How much does warehouse racking cost in 2026?

By Kollirama 3 August 2026 Updated on 6 August 2026

In short

In 2026, a conventional pallet rack costs around €80 to €150 excl. VAT per pallet location, supplied and installed. Allow €60 to €120 excl. VAT per linear metre for medium-duty picking shelving, €250 to €600 excl. VAT per linear metre for a cantilever and €150 to €400 excl. VAT per m² for a storage platform.

Price ranges by type of racking in 2026

The price of warehouse racking is expressed differently depending on the family: per pallet location for pallet racking, per linear metre for picking shelving or a cantilever, per square metre of floor for a storage platform. The ranges below correspond to prices observed on the French market in 2026 for new equipment, supplied and installed.

These amounts exclude heavy options (special protections, sprinkler systems, floor slab rework) and handling equipment. As a benchmark, equipping 200 pallet locations represents a budget of around €16,000 to €30,000 excl. VAT.

Type of racking	Indicative price excl. VAT	Costing unit
Conventional pallet racking	€80 – 150	Per pallet location, supplied and installed
Medium-duty picking shelving	€60 – 120	Per equipped linear metre
Cantilever racking	€250 – 600	Per linear metre, depending on load and height
Dynamic racking	2 to 4 times the static price	Per location, for equal capacity
Storage platform (industrial mezzanine)	€150 – 400	Per m² of floor created

What a racking quote includes, and what is often missing

A complete warehouse racking quote comprises the layout study, the supply (uprights, beams, decking, accessories), transport, assembly by a trained team and the regulatory load notices. Assembly commonly represents 15 to 25% of the total amount depending on the height and access to the site. The following, however, must be budgeted separately:

Any floor slab rework: racking requires a flatness that complies with the tolerances of the NF EN 15620 standard.
Fire protection: sprinkler systems, smoke extraction, detection, depending on the requirements of the site and the insurer.
Handling equipment: forklifts, pallet trucks, stackers and their traffic aisles.
Impact protection: foot guards, guard rails, anti-fall pallet mesh.
In-service inspections: an expert inspection at least annually as provided for by the NF EN 15635 standard.

The 7 factors that make the price vary

Height: beyond 6 to 8 m, reinforced uprights and assembly using an aerial platform increase the cost of each location.
Load per level: a standard pair of beams supports 2,000 to 3,000 kg; higher loads require thicker profiles.
Volume: the unit price falls significantly between 50 and 1,000 locations, thanks to series effects and the pooling of transport and assembly.
Slab quality: an uneven slab requires shimming and rework, with flatness governed by NF EN 15620.
Seismic zone: in moderate to high zones (zones 3 to 5 of the French zoning), dimensioning to NF EN 16681 can increase the cost of the structure by 10 to 30%.
The price of steel: metal racking has undergone cumulative increases often exceeding 15% between 2021 and 2024, followed by a relative stabilisation since 2025 (INSEE production price indices).
Safety accessories: upright protectors, foot guards and mesh generally represent a few percent of the budget, to be allowed for from the quote stage.

Examples of typical budgets observed

Small warehouse or trade stockroom, 200 pallet locations in conventional racking: €16,000 to €30,000 excl. VAT installed, study included. This is the most common configuration among SMEs.

Logistics warehouse of 1,000 locations served by a reach truck: €80,000 to €150,000 excl. VAT depending on the height (up to 10 to 12 m) and the protections chosen.

Order-picking area of 100 linear metres in medium-duty shelving: €6,000 to €12,000 excl. VAT, decking and accessories included. A 20 linear metre cantilever for long loads adds €5,000 to €12,000 excl. VAT.

New or second-hand racking: the real calculation

Second-hand racking is often bought 30 to 50% cheaper than new, but the real saving is judged on the full cost. You must check the availability of the manufacturer’s manual and load notices, the compatibility of the components (the systems of different manufacturers do not fit together) and the absence of deformations beyond the tolerances of NF EN 15635.

Dismantling, transport, reassembly and bringing back into compliance (load notices, protections, anchoring) reduce the gap: in the end, the net saving frequently drops below 20%, for a shorter residual service life and a lesser warranty. Second-hand remains relevant for temporary needs or tight budgets, provided you insist on the traceability of the equipment.

The operating costs to anticipate

The budget does not stop at installation. The NF EN 15635 standard provides for an expert inspection at least every 12 months, charged at a few hundred to a few thousand euros depending on the size of the site, as well as regular in-house visual checks.

You must also make provision for replacing components damaged by forklift impacts: a deformed upright or beam is replaced like for like and is never straightened. Upright protectors, paid back after a few avoided impacts, greatly reduce this line of expenditure.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a pallet rack cost per location?

Allow €80 to €150 excl. VAT per pallet location for new conventional racking, supplied and installed, layout study included. The unit price falls with volume and rises with height, load per level and the protections chosen.

Is assembly included in the prices quoted?

The ranges in this guide are supplied and installed. Bought on its own, assembly commonly represents 15 to 25% of the project amount; it requires trained staff and ends with the fitting of the load notices, essential for operating the racking.

Is second-hand racking a good deal?

Sometimes: the purchase costs 30 to 50% less, but dismantling, transport, reassembly and bringing back into compliance reduce the net saving, often below 20%. Insist on the manufacturer’s manual, the load notices and a check of the deformations before any purchase.

Why do prices vary so much from one quote to another?

Because the scope changes: height, load per level, slab quality, seismic zone, safety accessories and the services included (study, transport, assembly) differ from one supplier to another. Always compare on an identical scope, load notices and study included.

Should a safety budget be planned in addition to the racking?

Yes. Upright protectors, foot guards, anti-fall mesh and floor marking generally represent a few percent of the initial budget, and the annual expert inspection provided for by NF EN 15635 costs a few hundred to a few thousand euros depending on the size of the site.

Will racking prices rise again in 2026?

After cumulative increases often exceeding 15% between 2021 and 2024, linked to steel and energy, the market has seen a relative stabilisation since 2025. The ranges in this guide reflect the prices observed at the start of 2026; a firm quote remains the only binding reference.

Sources & references

NF EN 15512, NF EN 15620, NF EN 15635 and NF EN 16681: design, tolerances, operation and seismic dimensioning of racking (AFNOR)
INRS, brochure ED 771 "Metal shelving"
INSEE, production price indices for French industry for the French market
Kollirama market observations: warehouse racking quotes (2023–2026)