How many pallets can your warehouse hold? Enter your building dimensions and preferences below to calculate pallet positions, cube utilization, and estimated racking costs across different rack types.
Floor to lowest obstruction
Standard: 40 in
Standard: 48 in
Pallet + product height
Reach truck: 10-12 ft, Sit-down: 12-14 ft
Receiving, shipping, staging
Total Pallet Positions
1,728
Selective racking — 20.6% cube utilization — 17,000 sq ft usable
Pallet Positions
1,728
Cube Utilization
20.6%
Room to optimize
Racking Levels
4
9 rows, 24 pos/row
Est. Racking Cost
$86,400 - $138,240
~$65/position
Total Floor Area
20,000 sq ft
3,000 sq ft staging
Usable Racking Area
17,000 sq ft
85% of total
| Rack Type | Positions | Cube Util. | $/Position | Total Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Selective | 1,728 | 20.6% | $65 | $86,400 - $138,240 |
| Drive-In | 2,333 | 27.8% | $75 | $139,980 - $209,970 |
| Push-Back | 2,160 | 25.7% | $100 | $172,800 - $259,200 |
| Pallet Flow | 2,246 | 26.7% | $125 | $224,600 - $336,900 |
Your selected rack type is highlighted. Costs are for racking hardware only (installation additional).
Positions per Row
24
Vertical Levels
4
Number of Rows
9
Selective Positions
1,728
Density Multiplier
1x
Dock Doors
6
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This tool calculates the maximum number of pallet positions your warehouse can hold based on building dimensions, pallet sizes, rack type, and aisle configuration. It accounts for staging areas, structural clearances, and the unique density characteristics of each rack system.
The calculator first determines usable floor area by subtracting the staging area percentage from total floor area. For selective racking, positions per row are calculated from usable width divided by pallet width plus beam clearance (6 inches). Vertical levels are determined by clear height minus top clearance (12 inches) divided by loaded pallet height plus beam/sprinkler clearance (6 inches). Rows are calculated from usable length divided by the sum of aisle width and two pallet depths. Each row accommodates pallets on both sides.
| Rack Type | Density vs Selective | Selectivity | Cost/Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Selective | Baseline | 100% (every pallet accessible) | $50-$80 |
| Drive-In | +35% | Low (LIFO only) | $60-$90 |
| Push-Back | +25% | Medium (2-6 deep) | $80-$120 |
| Pallet Flow | +30% | High (FIFO) | $100-$150 |
Actual capacity depends on column spacing, fire sprinkler requirements (NFPA 13 flue space), load beam sizes, and seismic zone requirements. Always engage a professional rack engineer for final design. Cube utilization above 60% is considered excellent for selective racking; drive-in systems can approach 75-85%.