Quick answer: Pick a dunnage rack by matching height to code (at least 6 inches, typically 8-12 for easier cleaning), footprint to your storage space, material to the environment (aluminum or stainless for wet areas, plastic for easy sanitizing), and weight capacity to your heaviest bulk loads. Confirm the rack is NSF-listed before you buy.
Key Takeaways
- FDA Food Code 3-305.11 requires food stored at least 6 inches off the floor; most racks run 8-12 inches for easier cleaning underneath.
- Cased beverages and waterproof-packaged food (bottles, cans, milk crates) can sit directly on a clean floor, but bagged or boxed dry goods cannot.
- NSF/ANSI 2 certification is the standard inspectors look for; a rack a few inches off the ground isn't automatically compliant.
- Match material to environment: aluminum and stainless steel handle moisture and corrosion, plastic is easiest to sanitize and holds up in extreme temperatures.
- Weight capacity ranges from about 1,000 lbs on standard aluminum racks to 4,000+ lbs on heavy-duty tubular or stainless designs.
- Casters add mobility between receiving, storage, and prep areas, but reduce stability versus stationary legs.
In this article
Dunnage racks look simple, but picking the wrong one means failed inspections, bent shelves, or wasted floor space. The right choice depends on your local health code, what you're storing, and how your kitchen actually moves inventory.
This guide walks through what to check before you buy, the steps to size a rack correctly, and the mistakes that trip up most first-time buyers. By the end, you'll know exactly what to order for your walk-in, dry storage room, or receiving area.
What you need before you start
You don't need special tools to choose a dunnage rack, just accurate measurements and a clear picture of what you're storing. Gather this information first so you don't end up with a rack that's the wrong size or rated for the wrong load.
Budget 15-20 minutes to measure and assess. No special skill is required — this is a planning task, not an installation job. Most racks ship assembled or with simple bolt-together legs that take under 30 minutes to set up.
Before you buy: what to gather
- ☐Tape measure for room dimensions and door clearance
- ☐A list of the heaviest items you'll store (case weight and stack height)
- ☐Your local health department's food code language on floor clearance
- ☐Knowledge of the room's environment: wet, refrigerated, or dry storage
- ☐A decision on stationary legs vs. casters based on how often items move
- ☐Floor plan or sketch of the storage area, including door swing and traffic paths
How to choose the right dunnage rack: step by step
Work through these steps in order. Each one narrows down the specs until you're left with a short list of racks that actually fit your space and your code requirements.
Safety note: before loading any rack, confirm its rated weight capacity and never exceed it — overloaded racks can buckle or tip, especially on casters.
Choosing a dunnage rack
1
Check your local food code
Confirm your health department follows FDA Food Code 3-305.11 or a local amendment. The baseline rule is food stored at least 6 inches (15 cm) above the floor, clean, dry, and protected from splash and dust. Ask specifically how your jurisdiction treats case lot handling equipment and waterproof-packaged beverages, since exceptions vary by city and county.
2
Identify what doesn't need a rack
Pressurized beverage containers and cased food in waterproof packaging — bottles, cans, plastic milk crates — can sit directly on a clean, dry floor. Separate these items out so you're only sizing racks for bagged flour, boxed dry goods, and other items that need elevation.
3
Measure your storage space
Measure the length and depth of the area where the rack will sit, plus door width if it needs to pass through a walk-in entrance. Common rack footprints run from about 12 inches up to 6 feet long and 10 inches to 3 feet deep, so match the footprint to your actual floor space, not just your biggest shelf unit.
4
Pick a height
Most dunnage racks run 8 to 12 inches high. An 8-inch rack clears code with margin and leaves more vertical room for stacking product above it. A 12-inch rack makes it easier to sweep, mop, and visually inspect underneath, which inspectors check closely, but it reduces usable stacking height in a room with a fixed ceiling or shelf above.
5
Match material to the environment
Aluminum and stainless steel resist corrosion and handle wet or refrigerated environments well, making them the standard choice for walk-in coolers and freezers. Heavy-duty plastic or polyethylene racks also resist rust and are easy to hose down; Forte's NSF-approved plastic racks, for example, are rated from -20°F to 180°F, which suits both freezer and warm dry-storage use.
6
Calculate your weight needs
Add up the heaviest realistic load the rack will carry, including full cases stacked at delivery volume, not just a half-used case. Standard aluminum racks typically hold around 1,000 lbs, while heavy-duty tubular or stainless designs run 2,000 to 4,000+ lbs. Size up if you receive full pallets or stack multiple tiers of canned goods.
7
Decide between stationary and mobile
Stationary racks are more stable and cost less, which suits a fixed dry storage room. Casters make sense if you move bulk items between receiving, storage, and prep — for example, rolling a rack of produce cases from the back door to the walk-in. If you add casters to an existing rack, confirm the caster set is rated for the rack's full loaded weight.
8
Confirm NSF certification
Look for NSF/ANSI 2 certification before you finalize your choice. This standard covers the materials, construction, and cleanability of food storage equipment, and it's what most health inspectors check for, not just a visual clearance measurement. A rack that looks compliant but isn't certified can still fail inspection.
9
Order and place the rack
Once you've matched height, footprint, material, capacity, and mobility to your needs, order the rack and place it with enough clearance on all sides for cleaning. Leave a few inches between the rack and the wall so you can sweep and mop behind it, not just underneath.
Common mistakes to avoid
Most compliance problems come from a handful of avoidable errors. Catching these before you buy saves a reorder and an awkward inspection.
Common mistake
The most common mistake is assuming any shelf a few inches off the ground satisfies code. Inspectors check actual clearance, cleanability underneath, and NSF listing — not just rough height. Other frequent errors: buying a rack rated for less weight than a full case stack, choosing a height that blocks cleaning access, and putting casters on a rack not rated to handle loaded rolling weight.
Troubleshooting common dunnage rack problems
Most issues after installation trace back to a mismatch between the rack and how it's actually used. Here's how to fix the most common ones.
- Rack sags or bends under load: You've likely exceeded its rated capacity. Check the weight rating against your actual stacked load and move to a heavy-duty tubular or stainless model if needed.
- Rust or corrosion appearing: Standard aluminum can still corrode in very wet or high-salt environments. Switch to stainless steel or a sealed plastic rack for walk-ins with heavy condensation or frequent washdowns.
- Rack fails inspection despite height: The inspector may be flagging lack of NSF certification or poor cleanability underneath, not just the clearance number. Confirm NSF/ANSI 2 listing and increase clearance to 10-12 inches if sweeping underneath is difficult.
- Casters won't roll or lock: This usually means the casters are undersized for the load or debris has built up in the wheel housing. Clean the wheels regularly and verify the caster set's weight rating matches the loaded rack.
Test your dunnage rack knowledge
Pick an answer for each question, then reveal it to check.
1. What is the minimum height food must be stored off the floor under FDA Food Code 3-305.11?
- A. 3 inches
- B. 6 inches
- C. 8 inches
- D. 12 inches
Reveal answer
B. 6 inches The FDA Food Code requires food to be stored at least 6 inches (15 cm) above the floor, with limited exceptions.
2. Which items can legally sit directly on a clean, dry floor?
- A. Bagged flour
- B. Boxed dry pasta
- C. Pressurized beverage containers and cased food in waterproof packaging
- D. Open crates of produce
Reveal answer
C. Pressurized beverage containers and cased food in waterproof packaging Pressurized beverages and waterproof-packaged items like bottles, cans, and milk crates are exempt from the elevation rule.
3. What certification should you confirm before buying a dunnage rack?
- A. UL
- B. NSF/ANSI 2
- C. Energy Star
- D. ISO 9001
Reveal answer
B. NSF/ANSI 2 NSF/ANSI 2 covers the sanitation and construction standards for food storage equipment like dunnage racks.
4. Why might you choose a 12-inch rack over an 8-inch rack?
- A. It's always cheaper
- B. It makes cleaning and inspecting underneath easier
- C. It holds more weight automatically
- D. It's required by code
Reveal answer
B. It makes cleaning and inspecting underneath easier Taller racks improve clearance for sweeping and visual inspection underneath, though they reduce stacking space above.
When to buy replacement parts or call a professional
Most dunnage rack issues are a parts swap, not a repair job. If a rack is structurally sound but needs to move more easily, replacement casters are often the fix — look for swivel casters rated for the rack's loaded weight, and get brakes on at least two wheels if the rack sits near a walkway.
Call a professional, or contact your equipment supplier, if you see cracked welds, a bent frame, or corrosion that's compromised the structure. At that point a repair isn't worth it — replace the rack rather than risk a collapse under a full load.
Casters for mobile dunnage racks
Which dunnage rack should you buy?
Once you've worked through sizing, height, and material, it comes down to picking a specific model. Here are a few starting points based on common setups.
Dunnage racks for common storage needs
$198.00
$198.00
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a dunnage rack used for in a restaurant?
A dunnage rack is a low, floor-level platform that holds bulk or heavy items like bagged flour, canned goods, and boxed ingredients off the floor. It's used in walk-in coolers, dry storage rooms, and receiving areas to meet sanitation code and keep stored food clean and dry.
How many inches off the floor does food need to be stored by code?
The FDA Food Code requires at least 6 inches (15 cm) of clearance, and most local health departments adopt this directly. Most dunnage racks are built to 8-12 inches to give extra room for cleaning and inspection underneath.
Are dunnage racks required by health code?
The code doesn't name 'dunnage racks' specifically, but it requires food be elevated at least 6 inches off the floor, and a dunnage rack is the standard way to meet that. Exceptions exist for case lot handling equipment and waterproof-packaged beverages.
What is the difference between an 8-inch and 12-inch dunnage rack?
An 8-inch rack clears code with margin and leaves more vertical space for stacking product above it. A 12-inch rack makes sweeping and inspecting underneath easier but reduces usable stacking height, which matters in rooms with a fixed ceiling or shelf above.
What material is best for a dunnage rack: aluminum, plastic, or stainless steel?
Aluminum and stainless steel resist corrosion and suit wet or refrigerated environments like walk-in coolers. Heavy-duty plastic racks also resist rust, are easy to sanitize, and can handle a wide temperature range, making them a good fit for both freezer and dry storage use.
What does NSF certified mean for a dunnage rack?
NSF certification means the rack meets NSF/ANSI 2, the standard covering materials, construction, and cleanability of food storage equipment. Inspectors look for this listing specifically, rather than just measuring rough clearance off the floor.
Can I store food directly on the floor in a walk-in freezer?
Only pressurized beverage containers and cased food in waterproof packaging, like bottles, cans, or plastic milk crates, can sit directly on a clean, dry floor. Bagged or boxed dry goods still need at least 6 inches of clearance, so a dunnage rack is required.
Get the right rack the first time
Choosing a dunnage rack comes down to four decisions: height, footprint, material, and weight capacity, all checked against your local food code and NSF listing. Get those right and you'll pass inspection without a second thought and keep bulk storage organized for years.
Browse our dunnage racks and casters to find the right fit for your walk-in, dry storage, or receiving area, or talk to our team if you need help sizing a rack for a specific space or load.
Sources
- Commercial Dunnage Rack Buying Guide: Size and Capacity
- Plastic Dunnage Racks and Merchandisers - Forte Products
- Keep It Off the Floor: Why Restaurants Need Dunnage Racks
- Commonly Asked Questions About Dunnage Racks
- What is an Aluminum Dunnage Rack and Why Do I Need One?
- NSF Food Equipment Standards
- NSF/ANSI Standard 2: The Essential Kitchen Guide