GUANGDONG XIEDA INTELLIGENT EQUIPMENT CO., LTD.
Professional manufacturer of storage space
News
News
What is shelf capacity and how is it calculated?
Keywords:
Publish Time:
2025-07-30
The following is a detailed explanation of the definition and calculation method of shelf capacity:
What is shelf capacity?
Shelf capacity refers to the maximum quantity or volume of goods that all shelves in a warehouse or storage area can hold. It depends not only on the size of the physical space, but also on factors such as layout design, operation methods (such as manual/mechanical access), and safety requirements. Reasonable planning can significantly improve space utilization and operational efficiency, but it is necessary to avoid blindly increasing shelves, which can lead to narrow aisles and difficulties in picking.
How to calculate
1. Determine the basic parameters of the warehouse
- Size measurement: Obtain the length, width, and height of the warehouse, as well as the usable height (the space occupied by fire protection facilities, lighting equipment, etc. needs to be deducted).
- Area division: Clarify the distribution of functional areas, such as the shelf area, aisles, and office areas, to ensure the effective use of the net floor area.
2. Evaluate cargo characteristics
- Single cargo specifications: Record the length, width, height, and weight of each item for matching the height and load-bearing limit of the shelf level.
- Stacking possibility: Analyze whether multiple layers can be stacked without damaging the items below, and confirm the maximum safe stacking layers.
- SKU diversity: Statistics the number of different types of goods and their storage needs, balancing the strategies of mixed placement and dedicated placement.
3. Select shelf type and configuration
- Determine the aisle width according to the access tools (manual/forklift). For example, manual aisles usually reserve 80-120mm; forklift aisles need to meet the minimum turning radius + front overhang + cargo length + safety distance (about 20cm).
- Differences in common shelf types will affect capacity: Ordinary heavy-duty shelves have independent aisles in each row, with a picking rate of 100%; double-deep shelves reduce the number of aisles by half due to side-by-side placement, and the picking rate is reduced to 50%; shuttle shelves support deeper pallet depths (such as 30 pallets), suitable for high-density storage.
4. Apply the calculation formula
- Single-row shelf capacity = Number of pallets per layer × Number of layers × Payload per pallet.
- Total capacity estimation = Single-row capacity × Number of rows + Contribution of other areas (such as scattered storage locations).
5. Dynamic adjustment and optimization
- Frequency matching: Goods with high frequency of entry and exit should be placed near the entrance or in easily accessible locations to reduce handling time loss.
- Seasonal fluctuation response: Reserve flexible space to cope with the temporary incremental demand caused by promotional seasons or unexpected events.
6. Professional assistance verification
- Due to the complexity of the actual scenario (such as pillar obstruction and fire regulations), it is recommended that experienced logistics engineers use modeling software to simulate the throughput and utilization rate under different schemes to finally determine the optimal solution.
Shelf capacity is not a simple geometric addition, but involves a multi-dimensional comprehensive consideration of space planning, operation processes, and equipment compatibility. Through scientific calculation and dynamic management, enterprises can maximize warehousing efficiency while ensuring efficiency.
Hot Products
Related Articles
Get a free quote
We welcome any inquiry you may have. Tell us about your project to get a free quote.
National Service Hotline
Contact Email
Foshan City, Nanhai District, Shishan Town, Guanyao Ligang Zixia Industrial Zone
Scan to view the website