Cantilever Racking for Pipe and Tubing Storage

Round stock needs support along its length and nothing blocking a full-length forklift or crane load. Cantilever arms sort pipe, conduit and tubing by diameter with an open face on every level.

Outdoor pipe and conduit storage on galvanized cantilever racking beside a construction warehouse

No roll-off risk

Arm-mounted stops and dividers keep round stock in place

Sort by diameter

Dedicate levels or bays to a size range for fast picking

Any length

Open face loads a full-length pipe run from the side or end

Indoor/outdoor

Galvanized finish for exposed pipe yards

Why cantilever fits pipeSorting by diameterArm spacing and stopsIndoor vs outdoor yardsWho uses itFAQs

Why pipe yards use cantilever racking

Pipe, conduit and tubing share a problem lumber and sheet goods don’t have: they roll. Stacking round stock
on a pallet or a flat beam invites it to shift, and a pallet rack’s front columns get in the way of sliding a
full-length pipe run in from the side. Cantilever arms solve both issues — the open face lets a forklift or
crane load pipe from the end or the side of the bay, and arm-mounted stops or dividers keep round stock from
rolling off the level.

  • Open loading face. No front columns means a full 20–foot pipe length can be slid straight onto the arms.
  • Diameter separation. Assign arm levels or bay sections to a size range so staff aren’t digging through mixed stock.
  • Stops and dividers. Arm-mounted pipe stops keep round stock from rolling off the ends of the arm.
  • Handles mixed materials. Steel pipe, PVC conduit, aluminum tubing and rebar can share a bay when arms are rated for the heaviest item on that level.
Bundles of conduit and pipe sorted by diameter on cantilever racking at a contractor yard

Organizing a pipe yard by diameter and length

The most common layout puts small-diameter conduit and tubing on the lowest, most frequently accessed levels,
with larger and heavier pipe on wider-spaced arms above or on dedicated bays. Keeping length ranges consistent
within a bay also helps — mixing a 6–foot cutoff in with 20–foot lengths on the same arm wastes the length
capacity you paid for and makes the pile harder to read at a glance.

Arm spacing for round stock

Round stock needs closer, more deliberate arm spacing than lumber because it has nothing keeping it from
rolling between supports. As a planning guide:

Stock type Support points Notes
Short conduit / small tubing (under 10″) 2 arms, standard spacing Add end stops if diameter is small enough to roll off easily
Standard pipe (10–20″) 2–3 arms Add a center-support arm on longer lengths to control sag
Long structural tubing / rebar (20″+) 3+ arms Heavier-gauge arms; confirm rating for the full length loaded

Ask about pipe stops and dividers

Manufacturers offer arm-mounted pipe stops and vertical dividers specifically for round stock — ask for them when you spec the rack rather than improvising after installation.

Outdoor galvanized cantilever racking under a covered canopy holding irrigation pipe and fencing rolls in a farm supply yard

Outdoor pipe yards and agricultural stock

Outdoor cantilever racking for pipe, fencing and irrigation stock is typically specified with a galvanized
or rust-resistant finish, since exposed yard columns face more corrosion risk than an indoor warehouse bay.
Anchor and brace for local wind loading — a lightly loaded outdoor bay has less dead weight holding the columns
down than a fully loaded indoor one.

See how a pipe or tubing bay fits into a broader plan on the cantilever pallet racking hub, or
browse all pallet racking options if you’re storing pipe alongside palletized inventory.

Who stores pipe and tubing on cantilever racking

Plumbing and HVAC wholesalers, electrical and conduit distributors, steel and metal service centers, farm
and irrigation supply yards, and contractor equipment yards all rely on cantilever racking for round stock.
The common thread across every one of these operations is the same: material comes in long, round, mixed
diameters, and staff need to find the right size fast without wading into a pile.

Contractor and construction supply yards in particular often mix pipe and conduit storage with lumber,
fencing and other long stock on the same row of cantilever bays — the racking doesn’t care what the arm is
loaded with, only that the arm is rated for it. That flexibility is part of why cantilever systems show up in
so many different yard layouts rather than one narrow niche.

FAQs About Cantilever Racking for Pipe and Tubing Storage

Why is cantilever racking better than pallet rack for pipe?
Round stock rolls, and a pallet rack beam gives it nothing to rest against. Cantilever arms let you nest pipe and tubing directly on the arm or in an arm-mounted pipe stop, with no front columns to block loading a full 10–foot or 20–foot length from the side or end. It’s also far easier to sort pipe by diameter across arm levels than to stack round stock in a pallet rack bay.
How far apart should cantilever arms be spaced for pipe storage?
Closer than you’d use for lumber. Round stock needs at least two points of support close enough together that the pipe doesn’t sag or roll off the ends, and yards storing a wide range of diameters often add a center support arm on longer lengths. Ask your supplier about arm-mounted pipe stops or dividers if you’re storing many small-diameter pieces on the same level.
Can cantilever racking sort pipe by diameter?
Yes — that’s one of its main advantages over floor stacking. Dedicate arm levels or bay sections to a diameter range (small conduit low, large-diameter pipe on wider-spaced arms above, for example) so staff can pull the right size without digging through a mixed pile.
Is cantilever racking rated for outdoor pipe yards?
Yes, with a galvanized or rust-resistant coating on columns and arms — the same specification used for outdoor lumber and rebar storage. Outdoor pipe racking should also be anchored and braced for local wind loading, since exposed yard racks carry less dead weight per column than an indoor warehouse bay.
What load capacity do I need for steel pipe versus PVC conduit?
Steel pipe and structural tubing are far heavier per foot than PVC or plastic conduit, so a bay mixing both needs arms rated to the heaviest material you’ll actually load on that level — not an average. Confirm the manufacturer’s stamped capacity for your arm length and column before assuming a lighter-duty arm will handle steel.

Plan Your Pipe and Tubing Storage Layout

Tell us your pipe diameters, lengths and whether it’s an indoor or outdoor yard — we’ll spec arms and spacing to fit.

Headquartered in Salt Lake City, UT • Serving customers nationwide
Local service areas: Salt Lake City • Provo • Ogden • Park City • St. George • Logan • Lehi • Orem