Best-in-class operations use 90% or more of their available warehouse space, according to the 2026 WERC DC Measures report. That is a general benchmark, not a cantilever figure, but it shows why layout matters.
Pick the wrong side count and you pay for aisles you can't use, or you lose storage positions you could have had. This guide compares the two options on layout, access, density, load, cost, installation, and expansion.
Key Takeaways
- Single-sided racks give one-direction access and suit walls and perimeters.
- Double-sided racks give two-way access and suit open floors with aisles on both faces.
- Neither wins universally. Material, arm length, aisle layout, and handling equipment decide.
- Confirm capacity, anchoring, and inspection needs from the engineered system, not a generic rating.
Single-Sided vs Double-Sided Cantilever Racks: Quick Comparison
| Factor | Single-sided | Double-sided |
|---|---|---|
| Arms | One face of the upright | Both faces |
| Typical spot | Wall or perimeter | Open floor, row reachable from both sides |
| Access | One direction | Two directions |
| Floor needs | One aisle | Aisles or working space on both faces |
| Best for | Compact rows, limited floor space | Higher storage positions, two-way flow |
Layout and access
Single-sided arms extend from one face, so Cogan describes them as a typical fit for perimeter locations with one-sided access. Double-sided arms project from both faces and suit rows reachable from both sides. These are layout tendencies, not mandatory placements.
Space and density
Single-sided racks turn wall space into vertical storage without a second aisle behind the rack. Double-sided racks add storage positions inside an open floor area, provided both faces stay accessible and equipment can move safely.
Cost
Both options depend on arm count, uprights, bases, bracing, anchoring, installation, and any floor or wall prep. Double-sided systems add components, floor-space demands, and handling needs. Compare lifecycle value, not just purchase price.
Capacity
Capacity comes from the upright, base, arm length, arm rating, number of levels, and load position. The number of sides is not the driver. On double-sided racks, load each face as the engineered rating and manufacturer require.
Workflow and maintenance
One-direction access gives predictable material flow and simpler traffic planning. Two-direction access suits busier, shared-aisle work but needs clearances, forklift maneuvering room, balanced loading, and professional installation. Both need proper anchoring and inspection.
What Is a Single-Sided Cantilever Rack?
A single-sided cantilever rack is an upright-and-arm system with load-bearing arms on one face. It stores long, oversized, or irregular material that pallet racks handle poorly. With no vertical posts at the front, long stock slides in and out without obstruction.
Operational benefits:
- Direct access to long stock
- Vertical organization instead of floor stacking
- Use of wall and perimeter space
- Better inventory visibility and safer handling
Components and variations
Core components include columns, bases, arms, and bracing, plus optional end stops or drop-on pans for certain material. Arms may be straight or inclined and adjustable in position.
Duty ratings vary by manufacturer. MECO Omaha, for instance, sells five series from medium duty to extra heavy duty, but those labels are not an industry-wide standard. Always verify specifications against the selected manufacturer.
Use Cases of Single-Sided Cantilever Racks
Single-sided racks fit perimeter storage of lumber, pipe, tubing, conduit, steel bars, extrusions, furniture, and building products. They work best for:
- Wall-side placement
- One-direction forklift access
- Limited open floor space
- Low to moderate volume
- Operations moving floor-stacked material upward
Example: A San Francisco lumber company needed weather-protected storage along one side of its yard. Speedrack West installed a 20-foot-high single-sided cantilever system with an 8-foot roof overhang. The case reports the lumber stayed dry with no separate building.
What Is a Double-Sided Cantilever Rack?
A double-sided cantilever rack is a freestanding system with arms extending from both sides of a central upright. Material can be stored and retrieved from two directions.
Benefits include:
- More storage within an open floor area
- Shared access from opposing aisles
- Higher-volume movement when the layout allows
These systems need more careful planning:
- Usable space on both sides
- Compatible forklifts or handling equipment
- Deliberate aisle planning
- A loading strategy that follows the manufacturer's capacity and balance rules
There is no reliable universal equal-load rule for double-sided racks. Follow the engineered loading plan for your specific system.
Use Cases of Double-Sided Cantilever Racks
Double-sided racks suit operations that need aisle access on both faces and room to stage long material:
- Steel service centers
- Large lumber yards
- Pipe and tubing distributors
- Fabrication shops
- High-volume distribution with open floors
Two-sided access helps most when separate teams or processes work opposite faces. Inbound can load one side while outbound pulls from the other.
Example: The second phase of the San Francisco lumber project added an 18-foot double-sided system with four arm levels per column and roof trusses. It covered another yard section as inventory grew. Expansion drove that second phase.
Single-Sided vs Double-Sided: What Is Better?
Start from the facility and inventory, not the rack label. Look at wall space, open floor, material dimensions, load weights, access frequency, forklift type, slab condition, and growth plans.
Choose single-sided when:
- Storage sits against a suitable wall or perimeter
- Access is needed from one direction
- Space behind the rack would be wasted
- You want a compact, organized row
Choose double-sided when:
- Open floor space is available
- Both faces can stay accessible
- Volume and retrieval frequency justify two-sided access
- The layout supports safe equipment movement
Capacity and safety checks
Verify these before ordering:
- Maximum material length and weight
- Support-point spacing
- Arm length and load position
- Upright and base ratings, bracing, and anchoring
- Clear height and forklift compatibility
Longer arms and poorly distributed loads change effective capacity. Steel King's manual warns that using a rack in a different configuration than designed can create collapse and injury risk.
RMI guidance says to place product as close to the columns as possible and not to double-stack unless the system is designed for it.
ANSI MH16.1-2023 excludes cantilever racks. RMI announced the revised cantilever-specific ANSI MH16.3-2025 in January 2026, so check that document for current requirements.
Installation, Maintenance, and Total Cost
Both configurations need:
- Manufacturer-compliant assembly
- Slab and anchor evaluation
- Correct leveling and bracing
- Operator training
- Documented inspections
Does it need to be bolted down?
It depends on the engineered design. Steel King's manual requires every column and base to be anchored to adequate concrete, and says slab capacity cannot be assumed.
Floor conditions, local code, and seismic requirements also shape anchorage. Leaning a rack against a wall does not replace an anchoring evaluation.
Inspection frequency
RMI's 2020 guidance says inspection practice ranges from monthly to annually, depending on use, turnover, traffic, and load weight. Confirm current RMI requirements against your traffic, turnover, and load profile.
Cost factors
No reliable installed-price range exists, because price tracks configuration. One supplier's July 2026 list shows an 8-foot upright at $235.40, a 48-inch base at $122.56, and a 48-inch arm at $51.04. Those are component prices, not a system quote.
Match height, arm count, arm length, and rated capacity when comparing quotes, and ask whether freight, anchors, and installation are included.
Total ownership also includes:
- Aisle impact
- Handling time
- Reconfiguration
- Damage repair
- Inspection
- Expansion
How Storage Products Company helps
Storage Products Company, based in Mobile, Alabama, evaluates the application, prepares AutoCAD layout drawings, coordinates storage equipment from its manufacturer partners, and supports factory-recommended, insured installation. It also offers rack inspections and relocation.
Real-World Example: Mixed Single- and Double-Sided Layout
A Dexco project for JACQUET Mid Atlantic shows facilities often mix both styles. Primary storage used two rows of single-sided and five rows of double-sided cantilever racks.
Three stand-alone single-sided systems sat near perimeter walls. The layout was built around a side loader and guide rails.
Takeaway: Double-sided rows made use of open floor, while perimeter walls got single-sided units. Your facility may need both. Choose the handling equipment before fixing aisle widths.
To talk through your rack layout, load profile, and installation needs, contact Storage Products Company.
Conclusion
Single-sided cantilever racks fit wall-side, perimeter, and one-direction access. Double-sided racks fit open layouts that need storage and access on both sides.
The right choice rests on several factors:
- Engineered capacity and material dimensions
- Floor plan and handling equipment
- Installation, safety, and long-term operating cost
Have the system evaluated before you buy rather than relying on a generic price or capacity claim.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the different types of racking systems?
Common types include selective pallet rack, drive-in, drive-through, push-back, flow rack, and industrial shelving. Cantilever rack is built for long, bulky, or irregular materials.
Does cantilever racking need to be bolted down?
It depends on the system design, manufacturer instructions, floor conditions, local requirements, and seismic needs. Some manufacturers require anchoring on every column. Get a professional evaluation rather than assuming a wall is enough.
How much does a cantilever rack cost?
Price varies with configuration, capacity, arm length, height, levels, accessories, anchoring, installation, freight, and site conditions. Component and unit listings exist, but request a quote for your exact specification.
Which is better, single-sided or double-sided cantilever rack?
Single-sided is generally better for wall or perimeter storage with one-direction access. Double-sided is generally better for open layouts that need access from both sides.
What materials can cantilever racks store?
Lumber, pipe, tubing, conduit, steel bars, extrusions, furniture, building products, and other long components. The system must be rated for the actual load.
How do you determine cantilever rack capacity?
Use the engineered system rating, which accounts for arm length, load position, arm rating, upright and base capacity, levels, bracing, spacing, and load distribution. Planning calculations help, but the manufacturer's or engineer's approved specification governs.
