Cantilever racking.
Long-and-awkward storage. Lumber, pipe, steel bar, sheet goods. Single or double-sided. Indoor or galvanized for outdoor yards.
No front beam to work around.
Because lumber, pipe, steel, and sheet goods don't fit pallets. Cantilever arms eliminate the front beam that pallet racks force you to work around — loads are point-supported on horizontal arms, so a forklift drives straight in and pulls long stock off the open face.
Indoor or galvanized for outdoor yards. Single-sided against a wall, or double-sided down a centre column for two-aisle picking. The arm length, vertical spacing, and base depth are all sized to the material you store and the moment it puts on the column.
The components, labeled.
Seven elements make up a cantilever bay. Sizing each one to the load is what keeps a point-loaded rack stable.
1 · Column
Vertical structural member, anchored at the base. Heights from 6' to 20'. Sized for the total cantilever-arm load.
2 · Cantilever Arm
Horizontal arm extending from the column. Loads are point-supported at the arm — no front beam blocking forklift access.
3 · Base
Triangular or rectangular structural base. Width is sized to balance the cantilever moment under maximum load.
4 · Brace (Diagonal)
X-brace between columns provides lateral stability. Critical — cantilever racks are point-loaded and have higher sway than pallet racks.
5 · Lip (Arm Edge)
Optional vertical lip at the front edge of the arm. Prevents long material from sliding forward during forklift retrieval.
6 · Footplate
Anchored to slab — embedment specs depend on load + arm length + column height. P.Eng review required on most cantilever installs.
7 · Decking (Optional)
Steel mesh or solid decking between arms. Required for sheet-goods storage to prevent sheet slip-through.
Full technical detail.
| Specification | Light Duty | Medium Duty | Heavy Duty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Column & Base | |||
| Column height | 6'-12' | 10'-16' | 12'-20' |
| Column profile | I-beam, light | I-beam, heavy | Structural W-shape |
| Base depth | 24"-36" | 36"-48" | 48"-60" |
| Arm Capacity | |||
| Capacity per arm | 1,500 lb | 3,000 lb | 5,000+ lb |
| Arm length range | 24"-48" | 36"-72" | 48"-96" |
| Arm vertical spacing | 12"-24" | 12"-24" | 12"-30" |
| Configuration | |||
| Single or double-sided | Single or double | Single or double | Single or double |
| Outdoor rated | Galvanized option | Galvanized option | Galvanized standard |
| Slab & Anchors | |||
| Slab spec | 5"-6" | 6"-8" | 8"+ |
| Anchor size | 1/2"-5/8" | 5/8" | 3/4" |
| P.Eng stamp | Optional | Recommended | Required |
| Finish & Compliance | |||
| Finish | Powder-coat | Powder-coat or galv | Galvanized |
| CSA A344-17 aligned | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| ANSI MH16.1 (RMI) certified | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Operations | |||
| Lead time | 2-3 weeks | 3-4 weeks | 4-6 weeks |
| Install crew size | 2-3 | 3-4 | 4-5 |
| Best for | Lumber, pipe | Steel bar, sheet | Heavy structural |
Cantilever Racking — engineered to your spec
Send your warehouse dimensions + SKU profile + throughput target. We'll come back with a stamped layout + itemized quote within 5 business days.
Where cantilever racking wins.
Long boards & planks
Long boards, planks, and dimensional lumber. Cantilever arms eliminate the front beam that pallet racks force you to work around.
Bar stock & tubing
Bar stock, tubing, pipe, structural shapes. Galvanized cantilever stands up to outdoor yard conditions.
Plywood & drywall
Plywood, drywall, MDF, plastic sheets. Decked cantilever prevents sheet sag and slip-through — common in millwork shops.
Where cantilever earns its keep.
Lumber yards stacking long boards and dimensional stock. Steel and pipe distributors running bar, tube, and structural shapes — galvanized for the outdoor yard. Millwork and building-supply shops with plywood, drywall, and sheet goods that need decked arms. Anywhere the load is long, awkward, and won't sit on a pallet, cantilever puts it on an open face the forklift reaches in one move.
Build your cantilever layout.
Send your material profile and yard dimensions — single or double-sided, indoor or galvanized. We'll come back with a stamped layout and itemized quote.
60 seconds · no obligation · across the GTA · (647) 692-4416