The Difference Between Teardrop Racks and Slotted Pallet Racks

Pallet racks have enabled warehouses to maximize their storage areas by optimizing the use of the vertical space since the 1920s. The different types and designs enable you to customize your approach, but the sheer number of options can be somewhat paralyzing.
Simply Racks has a detailed pallet rack guide available, but you should begin by making a critical decision: teardrop racks or slotted racks: which is the best solution for your space?
PALLET RACK BASICS
In pallet racking, multiple levels of horizontal shelves hold palletized items. Forklifts are used to store and remove pallets. This type of racking makes the most of warehouse space and improves loading and unloading efficiency.
The two main structural elements of pallet racking are:
- Upright frames
- Horizontal beams
Horizontal beams are strong supporting rails that attach to their metal frames in standardized holes. "Teardrop" and "slotted" refer to the shape of the holes punched into the upright metal columns where the beams connect and lock in.
This basic pallet rack structure is the one most commonly used by warehouses across the US.
TEARDROP PALLET RACKS

Teardrop pallet racks occupy the number one spot when it comes to popularity. They are stable, safe, easy to assemble, and uniform in ways that make it easy to expand or swap out components.
The teardrop shape is wider at the top than the bottom. The horizontal beam pin is pushed securely into the hole, and its head is below the wider opening. As a result, teardrop pallet rack beams won't slip out unless you lift the shelf upward. Even then, a safety catch prevents slipping in the event that a forklift accidentally forces the beam upward.
Because of the wide degree of uniformity, you can mix and match components from different lines, or easily find a functional used teardrop pallet rack system. Just be sure that measurements match your needs precisely.
Benefits of a teardrop pallet rack system:
SLOTTED PALLET RACKS

WHICH WAREHOUSE STORAGE IS RIGHT FOR YOU?
There are advantages and disadvantages to both types of pallet racks, and a market for each. You need to consider the needs of your business, your long-range goals, your budget, and the space of your warehouse.
YOUR BUSINESS
You likely need your warehouses and shelves to store a particular type or range of goods. How heavy are the items you will place on these shelves? If your inventory weighs a lot, you might want to invest in the stronger slotted pallet racks.
You should also consider how accessible you need your inventory to be, how often it rotates, and how much it varies. If you will need to continually reconfigure the shelves, you may want the greater flexibility offered by teardrop pallet racking.
On the other hand, if your shelves are going to experience a lot of wear and tear from machine traffic and inventory rotation, it may be worth the time and money you'd invest in slotted pallet racking.
Think about the future as well. Do you want to be able to expand with ease? Teardrop racks will make it easier to incorporate new shelves and a variety of products from different manufacturers.
YOUR BUDGET
YOUR BUILDING
You should also consider the dimensions of your building when choosing your racking. How tall is it? How much floor space do you have? Are you going to need to nonstandard widths?
So long as you don't need to continually reconfigure your pallet racking, a tall but narrow building might lend itself to slotted pallet racks. By contrast, a wider space might work better with teardrop pallet racks.
MAKING THE PURCHASE
Simply Racks is here to help you with the decision between teardrop and slotted, or any other version, of pallet rack. Contact us to talk to one of our expert representatives. Learn more about your options or move forward with your selection.
We have an excellent selection of pallet racks for sale. Our customers trust us to help them achieve their visions and protect their inventories. See why today.