disadvantages of used pallet racking?
Although the cost of used pallet racking is less in comparison to the new ones, they have some disadvantages too. Thus, the pros and cons of the used pallet racking system include:
Advantages
- Lower Upfront Cost: They help in major savings, especially for start-up businesses or small-scale warehouses.
- Faster Availability: They are often in stock and are ready to ship with booking.
- Eco-Friendly: These support recycling and reduce wasting of steel.
Disadvantages
- Unknown Wear & Tear: You could never know what safety risks it can lead to.
- Limited Warranty: Usually the used racks do not come with any warranty and are sold as it is.
- Compatibility Issues: These have the issues of compatibility not getting integrated easily and mixed up with the existing system.
How can I save money on pallet racking?
Here are a few tips on how you can save your money in pallet racking:
- Compare Suppliers: Get quotes from multiple vendors, for comparing prices with each other.
- Optimize Layout: reduce unnecessary bays with smart planning and help from the experts.
- Consider Used Racks: If the budget is tight, go with used racks as they will cost less.
- Buy in bulk: Suppliers often discount large orders, so try ordering it in bulk.
- Use Experienced Installers: DIY in pallet racks is not possible for almost all. Thus hire experienced installers such that you do not need rework or frequent repairs.
How can Simco Steel help you?
Simco Steel, with its long years of experience, specializes in supplying new pallet racking systems tailored to your needs and at very affordable prices. Thus, we help clients in:
- Choose the right type of pallet racking.
- Understand what is pallet racking and how it will affect their business operations, by seamless belding in it.
- Get competitive quotes for new pallet racking costs, and have a better understanding of our products and their affordable costs.
- Assist with layout planning, right-racking selection, and professional installation.
- Compliance with long-term durability, premium quality, and good safety post-installation of the racks.
FAQs on how much pallet racking costs.
How much does pallet racking cost per pallet space?
Ans: The cost per pallet space however depends on various factors like the type of pallet racking, market trends, materials choice. but on an average it is likely to range from Rs 4000 to Rs 30,000.
How do you calculate pallet racking?
Ans: The pallet racking requirements are calculated by:
- Determine dimension of pallet.
- Desinfin load requirements.
- Choosing rack types
- Calculating pallet positions by formula (Total Pallets + Pallets per level) x Number of levels.
For total pallet racking cost, directly multiply pallet positions by unit cost.
How much does a pallet flow rack cost?
Ans: The pallet flow racks are generally the high-density storage systems and thus their cost may range from Rs 10,000 to Rs 50,000 in India, depending on various factors of length, slope length, pallet positions and load weight requirements.