Warehouse Security Cages and Enclosures
Large-format wire mesh enclosures for high-value inventory, returns, will-call, rack aisles and controlled stock, designed around forklift traffic, sprinklers and your floor plan.
Free layout help: (800) 326-4403 or sales@mh-usa.com
Shop Pre-Configured Wire Mesh Cage Kits Online
Standard-size welded wire cage kits, priced online, for smaller storage needs. Every kit still needs to be anchored to sound concrete — for tall, braced or engineered enclosures, request a quote with your building location and floor details.
Prices are the current online prices. See all security cage kits · Need a custom size? Request a security cage quote.
What warehouses put inside a security cage
A warehouse security cage turns an open floor into zones with controlled access. Instead of locking the whole building down, you lock the 5% of inventory that drives most of your shrink and liability.
- High-value SKUs: electronics, tools, copper, fragrances and anything that walks.
- Returns and damages: held apart until inspected.
- Customer or 3PL client stock: separated by owner for audits.
- Will-call and staged orders: picked, sealed and waiting for pickup.
- Regulated product: pharmaceuticals, alcohol, aerosols or DEA Schedule III–V stock.
Per the National Retail Federation’s survey, retail shrink reached $112.1 billion in 2022; warehouses feel the same pressure upstream. A cage will not stop every loss, but it limits who can reach the product and makes counts and investigations far simpler.
Types of warehouse security enclosures
Room partitionsMesh walls that divide off a secure room using existing building walls on one or two sides.
Freestanding cagesFour-sided enclosures with optional mesh ceilings, placed anywhere on the floor.
Pallet rack enclosuresBack, end and top panels that lock rack bays without building a separate room.
Driver access cagesVestibules that keep visiting drivers out of the warehouse while paperwork is handled.
Tool and parts cribsIssue cages with service windows for MRO parts and tools.
Multi-tenant cagesRows of cages separating client inventory in 3PL and shared buildings.Security cage options compared
Most buyers weigh a mesh cage against a few alternatives. Here is how they usually stack up for warehouse and facility storage.
| Option | Visibility | Reconfigure later | Typical use | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Welded or woven wire partition | Full; mesh you can see and spray through | Yes, panels unbolt | Cages, cribs, rack enclosures | Needs anchoring to sound concrete |
| Chain link cage | Full | Difficult | Low-cost bulk storage | Fabric can be cut or pried; sags over time |
| Drywall or block room | None | No | Offices and vaults | Construction, permits and sprinklers inside |
| Lockable cabinets | Limited | Moves easily | Small parts and documents | Small capacity; no pallets |
| Pre-configured cage kit | Full | Yes | Standard 8×8 to 12×12 storage | Fixed sizes; still needs anchoring |
Open mesh is usually the best balance: inventory stays visible for counts and cameras, sprinkler water and light pass through, and the cage can move with your operation. Solid rooms make sense for records vaults or when the fire code or a regulation calls for them.
Warehouse security cage requirements to plan for
Most warehouse cages are not governed by a single cage code. The requirements come from the building and the product:
- Fire sprinklers: open mesh lets sprinkler water pass, but a mesh ceiling or stored goods near it can change coverage. Your fire protection engineer or fire marshal decides whether heads are needed inside.
- Egress: a cage cannot block exit paths, and large cages that people work inside may need free-exit hardware.
- Permits: many jurisdictions treat mesh partitions as non-structural, but tall or ceiling-supported cages may need review. See our security cage permit guide for how one state handles it.
- Anchoring and seismic: posts anchor to sound concrete; tall runs in seismic areas may need bracing. Details on our anchoring and seismic bracing page.
- Regulated product: DEA, TTB bonded storage or state cannabis rules add their own specs.
Doors, access and traffic flow
The door decides how the cage works day to day. Hinged doors suit people-only cages. Sliding doors keep the aisle clear and open wide for pallet jacks and forklifts. Double doors and bi-parting sliders handle full pallets.
For locks, a keyed cylinder is the starting point; padlock hasps suit low-security zones; card readers and electric strikes give an entry log for audited inventory. A service window lets staff hand out parts or will-call orders without opening the door at all.
| Door | Best for | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Single hinged | People and carts | Swing space in the aisle |
| Double hinged | Pallets with a pallet jack | Wider swing; needs clear floor |
| Sliding | Forklift aisles, tight spaces | Track clearance overhead |
| Service window | Issue counters, will-call | Counter height and pass-through size |
Securing pallet rack without building a room
When the high-value stock already lives in rack, the fastest fix is often to cage the rack itself. Mesh panels mount to the back of the rack, the ends of the run and across the top, with lockable doors or roll-up fronts on the pick face.
This keeps the rack layout and forklift aisles you already have. It also works for overhead bulk storage above a cage on the floor. Our pallet rack security enclosure page covers panel sizes, rack compatibility and load clearances.
Chain link storage cages vs welded wire partitions
Chain link cages are still used for low-cost storage, but most warehouses now choose welded or woven wire partitions for the look, the security and the ability to reconfigure.
| Chain link cage | Welded/woven wire partition | |
|---|---|---|
| Security | Fabric can be cut or pried from posts | Framed panels; hardware on the inside |
| Appearance | Utility look; sags over time | Straight panels, powder-coat finish |
| Reconfiguring | Hard to move without new fabric | Panels unbolt and reinstall |
| Doors | Basic gates | Hinged, sliding, Dutch and service-window options |
| Install | Field-stretched fabric | Modular panels and posts, one to a few days for most cages |
If you already own chain link or older partitions, reusing them can work, but teardown damage and fit-up time often eat most of the savings. Our used vs new security cages page explains why; send our sales team photos and we will tell you honestly what is worth keeping.
Security cage planning checklist
Answering these before you request a quote saves a round of revisions and gets you an accurate price the first time.
- Floor dimensions of the area and any columns inside it
- Clear height to the lowest obstruction (sprinkler pipe, lights, joists)
- Whether people could climb over the walls if there is no ceiling
- What goes inside: shelving, pallet rack or floor-stacked pallets
- How product moves in and out: people, carts, pallet jacks or forklifts
- Door count, sizes and which way they should swing or slide
- Lock type and who needs access, and whether you need an entry log
- Sprinkler, lighting and camera coverage inside the cage
- Slab type and condition, and any radiant heat or utilities in the floor
- Any regulation that applies: DEA, TTB, state cannabis or insurer requirements
- Whether you lease the building and need landlord approval for anchors
- Your target install date and working hours for the crew
How a warehouse cage project runs
Measure and list
We review dimensions, clear height, sprinklers, doors and what goes inside.
CAD layout
You get a drawing with panel runs, doors and ceiling options before you commit.
Supply
Panels from Wire Crafters, SpaceGuard and other partners; some common sizes are in stock at select manufacturers, subject to confirmation.
Install
Our crews anchor, hang doors and adjust hardware, usually in one to a few days.
Send us a floor sketch or CAD file, the clear height, door locations, the type of product you need to secure and any forklift traffic. We will come back with a layout and a quote. For budget ranges per linear foot, see the security cage cost guide. Want to try a layout yourself first? Start in the security cages hub.
Warehouse Security Enclosure FAQs
What are the requirements for a warehouse security cage?
Do I need a mesh ceiling?
Can a forklift get into the cage?
How long does installation take?
Can the cage be moved later?
Do you sell pre-built cage kits?
Secure the inventory that matters most
Send a floor sketch and we will lay out a warehouse security enclosure with doors, ceilings and access control that fit your operation.