When floor space is expensive, you trade access for density. Three systems dominate high-density pallet storage. What separates them is how pallets are loaded and in which order they come out.
Drive-in racking
The truck drives into the rack and places pallets several deep on rails. It is the densest option and the simplest structure. Stock rotation is last-in, first-out (LIFO) per lane, so it suits large volumes of the same product, such as seasonal or bulk goods. See our Iron Fist Drive-In.
Push-back racking
Pallets sit on inclined carts or rails inside the rack. Loading a new pallet pushes the previous one back, and removing one lets the next slide forward. It is also last-in, first-out, but each lane is accessed from one aisle and lets you hold several different products with less truck travel.
Pallet flow racking
Pallets travel on gravity rollers from the loading side to the picking side, so stock is first-in, first-out (FIFO). It suits perishable or date-controlled goods and fast picking. It needs more careful design and a flatter, more precise installation.
How to choose
- Few SKUs, large lots, cost-sensitive: drive-in.
- Several SKUs, LIFO acceptable: push-back.
- Dated or perishable goods, FIFO needed: pallet flow.
Rackit’s range includes drive-in racking; for the other systems, ask us what is the right fit for your products before deciding. For a broader comparison, see cantilever vs pallet racking vs drive-in.
Which is cheapest per pallet position?
Drive-in usually, because the structure is simplest. But the cheapest system is the one that matches how you actually pick.
Is drive-in safe for forklifts?
Yes when it is designed with guide rails and operators are trained, because the truck is guided inside the structure.
Need help choosing or planning your racking? Request a free quote and our technical team will help you plan it.