New & Used Cantilever Rack Uprights, Arms & Brace Sets in Ohio

Cantilever Rack Systems (New & Used)

Cantilever rack systems are a specialized industrial storage solution designed for handling long, heavy, or irregularly shaped materials that are difficult or impossible to store on traditional pallet racking. Common applications include lumber, wood bunks, pipe, conduit, steel rod/bar stock, tubing, furniture, and rolled products such as carpet or fabric.

Cantilever racking is the second most common storage system we supply, behind standard pallet rack and is widely used in manufacturing plants, warehouses, distribution centers, lumber yards, and metal service facilities. These systems can be manufactured in structural steel (most common), stainless steel, galvanized, or aluminum finishes, depending on the environment and corrosion requirements.

What is Cantilever Racking?

These unique storage systems are suited for products with varying lengths and dimensions. Unlike pallet rack, cantilever systems are fully accessible from the front, with no vertical uprights or horizontal beams blocking access. This allows the entire usable length of the rack and often more to be utilized efficiently.

Materials of different lengths can be stored on the same rack and even on the same level, making cantilever racking extremely flexible. Products such as furniture or carpet rolls can be loaded and removed without excessive maneuvering, reducing product damage and improving handling efficiency.

Core Components of a Cantilever Rack System

Cantilever racking are structurally simple but highly configurable. Each system is built from three primary components:

• Uprights

• Arms

• Brace Sets

Because these components are available in countless combinations of heights, lengths, and load capacities, no two systems are exactly alike. This flexibility is what makes cantilever rack systems so effective and also why used cantilever rack can be difficult to source, as components must match precisely.

Cantilever Rack Uprights

Cantilever rack uprights consist of a vertical column and a horizontal base, bolted or welded together to form a rigid, load-bearing structure. Uprights are available in single-sided and double-sided configurations, allowing racks to be placed against walls or used as freestanding rows.

Uprights are manufactured in a wide range of heights and capacities. The overall capacity of the upright is typically determined by the combined load ratings of the arms installed on it. Upright columns are pre-punched with mounting holes on 3″ vertical centers, allowing arms to be adjusted easily to accommodate changing inventory.

For added flexibility, upright columns are pre-punched on both sides, making it possible to convert a single-sided rack into a double-sided configuration if storage needs change.

**Important safety note:
Upright bases include pre-drilled anchor holes and must be securely anchored to the floor. Cantilever uprights should never be attached to walls, columns, or other building structures.

CANTILEVER RACK ARMS

Cantilever racking arms are the horizontal load-bearing members that directly support stored materials. They are available in multiple styles, lengths, and capacities to match specific storage requirements.

Various Arm Styles

Cantilever arms are available in straight, inclined, and axle designs, each suited for different types of inventory.

Straight Cantilever Rack Arms 

Straight arms are the most common and versatile option. Arms up to 48″ long feature a standard pitch of 3/8″ per foot to compensate for deflection under load. Longer arms (54″ and 60″) use a minimum pitch of 5/8″ per foot. *AN IMPORTANT CONSIDERATION: This slight incline naturally causes round materials to roll toward the upright for safer storage.

They also boast impressive weight capacities ranging from 250 to 5,000 pounds per arm.

Inclined Cantilever Rack Arms (shown with Lip) 

Inclined arms feature an upward slope of 20 degrees (approximately 4.36″ per foot). This design prevents cylindrical items from rolling off the arm ends, making them ideal for pipe, tubing, conduit, and rod stock.

Axle Cantilever Rack Arms

A more specialized type of Arm, Axle arms are simply a modified cantilever rack arm. An “U shaped bracket” is included at the top (much more common) or bottom end of every arm to accept a round bar for storage of rolled material. These brackets are installed at the factory during the manufacturing process. They may be straight or inclined and are designed to accept rollers. These arms are commonly used for storing carpet rolls, fabric, cable or wrapping materials, allowing product to rotate freely for easy dispensing and handling. *We also sell a similar type Axle Bracket that can be installed on selective pallet racking.

Cantilever Rack Arm Accessories & Options

Cantilever rack systems can be customized further with field-installable accessories that enhance safety and versatility. A few of these include:

Removable Pipe Stops

Pipe stops install (they are field installable) at the ends of arms to prevent materials from rolling or sliding off. They consist of steel rods inserted into tubes bolted to the arm and can be easily repositioned as inventory changes.

Cantilever Arm Lips

Arm lips bolt directly to the arm ends and serve as a simple, cost-effective way to keep materials from falling or rolling off the rack. They can be added or removed at any time.

Shelf Supports

Shelf supports install between arms and allow cantilever racks to function in a hybrid configuration. When combined with decking or wood tops, shelf supports effectively convert cantilever racks into pallet rack-style storage. This is especially useful for furniture or mixed inventory storage.

Cantilever Rack Decking

Decking options include solid steel, perforated steel, perforated corrugated steel for extreme loads, or wire mesh. Decking can be installed or removed quickly, allowing the system to transition between long-material storage and palletized storage as needed.

Shelf Dividers

Shelf dividers bolt directly to arms and create separated compartments within a level. They are typically used in light- to medium-duty applications where product separation is required.

Cantilever Rack Brace Sets

Brace sets are structural channel members installed between uprights to maintain proper spacing and provide lateral stability. Correct bracing is critical to overall system performance and safety.

• Horizontal Brace Sets are commonly used on uprights ranging from 6′ to 14′ tall.

• X-Bracing is used on taller systems, typically 15′ to 20′, to increase rigidity and control lateral movement.

• Taller uprights often require two brace sets—one near the top and one near the bottom.

• When brace lengths exceed 84″ wide, a two-piece wide horizontal brace set is used.

Brace sets are measured centerline-to-centerline of uprights and are sold as matched sets rather than individual components.

Key Design Considerations for Cantilever Rack Systems

When designing a cantilever rack system, several critical factors must be evaluated:

• Type of material being stored

• Product dimensions (length × depth × height)

• Weight per load

• Whether loads are palletized

• Potential product deflection between arms

• Number of products and loads per level

• Single-sided vs. double-sided configuration

• Available floor space and ceiling height

Although cantilever rack systems are often custom designed and manufactured, typical lead times are frequently 2–3 weeks or less!

Trusted Manufacturers & Full-Service Support

We represent virtually every major cantilever rack manufacturer in the United States, including:

• Modern Equipment Company
• Interlake Mecalux
• Ridg-U-Rak
• Unarco Material Handling
• Bulldog Rack
• Lyon
• Penco
• Steel King

Midwest Material Handling provides complete Ohio-based support, from system design and engineering to professional installation. As a full-service provider of new and used material handling equipment, we help customers build safe, efficient storage systems tailored to real-world operations!

All cantilever rack products and systems we supply are proudly manufactured in the USA.