Pricing and costs of storage shelves can end up being a small investment, such as a set of plastic storage shelves or a significant investment in a complex shelving system. Industry trends show that shelving is rising in popularity and is among the top selling material handling product. You can use storage shelves to organize any office space, hold and protect inventory or assist in the transport of goods.

Shelving systems are available in starter units with regular and long span designs, add-on units and accessories. They come in just about any material and color you could need--with the most common being metal, wire, plastic and wood. When looking at the pricing and costs of storage shelves, try to:

1. Get a deal on storage shelves by ordering from a company with mass quantities.

2. Add shelving to expand current storage systems to accommodate more products and goods.

3. Invest in adjustable storage shelving to better meet your company's needs.

Action Steps for Buying Industrial Storage Shelves
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Consider a metal storage shelving system for industrial environments

Quality industrial shelving gives employees unhindered access through all sides. An interlocking keyhole design gets rid of the need for gussets, clips and sway braces. Buy metal shelving systems from companies that have warehouses full of product. This ensures a better price on the goods. When pricing racks, a 48' flow rack is around $500, horizontal sheet racks about $1,000 and stackable nesting racks run around $400.

I recommend: Easy Rack sells cantilever racking, metal cabinets, pallet racks and metal racks. It's one of the few companies that list prices online to give you an idea of how much shelving costs. Material Handling Exchange (MHE) sells new and used industrial shelving for warehouses and other industrial environments. You can save 30 to 80 percent on pallet rack systems, but because every system is different, you should call MHE for a free quote. Likewise, Western Pacific Storage Systems has an online quote form for systems of storage shelves.

Buy individual pieces to custom build your shelving units

Some companies offer discounts if you buy shelving units and parts in bulk. For instance, you can save one percent, if you buy 24 pallet rack beams, three percent, if you order 120 and five percent when you buy 1,200 units. Light duty metal storage shelves with no particle board can range from $50 to $150 for four, five or six shelves. Pallet rack shelving costs more than $100 for a four foot starter rack and an eight foot wide, medium duty rack costs close to $300.

I recommend: SJF Material Handling sells commercial shelving including pallet rack-beams. Four-inch beams cost about $30, five-inch beams run in the mid-$30 range and six-inch pallet rack beams cost about $40. You can also buy storage shelving including pallet racks, light, medium and heavy-duty warehouse racks and wire shelving at discount rates from Vistmation.

Consider used metal shelving and storage to save money

Many companies sell used storage shelves as well as new products. In some cases, they are just as diverse as the new product line, but since these shelves are used, you can save money on the cost.

I recommend: Yankee Supply sells new and used storage racks, shelving, stack racks and industrial shelving for foodservice, healthcare and commercial industries. You can call for a quote or request a quote via its website. Ace Industrial Equipment sells used pallet racks, flow racks, shelving and refurbished pallet racks. If you're not sure what you need, then its experts can help with free advice to steer you in the right direction.

Tips & Tactics When Selecting Industrial Storage Shelves

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  The pricing and cost of most warehouse shelving is based on a quote system, because every warehouse or storage room is configured differently. Work directly with a sales consultant to get individualized service.

Keeping inventory is plenty complicated, particularly if you deal in equipment, paper, materials and heavy items like auto parts or paint. Industrial shelving needs to be sturdy, usually metal shelves or wire, and have to hold up while keeping costs down and items organized.

The key to buying the right industrial storage shelving is to consider exactly how they'll be used. Using this guide, you'll learn to:

1. Select from different types of storage shelves: metal shelving units, pull-out shelves, etc.
2. Evaluate work spaces for industrial shelf installation
3. Find alternatives to metal shelves for storage
4. Know when to buy lighter-duty storage shelves

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Storage shelves should be the right size and type

Running a pizza parlor and stocking an auto parts store bring vastly different storage shelf requirements. Speed of access, height, mobility (wheels or pull-out shelves) and sturdiness all play into your choice of storage shelves.

I recommend: CLD Handling, Uline and Global Industrial supply a wide variety of warehouse shelving and other metal shelving and access items.

Consider metal shelving units before other materials

A serious warehouse or industrial setting will tear consumer-strength shelves to shreds in no time. Who will be using these storage shelves? Will workers be dumping heavy boxes on and off each storage shelf? Will forklifts or other mechanical equipment be in use nearby? Will workers put constant use on pull-out shelves.

I recommend: Some makers of heavy metal shelving include Mecalux, Material Handling Exchange, and Western Pacific Storage Solutions.

Industrial shelving comes in many types

Unless you manage to spend some time in the backroom of a competitor, it can be pretty hard to figure which type of storage shelving will work best for your business.

I recommend: Globalspec allows registered to users to browse literally thousands of catalogue entries at the click of a mouse. Yankee Supply sells used industrial shelving and metal shelving units. For a variety of options, take a look at Business.com's directory pages on storage shelves, metal shelving, and wire industrial shelving.

Even metal shelves come in several types

Wire metal storage shelves are lighter, easier to move if necessary, and don't collect dust or food (good for restaurants, for instance). Heavy-duty metal shelves, though, are better for liquids and in aisles where people move around the goods freely, such as in a warehouse.

I recommend: Some makers of lighter-duty metal shelves for display and light industrial use include Gershel Brothers, A Plus Warehouse and Uline. Office stores like Office Depot, Staples and Office Max handle lighter metal shelves or metal shelving units, including pull-out shelves that might work for some businesses.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Sturdiness and safety are paramount. Talk with your insurance agent about industry standards for your business and ways to keep risk down when using industrial shelving.
• •  Warehouse shelving is heavy for a reason. If all you need is a storage shelf and nothing more, warehouse shelving be quite plain and even have wooden shelves in metal frames. Look at metal shelving units, though, if you will be rotating stock often.
• •  A decent storage shelf -- whether plastic, wood or metal shelves -- meets your needs without breaking your bank. Consider cost over a five or 10-year plan: What would it cost to upgrade or replace a warehouse full of metal storage shelves if you buy the wrong storage shelving?

Making the most of storage shelves will help you deal with the evolving demands of your business. It's important to add shelves and storage solutions as inventory increases and at a price your company can afford. You can customize most commercial shelving systems to fulfill any business need whether you need food storage shelves or warehouse shelving or you require plastic shelving or metal shelving.

The opportunities are endless when using storage shelves in your business. To make the most of your storage space, the shelving you choose can help you take advantage of the space you have and good units also allow for easy additions as your needs expand. When making the most of storage shelves in your business, try to:

1. Make storage shelves work for you by customizing them to achieve optimum inventory control.

2. Add extra warehouse shelving to existing units to obtain more space.

3. Choose heavy duty shelving systems to ensure longer life and get the most out of your investment.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Optimize product flow with appropriate storage shelving

Make the most of your storage shelving by choosing systems that fit the turnover rate of your inventory. Use a drive-in pallet racking system of metal shelving, if you're storing items with low turnover. These systems make the best use of space, but are difficult to get to, so you don't want to put fast moving merchandise here. A push-back system is great for medium-turnover inventory. The pallets at the back move forward when you remove the front pallet. A pallet flow system uses gravity to move pallets to the other side in a controlled manner for quicker moving merchandise.

I recommend: Steel King and Mecalux both sell numerous pallet racking warehouse shelving systems that respond to your company's inventory needs within shipping and receiving or warehouse areas. GlobalSpec can customize your rack system for you. Simply answer some questions about your storage needs and this company can create the storage shelves you require. Rand Materials Handling and Packaging Supplies also offers custom shelving to fit your business' specific needs.

Increase inventory options by adding layers of long lasting shelving with bins

Add extra heavy-duty shelving units to your warehouse or storage room as need increases. You can buy metal shelving, plastic storage shelves or wood units. If you have loose parts that are hard to shelve, consider using shelving with bin units. To save money and get the heavy duty shelving you need, you can also look into used metal shelving.

I recommend: AnytimeProducts offers a variety of bulk shelving for heavy-duty use and even offers versatile high density steel shelving that includes various sized bins for storing everything from small parts to bulky items. Warehouse Rack Company offers a variety of used metal shelving. The Surplus Warehouse also offers variety of open and closed steel shelving for a more economical approach to your shelving needs.

Increase the load capabilities of shelving units

When opting for metal storage shelves, the best bet is to buy boltless shelves. They stand up better in industrial environments. If your current system handles medium-weight loads and you need it to do more, consider using boltless shelving to make the most of the load capacities of your storage shelves while ensuring the shelves are strong enough to provide a safe working environment.

I recommend: Industrial Shelving Systems sells many sizes of boltless shelving with or without particle board decking that fits needs from simple backroom storage to vast record keeping storage systems. Buy heavy duty wire shelving starter units and add-on units from ATD-American. As your storage needs grow, so can your metal shelves as you easily add more shelves to the original storage shelf by either adding another shelf in a straight row or at a 90 degree angle for a corner shelf. Check out the heavy duty shelving comparison guide at Keysan to see what all it has to offer including load capacities and adjustability features of each of the different units available.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Work with an industrial shelving specialist to plan, design and install your shelving system to get optimal results and help you truly make the most of your storage shelves.

Storage shelves are useful for almost every organization, from the smallest wood shop to huge warehouses that process hundreds of items per day. Not surprisingly, the kinds of storage shelves vary depending on the application and weight requirements of the individual user.

Below you will find information that can help you determine the kind of storage shelving that best suits your company's needs. With this information, you will be able to keep your business better organized.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Shelf loading

Shelf loading is an important consideration when deciding which kind of storage shelving is best for your company. The load rating capacity must be strictly observed. Failure to do so could result in destruction of the items stored on the shelves or even personal injury.

I recommend: Materials Handling Handbook by Raymond A. Kulwiec, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, is a worthwhile guide when considering shelving units.

Office wire storage shelving

Office wire storage shelving works well in an office because it doesn't collect dust and can be configured as you wish. Plus, with some models, the shelves can hold up to 300 pounds.

I recommend: Modern Office has office wire storage shelving as well as pertinent information about load capacities for office wire storage shelving.

Diamond plate

Diamond plate steel storage shelves work well in both office and industrial settings. The shelves could have a load capacity of up to 1 ton depending on whether they are freestanding or affixed to the wall.

I recommend: Diamond Life has some very good information on diamond plate steel storage shelves.

Library shelving

Library storage shelves are designed to hold and organize books while taking up a minimum amount of space. This is an important consideration in smaller spaces.

I recommend: Reed Construction Data has some good information on their site about library storage shelves.

Warehouse shelving

Warehouse storage shelves are designed to have large load capacities. Some warehouse storage shelves are rated 450 to 2000 pounds per shelf, where others are rated up to 35,000 pounds. These shelves can be plain or have an enamel coating.

I recommend: Easy Rack's site is a mine of information about warehouse storage shelves as well as the shelves themselves.

Industrial shelving

Industrial storage shelves can be open or closed and made from steel or plastic. The load capacities vary depending on the material from which the industrial storage shelves are made.

I recommend: Industrial Shelving Systems has a great deal of information about industrial shelving.