Is selective pallet rack the same thing as pallet rack?

Almost always, yes. When someone asks for pallet racks with no other description, they mean selective: single-deep rows, an aisle on each side, direct access to every position. Pushback, drive-in, and pallet flow are higher-density alternatives you'd choose instead, not variations on the same system.

How many pallet positions will fit in my building?

It comes down to clear height, column spacing, and how much floor you're willing to give up to aisles. We model it in CAD and hand you the position count in writing, often with two aisle widths side by side so you can weigh density against how fast trucks can move.

Do I need wire decking on every level?

Not necessarily. Decking depends on what's sitting on the beams - cases, slip sheets, drums, and pallets with damaged stringers usually need it. Sound GMA pallets often bear directly on the beam face, and we spec it either way in the quote so there's no guesswork.

Can you match new rack to what we already have?

Usually. We identify manufacturer, connector style, and column profile from photos and measurements, then match or adapt so the new bays tie into your existing aisle pattern instead of standing apart from it.

How is load capacity determined?

Beam size and length, frame gauge, upright spacing, and level count all factor in. We size to your heaviest anticipated pallet with margin built in, then hand over ratings for the finished configuration so your team can post and train against real numbers.

When does it make sense to move past selective rack?

Once you're consistently carrying more than three or four pallets of the same SKU. At that point the aisle maintained for access costs you more in floor space than a denser system like pushback or drive-in would cost you in flexibility.

St. Louis, Missouri

Pallet Rack in St. Louis, MO

Name: St. Louis Pallet Racks
Address: 1118 Hampton Ave Ste 219, St. Louis, MO, 63139, US
Telephone: (314) 338-4815
Price range: $$

Selective pallet rack is single-deep steel: an aisle on each side, direct access to every pallet on the row. It's the system most warehouses run because it trades storage density for something more valuable once SKU counts climb - a driver never has to move one pallet to get at another.

It earns its keep when inventory is mixed, picking happens straight off the rack face, or you simply don't hold enough of any one item to justify a deeper system. The tradeoff is real: selective racking spends floor space on aisles that pushback or drive-in would give back to storage.

We size industrial pallet racks to your heaviest pallet, your lift truck's reach, and the clear height you're already leasing, then hand back a CAD layout with position counts and an itemized quote - so you know what you're buying before steel ships.

(314) 338-4815

Why St. Louis Warehouses Work With Us

St. Louis city industrial space, the I-70 distribution parks, and Metro East warehouses present different layouts even when their floor areas are similar. North Riverfront buildings often need rows worked around older columns; Earth City facilities may offer the depth for larger reserve zones. We compare those conditions with your inventory rather than assuming one rack arrangement fits every address.

Selective pallet rack is the reference point because every pallet remains directly accessible. We establish the number of usable positions, the beam elevations your forklift can reach, and the aisles needed for handling before proposing deeper storage elsewhere. A wide SKU range and changing customer orders usually make that access worth retaining, even when another system promises more positions in the same area.

The free warehouse consultation connects those operating needs to a drawing and an itemized quote. As a division of Warehouse Equipment & Supplies Co., we stay available for layout questions, component identification, installation planning, and later changes. You can compare alternatives on the same floor plan rather than trying to reconcile incompatible estimates.

Free warehouse consultation
CAD layout with storage counts
One contact for layout, delivery, and installation

Rows of industrial pallet racks loaded with pallets in a St. Louis warehouse

Selective pallet rack row fitted with wire decking on every level

How Pallet Rack Works

Every pallet reachable, every time. The baseline we size everything else against.

Frames and beams

Roll-formed or structural upright frames carry pairs of load beams across the aisle. Beam length, frame depth, and steel gauge follow your heaviest pallet, not a catalog default.

One position, one pallet

Each pallet sits on a beam level facing the aisle. Nothing gets moved to reach anything else, which is the entire point of paying for two aisles instead of one.

Beam elevations to the ceiling

Levels stack from the floor up to the first obstruction - lighting or roof structure, usually - so the design uses height you're already renting instead of leaving it empty.

Decking, guarding, protection

Wire decking, pallet supports, row spacers, column protectors, and end-of-aisle guarding get specified in the same layout instead of tacked on later as an afterthought.

What Your Pallet Rack Project Includes

We also reserve working space for receiving, outbound staging, and the routes used to replenish active picking. A rack row that adds positions but blocks those movements is not a useful gain. The layout review checks the busiest order patterns as well as total stock, and separates any uncertain measurements or compatibility questions before material is released.

The design starts with a warehouse consultation: pallet footprint and weight, forklift type and free lift, clear height, column spacing, aisle width, and turn rate. That's what sets beam capacity and how many levels the building will actually carry.

From there our design team draws pallet positions, beam elevations, and aisle centerlines in CAD, then prices every line so you see cost per pallet position instead of a lump sum. That number is what lets you compare selective against pushback or drive-in honestly - selective usually costs less per position to build but more per position in floor space.

Standard components ship from stock, and delivery gets staged around your dock rather than one truck dropped all at once. Installation partners anchor and plumb every frame, hang decking, and tag capacities on the finished rows.

What you're left with is racking that matches how the building runs, load-rating documentation your team can post, and one number to call when a beam gets hit or you're adding a row next spring.

What We Need to Plan It

What's the clear ceiling height under lighting or roof structure?
What are your pallet dimensions and your heaviest pallet weight?
What forklift are you running, and what's its maximum lift height?
How many positions do you need today, and at your peak?
How much floor can you give up to aisles versus storage?

Where This Service Fits

High SKU counts with few pallets behind each one
Order picking straight off the rack face
Mixed pallet sizes and irregular loads
Warehouses adding a second or third beam level for more cube
Operations that can't tolerate a position being buried behind another

Recent Installations

A look at pallet rack installations our crews have completed for warehouses across the St. Louis metro area.

View More Projects

Get a Pallet Rack Quote

Tell us about your St. Louis operation and we will follow up with layout planning and pricing. Prefer to talk? Call (314) 338-4815.

St. Louis Pallet Racks

1118 Hampton Ave
Ste 219
St. Louis, MO 63139

Monday - Friday: 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday: 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday: Closed

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