Cantilever racking vs pallet racking: the comparison
In short
Pallet racking is designed for standard palletised loads: it offers direct access to each pallet for around €80 to €150 excl. VAT per location. Cantilever, with its cantilevered arms, is the only suitable option for long loads (tubes, profiles, timber); it costs around €250 to €600 excl. VAT per linear metre.
Comparison table: cantilever vs pallet racking
| Criterion | Pallet racking | Cantilever |
|---|---|---|
| Suitable loads | Pallets, bins, compact loads | Long loads: tubes, profiles, timber, panels |
| Load length | Limited to the bay width (~2.7 m) | Unlimited at the face (no front upright) |
| Load per level | 2,000 to 3,000 kg per pair of beams | 300 to 2,500 kg and more per arm |
| Indicative price excl. VAT | €80 to €150 per pallet location | €250 to €600 per linear metre |
| Handling | Counterbalance or reach truck | Side-loading, multi-directional truck or overhead crane |
| Installation | Indoors, standard aisles | Indoors or outdoors (galvanised version) |
| Design standards | EN 15512 | EN 16299 / FEM rules for cantilever |
When to choose pallet racking
Conventional pallet racking is the warehouse standard: it stores any load placed on a Euro pallet (800 × 1,200 mm) or industrial pallet, with beams adjustable in steps of about 50 mm. Each location remains individually accessible, which suits stocks with many SKUs.
Its limits appear as soon as the load exceeds the width of a bay: storing loads of 3, 4 or 6 metres in pallet racking requires multiplying the supports, with risks of load deformation and dangerous manoeuvres.
When to choose cantilever
Cantilever racking consists of vertical columns and cantilevered arms, with no upright at the face: the load can extend freely on either side. It is the go-to solution for building-materials merchants, metalworks and joineries for tubes, profiles, cladding, panels and structural timber.
In a single-sided version (against a wall) or double-sided, indoors or galvanised outdoors, cantilever racking is served by a side-loading or multi-directional truck. The permissible load per arm (commonly from 300 to more than 2,500 kg) depends on the length of the arm and the section of the column.
Compared costs on a concrete case
To store 200 standard pallets, conventional racking represents a budget of around €16,000 to €30,000 excl. VAT installed. To store the equivalent in long loads (for example 60 linear metres of double-sided cantilever over 4 arm levels), the budget is rather between €20,000 and €40,000 excl. VAT, excluding the side-loading truck.
The additional cost of cantilever is explained by the weight of steel per metre stored and by the dimensioning of the cantilevered columns. It nevertheless remains more economical than the losses generated by unsuitable long-load storage: deformed products, two-operator handling, accidents.
Safety: shared requirements
- Floor anchoring is mandatory and load notices must be visible in both cases.
- Annual expert inspection recommended by the EN 15635 standard, and regular internal visual checks.
- Upright protectors and end guards to be provided in forklift traffic areas.
- For cantilever: comply with the maximum arm deflection and prohibit loading deformed arms.
- For pallet racking: comply with the pallet overhang and the load distributed per pair of beams.
Can the two be combined?
Yes, and it is the most common configuration in building-materials merchants: pallet racking for palletised products (bags, boxes, tools) and cantilever for long loads (timber, tubes, cladding), often supplemented by picking shelving for retail items. A comprehensive layout study makes it possible to optimise the flows between these areas and to pool the traffic aisles.
Frequently asked questions
What is the main difference between cantilever and pallet racking?
Pallet racking has uprights at the face that limit the length of loads to the width of the bay; cantilever rests on cantilevered arms with no obstacle at the face, which makes it possible to store loads of unlimited length such as tubes, profiles and timber.
Is cantilever more expensive than pallet racking?
For comparable capacity, yes: allow around €250 to €600 excl. VAT per linear metre of cantilever versus €80 to €150 excl. VAT per pallet racking location. The additional cost comes from the weight of steel in the columns dimensioned for the cantilever.
Can pallets be stored on a cantilever?
It is technically possible by adding decking between the arms, but this is not its optimal use: pallet racking is more economical and safer for palletised loads. Cantilever should be reserved for long loads.
What truck is needed to serve a cantilever?
For long loads, a side-loading or multi-directional truck is recommended: it carries the load lengthwise and moves in aisles of 2 to 2.5 m. A conventional counterbalance truck requires aisles much wider than the length of the loads.
Can cantilever be installed outdoors?
Yes, in a hot-dip galvanised version, frequently used in the yards of building-materials merchants. The dimensioning must then incorporate wind loads according to the applicable design rules, and the foundations must be adapted.
Do the same standards apply to both types of shelving?
The principles are shared (work equipment, EN 15635 inspection, load notices), but the structural design differs: EN 15512 for pallet racking, EN 16299 and the FEM recommendations for cantilevers.
Sources & references
Related guides
Medium-duty shelving or pallet racking: which should you choose?
Medium-duty shelving serves manual picking up to 600 kg per level; pallet racking stores full pallets. The comparison to help you choose well.
How much does warehouse racking cost in 2026?
Allow €80 to €150 excl. VAT per pallet location for conventional racking installed in 2026. Ranges by type, budget examples and price factors.
How to choose your warehouse shelving: the complete 2026 guide
Pallet racking, cantilever, dynamic shelving: the right choice depends on the load, the turnover of SKUs and the available height.