Maximize Your Footprint: How to Upgrade Your Warehouse with Push-Back Racks 

Is your warehouse bursting at the seams? For many businesses, the first instinct when floor space runs thin is to look for a bigger building. But before you sign a new lease or deal with the headache of moving, look up at your current racking. 

If you are running standard selective racking, you might be sitting on a goldmine of unused density. Push-back racking is one of the most effective ways to increase your pallet count without adding square footage to your warehouse footprint. 

Here is how you can upgrade your existing setup and whether you can "retrofit" what you already have. 

The Push-Back Advantage: High Density, Low Hassle 

In a standard selective rack, you have an aisle for every row of racks. Push-back systems allow you to store pallets 2 to 6 deep. When a driver loads a pallet, it "pushes back" the one behind it on a nested cart system. When a pallet is picked, the ones behind it slide forward to the aisle face. 

• Increase storage capacity by up to 90% compared to selective racking. 

• Maintain better selectivity than Drive-In racking (each lane can hold a different SKU). 

• Reduce empty, unreachable warehouse space 

Can You Retrofit Your Existing Uprights? 

This is the #1 question we get at Yankee Supply: "Can I just put push-back carts on the uprights I already have?" 

The short answer is: Yes, but with some very important "ifs." 

1. Checking the Capacity 

Push-back systems concentrate a lot of weight into a small area. Instead of one pallet per bay level, you might now have four. You must ensure your existing uprights and floor slab are rated for the increased load. 

2. Upright Depth and Condition 

Standard selective uprights are often 42" deep. A 3-deep push-back system might require deeper frames or specific bracing to support the rails. If your current uprights are damaged, a full system swap is safer and more cost-effective in the long run. 

3. Beam Height Adjustments 

Because push-back carts sit on a slight incline (to allow gravity to move the pallets forward), the "stack height" of each level increases. You may need to remove one beam level to accommodate the height of the carts and the rail pitch. 

Is a Full System Swap Better? 

While retrofitting is a "low-barrier" entry for tight budgets, a purpose-built push-back system is often the better investment for high-volume facilities. 

How to Start Your Upgrade 

Upgrading your warehouse doesn’t have to be an "all or nothing" project. Many Yankee Supply customers start by converting just one or two high-traffic bays to push-back to handle their most popular SKUs. 

The "Low-Barrier" Checklist: 

1. Audit your SKUs: Push back rack systems work best for medium-turnover products with multiple pallets per SKU. 

2. Measure your Clear Height: Ensure your ceiling and sprinklers can handle the pitched height of a push-back system. 

3. Consult a Pro: Don't guess the weight capacities. 

At Yankee Supply, we specialize in helping businesses find the sweet spot between "brand new" and "gently used." Whether you need new carts for your current frames or a completely redesigned high-density layout, we can help you find more slots without the cost of moving.