Cantilever rack is used for storage of longstock items (bar stock, long extrusions, wooden studs) where maintaining cosmetic appearance of those items is not critical. It can be freestanding and is designed to allow entry of a fork truck to place and remove the items to and from the arms. Cantilever rack is a superior storage solution in many situations. Compared to standard pallet racks, cantilever rack is:

- Easier to use: with no front column in the way, cantilever racks are faster to load and unload, lowering handling time and costs.

- More flexible: Loads may be placed any where along the entire length of a row on a cantilever rack.

- More compact: The lack of frony column saves horizontal space normally lost to rack structure. Handling clearance is also more abundant.

- More selective: Any load or storage slot is immediately accessible.

- More economical:Both reduced handling times and increased space utilization make cantilever racks more cost-efficient. Additionally, cantilever racks become more economical as load length increases, while standard pallet racks increase in costs.

- More adaptable: Cantilever racks can store nearly any type of load. They are especially useful for storing long, bulky, or oddly-shaped loads.