Guide
How much does pallet racking cost?
Racking is priced per pallet position, not per bay — that's the only way to compare systems fairly. Steel pricing also moves, so treat every number here as a planning range, not a quote.
Cost per pallet position, by system
Ranges below are for material only in the DFW market and assume standard 48" x 40" pallets with wire decking. Freight and installation are separate.
| New selective racking | ~$60–$120 per pallet position |
|---|---|
| Used selective racking | ~30–50% below comparable new |
| Double-deep | Similar per position, fewer aisles needed |
| Push-back | ~2–4x selective per position |
| Drive-in | Above selective; densest for few SKUs |
| Pallet flow | Highest per position; best labor savings |
The line items buyers forget
- Freight — racking is heavy and bulky; LTL and flatbed costs are material, not rounding
- Wire decking and pallet supports, often quoted separately from beams
- Hardware: anchors, row spacers, safety clips, shims
- Rack protection: end-of-aisle guards, bollards, column wraps
- Installation labor, plus premiums for night or occupied-building work
- Permit review or engineered drawings where the height or use requires it
- Lift equipment: a denser layout can require a different truck class
A worked example
Say you need 600 pallet positions of new selective racking. At $90 per position, material is roughly $54,000. Add installation at ~20% (~$11,000), freight, and a protection package, and a realistic all-in planning budget is closer to $70,000–$75,000. Quoting only the steel is how projects end up 25% over budget.
Cost FAQs
What's the cheapest way to add pallet positions?
Usually reconfiguring what you already own — adding beam levels to existing frames if clear height allows. Used steel is next. New steel in a redesigned layout is the most expensive, but often stores the most.
Why do quotes vary so much between suppliers?
Different beam faces and gauges at the same nominal size, decking included or excluded, freight in or out, and installation scope. Compare capacity per beam pair and total delivered-installed cost, not headline price.
Does taller racking save money?
Per position, usually yes — you reuse the same floor and aisles. But clear height, sprinkler design, and lift reach cap it, and taller systems raise the stakes on anchoring and protection.
Local pricing
Racking costs in your market
Pallet racking in Dallas, TX
How Dallas County clear heights and column spacing change the cheapest way to add pallet positions.
Read guidePallet racking in Fort Worth, TX
What high-clear Alliance-area buildings and Tarrant County manufacturing space cost to rack.
Read guideWarehouse layout & design
Pallet-position counts per layout option, so you can price capacity instead of guessing.
Read guide
Want a real number for your building?
Send pallet size, weight, target positions, and clear height for a line-item quote.