Top Warehouse Racking Solutions: A Short Review

Buying racking in Singapore in 2026 is partly a structural decision and partly a real estate decision. With industrial rents 26.5% above the Q3 2020 trough and warehouse occupancy at 89.4%, every square foot you rent has to store more, pick faster, or both. This overview covers the seven main racking configurations NTL Storage installs across Singapore warehouses, what each one does well, and where each one belongs in a real layout.

If you are scoping a full fitout, our warehouse racking systems hub page covers density gains by configuration against a baseline selective layout. This article zooms into the products themselves.

Quick answer: which racking system should you choose?

Start with the SKU profile (pallet size, weight, count, velocity), then match it to a configuration. Selective pallet racking suits mixed SKU general warehouses. Double deep and drive in racking suit bulk lower velocity stock. Very narrow aisle suits high density prime rent areas. Heavy duty racking suits pallets above 1,500 kg. Cantilever suits long loads like pipes, lumber, and sheet metal. Most active Singapore warehouses use two or three configurations together rather than one.

What to confirm before specifying any racking

Five inputs decide which configuration fits.

1. Pallet inventory. Every pallet type, dimension, and worst case weight on one list. The most common pallet in Singapore is 1,000 × 1,200 mm. The 1,100 × 1,100 mm Asian pallet is a frequent second.
2. SKU velocity profile. ABC analysis on the last 12 months of picking data. Fast movers belong in selective racking near the dispatch door. Slow movers belong in high density storage at the back.
3. Building constraints. Internal clear height (floor to lowest obstruction), floor flatness, sprinkler position, column grid, dock access.
4. Standards alignment. Any pallet racking installed in Singapore should conform to SS EN 15512 and related EN family standards (EN 15620 for tolerances, EN 15635 for inspection).
5. WMS and forklift type. A counterbalance forklift needs ~2.8 to 3.2 m aisles. A VNA guided truck operates at ~1.6 to 1.8 m. The forklift choice constrains every layout decision that follows.

Our pallet racking load capacity reference shows the load tables we use on tender drawings against these inputs.

1. Selective pallet racking

The default configuration for almost every Singapore warehouse. Selective gives direct forklift access to every pallet position, which keeps the pick cycle short and supports mixed SKU operations.

Parameter	Typical range
Load per pallet position	1,000 to 1,500 kg
Vertical reach	6 to 8 m
Aisle width (counterbalance forklift)	2.8 to 3.2 m
Density (positions per 100 sqm)	~35 to 45
Pick discipline	FIFO compatible

Best for: general purpose warehouses, mixed SKU operations, frequent access stock, A and B velocity bands in an ABC slotted layout.

Less suited for: pure bulk single SKU storage (drive in is denser), prime rent areas where land cost outweighs aisle efficiency (VNA is denser), and pallets consistently above 1,500 kg (use heavy duty instead).

2. Double deep pallet racking

A density upgrade on selective. Two rows of pallets stored back to back, accessed by a reach truck with extended forks. Trades some accessibility for ~30 to 40% more pallet positions in the same footprint.

Parameter	Typical range
Load per pallet position	1,000 to 1,500 kg
Vertical reach	6 to 8 m
Aisle width (reach truck with double deep attachment)	2.8 to 3.2 m
Density (positions per 100 sqm)	~55 to 65
Pick discipline	Partial LIFO (back pallet inaccessible until front pallet removed)

Best for: medium velocity SKUs where the same product fills both deep positions, ABC band B stock, warehouses with limited expansion room.

Less suited for: high SKU diversity per bay (every pallet pair must hold the same SKU to be efficient), strict FIFO requirements.

3. Drive in / drive through racking

The highest density pallet racking configuration available. Forklifts drive into the rack lane to deposit pallets, with no internal aisles between bays. Drive in is single entry (LIFO). Drive through has access from both sides (FIFO compatible).

Parameter	Typical range
Load per pallet position	1,000 to 1,500 kg
Vertical reach	6 to 10 m
Aisle width	n/a (lane fed)
Density (positions per 100 sqm)	~75 to 95
Pick discipline	LIFO (drive in) or FIFO (drive through)

Best for: bulk single SKU storage, cold storage (single SKU lanes match how chilled and frozen stock turns over), seasonal overstock, ABC band C slow movers.

Less suited for: high SKU diversity, frequent access, strict FIFO operations using drive in (use drive through instead).

4. Very narrow aisle (VNA) racking

VNA reduces aisle widths to ~1.6 to 1.8 m using guided trucks operating on rails or wire guidance. This claws back ~40% of the floor area normally lost to counterbalance forklift aisles.

Parameter	Typical range
Load per pallet position	1,000 to 1,500 kg
Vertical reach	10 to 12 m+
Aisle width	1.6 to 1.8 m
Density (positions per 100 sqm)	~55 to 70
Pick discipline	FIFO compatible, direct access to every position

Best for: high density mixed SKU operations in prime rent areas (Tuas, Tampines logistics nodes), tall buildings (8 m+ clear height), warehouses where land cost makes the capital outlay pay back inside 5 years.

Less suited for: lower rent locations where simpler selective layouts beat VNA on total cost of ownership, low ceiling buildings (under 7 m clear), and operations that may need to repurpose the floor frequently.

5. Heavy duty racking

Engineered for pallets and unit loads above standard selective ratings. Thicker upright sections, deeper beam profiles, larger baseplates, and stronger anchor specifications.

Parameter	Typical range
Load per pallet position	2,500 kg+ per beam pair
Upright capacity (6 m frame)	15,000 to 25,000 kg+
Steel gauge (uprights)	2.5 to 3.0 mm
Vertical reach	6 to 10 m
Typical applications	Engine parts, steel coils, machinery, automotive subassemblies, dense FMCG

Best for: manufacturing operations handling heavy components, automotive parts, industrial equipment, any pallet inventory regularly above 1,500 kg.

Less suited for: general SKU warehouses (overspec, higher capital cost per position than standard selective).

6. Cantilever racking system

Cantilever uses single column uprights with arms extending to one or both sides. There are no front beams obstructing the load, so it suits long loads that selective racking cannot handle.

Parameter	Typical range
Load per arm	300 to 1,000 kg
Vertical reach	4 to 8 m
Aisle width	2.5 to 3.0 m
Layout density	n/a (linear)
Typical applications	Pipes, lumber, sheet metal, aluminium extrusion profiles, long PVC, structural steel

Best for: steel stockists, lumber yards, plumbing and sanitary distributors, sheet metal fabricators, any operation storing loads over 2 m long.

Less suited for: pallet inventory (use selective or drive in), small parts (use shelving).

7. Adjacent options: shelving and mezzanines

Three more configurations sit alongside pallet racking and complete most NTL fitouts.

• Longspan shelving. Mid weight shelving (300 to 800 kg per level) for cartons, archive, and mid weight tools. The bridge between hand pick shelving and pallet racking.
• Boltless shelving. Light to medium shelving (100 to 300 kg per level) for small parts, files, and retail back of house. Fastest to install, easiest to reconfigure.
• Rack supported platforms. Mezzanine decks installed on top of selective pallet racking. Doubles or triples the usable pick face inside the existing footprint, subject to JTC, BCA, and SCDF approvals.

The most common multi configuration setups we see in Singapore in 2026:

• 3PL contract logistics: selective + drive in (perimeter A and B selective, central C band drive in) + boltless shelving for piece picking.
• E commerce fulfilment: selective bulk reserve + longspan or boltless multi tier shelving for the front pick zone.
• Manufacturing: drive in for raw materials + selective line side for WIP + cantilever for long parts.
• Cold storage: drive in (single SKU lanes) with hot dip galvanised finish.

How to compare the configurations side by side

Configuration	Density	Accessibility	Cost per position	Best fit
Selective	Standard baseline	Direct to every pallet	Lowest	Mixed SKU, frequent access
Double deep	+30 to 40%	2 deep access	Standard	Medium velocity, same SKU per pair
Drive in	+75 to 110%	LIFO lane	Higher than selective	Bulk single SKU, cold storage
Drive through	+75 to 110%	FIFO lane	Higher than drive in	Same as drive in but FIFO required
VNA	+55 to 95%	Direct to every pallet	Highest (capex)	High density mixed SKU, prime rent
Heavy duty	Standard baseline	Direct to every pallet	Higher (heavier steel)	Pallets above 1,500 kg
Cantilever	n/a (linear)	Direct to every arm	Per arm	Long loads

Most warehouses end up with two or three configurations zoned across the floor. The art is matching each zone to the SKU velocity band and the pick method that lives there.