Shelf Clips and Dividers for Steel Shelving
Replacement shelf clips for Lyon, Tennsco and other steel clip shelving, plus steel and wire shelf dividers. Identify the clip your posts take, count what you need and choose dividers that fit your shelf depth.
4 per shelf
Clips on a 4-post unit
1-1/2"
Lyon clip adjustment
6"–18"
Lyon divider heights
12"–24"
Lyon divider depths
Shop Shelf Clips and Shelf Dividers
Online prices for replacement clips and steel dividers. Clips are brand- and series-specific, so match the clip to your posts first (see how to identify yours). Some common items are in stock at select manufacturers, subject to confirmation. For mixed brands, older units or a full room, request a quote.
More parts: Lyon 2000 half shelf clips · Tennsco Q-Line parts · Jaken wire shelf clips · Metro qwikSLOT clips · wire shelf dividers.
How Shelf Clips Hold Up Steel Shelving
On steel clip shelving, each corner post is a steel angle (or a beaded post) punched with a vertical row of holes. A small steel shelf clip hooks into those holes, and the corner of the shelf rests on the clip. A standard four-post unit uses four clips per shelf, one at each corner.
Because the clips carry every shelf, a bent, missing or wrong clip is the most common reason a shelf tilts, rattles or drops. It is also why you can move a shelf up or down in minutes: lift the shelf, move the four clips to the new holes, and set the shelf back down. On Lyon shelving the holes allow adjustment on 1-1/2" centers.
Clip shelving is a different system from boltless rivet shelving, where the beams have rivets that drop into keyhole slots and no clips are used, and from wire shelving, which uses plastic sleeves on round posts. If you are not sure which you have, the post tells you: punched angle with clips, slotted post with rivet beams, or round grooved post with sleeves. Our clip shelving page covers the complete units, and this guide sits under our shelving solutions hub, which compares every shelving family we supply.
Identify the Shelf Clip Your Shelving Takes
Shelf clips are not universal. Hole spacing, hole shape, steel gauge and the shape of the hook differ by manufacturer and by series, and a clip that almost fits will sit loose or cock the shelf. Before you order, check three things:
- Brand and series. Look for a label on the post or under the shelf, or a part number on old paperwork.
- Post type. Angle post or beaded post, and the hole pattern (round, square or slotted).
- The old clip. Photograph one next to a tape measure, front and side.
| Shelving family | What holds the shelf | Replacement part |
|---|---|---|
| Lyon 2000 series steel shelving | Zinc 13-gauge steel clips, angle or beaded posts | Lyon 2000 shelf clips (half clips for half shelves) |
| Lyon 8000 series steel shelving | Galvanized 12-gauge steel clips | Lyon 8000 shelf clips, 20-pack |
| Tennsco Z-Line shelving | Tennsco Z-Line shelf clips | Z-Line shelf clip |
| Tennsco Q-Line shelving | 13-gauge compression clips | Q-Line shelf clip |
| Chrome or epoxy wire shelving | Two-piece plastic sleeves on grooved round posts | Wire shelf clips |
| Metro qwikSLOT shelving | Steel qwikSLOT clips | Metro 9985QS clips |
| Boltless / rivet shelving | Beam rivets in keyhole slots (no clips) | Beams and decks; see the boltless parts guide |
Searching for "old style" clips usually means the shelving is older than anyone on site remembers. Brands have changed post and clip designs over the years, so match by photo rather than by name. Send us a photo of the post and the old clip and we will confirm the match before you order. Replacing uprights, shelves, braces or panels too? See our shelving replacement parts guide.
Lyon 2000 vs 8000 Series Shelf Clips
Lyon is the brand most people search for when a clip goes missing, and it makes two common clip families:
2000 series clips are 13-gauge hot-rolled steel with a zinc finish. They work with both angle and beaded post uprights, and Lyon also makes a half-shelf clip for half-depth shelves. They are sold individually.
8000 series clips are heavier 12-gauge hot-rolled steel with a galvanized finish and are sold in 20-packs. Both families need four clips per shelf and adjust on 1-1/2" centers.
| Lyon 2000 series clip | Lyon 8000 series clip | |
|---|---|---|
| Steel | 13-gauge hot-rolled | 12-gauge hot-rolled |
| Finish | Zinc | Galvanized |
| Posts | Angle and beaded post uprights | 8000 series posts |
| Clips per shelf | 4 | 4 |
| Adjustment | 1-1/2" centers | 1-1/2" centers |
| Sold as | Each (plus half-shelf clips) | 20-pack |
Do not mix the two series on one shelf. A heavier clip will not seat properly in posts made for the other series, and the shelf rating assumes the matching clip. If the label is gone, a photo of the post holes and the old clip is usually enough to tell them apart.
Wire Shelving Clips and Metro qwikSLOT Clips
Chrome and epoxy wire shelving does not use steel clips. Each round post has grooves every inch, and a two-piece plastic sleeve (often called a shelf clip or split sleeve) snaps around the post at the groove you want. The shelf's tapered corner collar slides down over the sleeve and wedges tight.
Sleeves wear and crack over time, especially on carts that roll over thresholds. When a wire shelf starts to slip, replace all four sleeves at that level, and match the post diameter and color.
Metro's qwikSLOT shelving uses its own steel clips that snap into the slotted post, and they suit both stationary and mobile units. Order the 9985QS clips for those shelves rather than standard wire sleeves.
Choosing a finish for wet rooms, coolers or clean areas? Our Metro wire shelving finishes guide compares chrome, epoxy and stainless.
Shelf Dividers for Industrial Steel and Wire Shelving
Shelf dividers turn one open shelf into several compartments, so small boxes, bagged parts, binders and folded items stay in their own slot instead of sliding into a pile. They are the cheapest way to organize a shelf without adding bins.
Steel dividers for clip shelving, such as Lyon's, are 22-gauge powder-coated steel with curled edges and push-in fasteners that attach to the shelf above and below, with no tools. Lyon sells them in 12-packs for 12", 18" and 24" deep shelves in heights from 6" to 18".
Wire shelf dividers8" high wire dividers for 12" to 36" deep wire shelves, in chrome, epoxy or stainless.
Solid-shelf dividersMetro 8" dividers attach to solid shelves with spring clips; good for labs and kitchens.
Polymer shelf dividersDividers that snap into MetroMax open-grid polymer shelf mats.| Divider type | Fits | How it attaches | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steel (Lyon) | Steel clip shelving, 12"–24" deep | Push-in fasteners to shelf above and below | Parts rooms, records, cartons |
| Wire | Wire shelving | Clips over the shelf wires | Stockrooms, kitchens, clinics |
| Solid-shelf (Metro) | Solid stainless or chrome shelves | Spring clips | Labs, food service |
| Polymer (MetroMax) | MetroMax shelf mats | Snaps into the grid | Wet and cold areas |
Pick the divider height from what you store: low dividers for boxes you can see over, taller full-height dividers for binders, folded garments and bagged parts that lean. Match the divider depth to the shelf depth so the front edge lines up with the shelf.
How to Replace Clips or Move a Shelf
Replacing clips or moving a shelf level takes a few minutes per shelf, but do it with the shelf empty. A loaded shelf resting on three clips can drop without warning.
Work one shelf at a time on tall units so the bay stays square, and keep the sway braces and back or side panels in place while you work. If a post is bent or the holes are torn, replace the post rather than forcing a clip in.
Empty the shelf
Unload the shelf and the one directly above if you need hand room.
Support and lift
Have a second person hold the shelf, then lift it off the clips.
Move or replace clips
Hook the four new clips into the same hole height on every post; count holes from the floor.
Set and check
Lower the shelf onto all four clips, check it sits level and fully seated, then reload evenly.
- Same height on all four posts: count holes from the bottom; one hole off and the shelf tilts.
- Fully seated: every hook should sit inside the post holes, not on the post face.
- Right series: never mix clip series or brands on one shelf.
- Load within the rating: the shelf, posts and clips together set the shelf rating; confirm the manufacturer's rating for your unit.
Where Clip Shelving and Dividers Earn Their Keep
Supply and MRO roomsDivided shelves keep small parts, gloves and consumables in labeled slots.
Records and archivesAdjust levels to the box height and add dividers between file runs.
Warehouse and stockroomsLong runs of steel shelving with levels moved as stock changes.
Utah installation exampleA seven-level clip shelving install in Salt Lake City.Retail back rooms often pair clip shelving with dividers for shoe boxes and folded stock; see retail storage solutions. Parts rooms with many small SKUs may be better served by bin shelving. Comparing steel shelving brands? See Penco Clipper shelving and Tennsco Q-Line shelving, or the broader steel shelving, industrial shelving and metal shelving pages.
Ordering Clips and Dividers
Dividers ship flat and install in seconds, so it is easy to add them to shelving you already own. Start with the shelves people pick from most, then extend to overstock levels once the slot widths are proven.
Steel dividers stay put on clip shelving because they fasten to the shelf above and below, which also keeps them square when cartons are pushed in and pulled out.
Common clips and dividers can be ordered online above. For older or unknown shelving, send photos of the post, the old clip and a shelf corner and we will match the part or tell you honestly if it is time for new shelving. Replacing worn wood or particle board levels on rivet shelving instead? See particle board shelf decks. Planning new shelving? Start from Shelving Solutions; Utah buyers can also see Utah shelving. Some common items are in stock at select manufacturers, subject to confirmation; lead times are confirmed when you order. Call 800-326-4403.
Get a free quote
Tell us what you are storing, the room size and your timeline. A project specialist will follow up with layout options and pricing. Prefer to talk? Call (800) 326-4403.
Shelf Clip and Divider FAQs
Are steel shelf clips universal?
How many shelf clips do I need per shelf?
What is the difference between Lyon 2000 and 8000 series shelf clips?
Do boltless shelving units use shelf clips?
How do shelf dividers attach to industrial shelving?
What size shelf divider do I need?
Why does my wire shelf keep slipping?
Need the Right Clip or Divider?
Send a photo of your post and old clip, or your shelf depth, and we will match the part or quote the full order.