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How to measure pallet racking

Five measurements tell us what you need: frame depth, frame height, beam length, beam face height and connector style.

Front view of a pallet rack bay: beam length is the clear space between frames, frame height runs from the floor to the top of the frame Front view Beam lengthFrame heightFaceheight Side view of a frame: frame depth is measured across the outside of the frame, and the pallet overhangs the front and back Side view Frame depthOverhang
Beam length is the clear space between frames. Frame depth is measured across the outside of the frame.

1. Frame depth

Measure across the side of the frame, from the front face of the front column to the back face of the back column. Most pallets are 48" deep, and a 42" frame leaves 3" of pallet hanging over the beam at the front and the back. That overhang is normal and keeps the pallet sitting on both beams.

Common depths are 36", 42", 44" and 48". If you’re adding to racking you already have, match the depth of your existing frames.

2. Frame height

Measure from the floor to the top of the frame. Leave room above your top load for your forklift to lift and place the pallet, and keep clear of sprinklers and lights.

3. Beam length

Beam length is the clear opening between two frames. A good rule is about 4" of space between pallets and between each pallet and the frame.

  • 96" beams hold two 40"-wide pallets
  • 108" beams hold two 48"-wide pallets, or two 40"-wide pallets with extra room
  • 144" beams hold three 40"-wide pallets

4. Beam face height

Face height is how tall the front of the beam is, usually 3" to 6". For the same length, a taller beam carries more weight. Capacity also depends on the maker’s rating and the whole system, so check the maker’s load tables or ask an engineer before loading. Tell us your heaviest pallet and we’ll help you find those numbers.

5. Connector style

Beams hook into holes in the frame columns, and the two have to match. Most of our stock is teardrop-style. If you’re adding to racking you already have, send us a photo of the column holes and one beam end and we’ll check.

6. Wire decks

Deck depth matches frame depth, so a 42" frame takes 42" decks. Most bays use two decks per level.

Beam lengthDeck size (42" frames)Decks per level
96"42" × 46"2
108"42" × 52"2

Counting parts for a row

  • Frames: one more than the number of bays. A row of 5 bays needs 6 frames.
  • Beams: 2 per level in every bay.
  • Wire decks: usually 2 per level in every bay.
  • Hardware: beam safety locks for every beam end, floor anchors for every footplate, and row spacers if rows sit back to back.

Not sure about a size? Send us your pallet size, load weight and a photo of what you have. We’ll match the parts and put them on one quote.

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