Which is more cost-effective for an 8-meter-high warehouse, double-depth pallet racking or narrow aisle racking

When storing goods in a warehouse, choosing the right shelving system is crucial for storage efficiency, cost and long-term operation. Double-depth pallet racking and narrow aisle racking are two common high-position storage solutions. Then, which one is more cost-effective for an 8-meter-high warehouse, double-depth pallet racking or narrow aisle racking? Let's find out below.

Double-depth pallet racking uses two rows of pallets at the front and back for storage. Compared with single-depth racking, it saves about 30% of the aisle space and has a higher storage density. The aisle width of narrow aisle racks is generally designed between 1.6 and 2 meters, while that of ordinary racks is 2.8 to 3.5 meters. The storage density is higher than that of double-depth racks, making them suitable for warehouses with a large number of SKUs and small batch sizes.

The difference is that the total height of narrow-aisle racking can be designed up to 15 meters, and narrow-aisle forklifts are needed to store and retrieve goods. The cost of such forklifts is higher than that of ordinary forklifts. The total height of double-depth shelves is generally designed to be within 10 meters, and ordinary high-reach forklifts can be used for storing and retrieving goods. It can be seen that for a warehouse around 8 meters high, using double-depth pallet racking would be more cost-effective. After all, purchasing forklifts can save a considerable amount of money. If the warehouse height is over 10 meters and you want to make full use of the space, then narrow aisle racking can be considered.