Rack Labeling Guide

Best practices and systems to keep your warehouse and

inventory organized.
Why Rack Labeling Matters

Without a sufficient guidance system, navigating warehouses and storage centers

can feel like getting dropped off in the middle of forest you’ve never been to, then
commanded to find your way home. With seemingly endless rows with racks and
racks of products—many of which are packed in boxes or tubs with little to no
identifying text—finding what you need is impossible without help. An intuitive
labeling system makes it easy to maneuver through the necessarily complex,
labyrinthine aisles of warehouses and store rooms.

Looking for a way to make your warehouse more manageable? Building a

guiding system is the most important thing businesses can do to maximize
warehouse efficiency.

The easiest and best way to create an easy-to-follow navigation system is by

using rack labels and signs. These rack labels allow workers to build a system
that makes sense, then standardize that system so that workers can use it
indefinitely. Of all the ways to improve efficiency and prevent waste like lost
time, rack labeling is the best, quickest, and most cost-effective way to manage
your inventory storage space.

Rack Labeling Guide www.creativesafetysupply.com/guides | 1-877-356-6584

Benefits of Rack Labeling:

Locating items becomes a walk in the park.

Once a system is in place, workers need only to look at the rack labels to find the
product they need. Without this, workers must resort to pacing through aisles
dizzily, reading the print on boxes, or adhering to barcodes.

Rack Labels improve efficiency in

inventory management.

The labels make it easier to

capture data, which decreases
human error and wasted time.
Automating data capture allows
warehouse operators to have
a better understanding of their
inventory, which means they can
better improve inventory flow and
eliminate bottlenecks.

Getting Started:

Like any job, creating a rack

labeling system requires some
knowledge and supplies. It’s
important to learn about inventory
systems. To begin, though, all you really need to know, for the purpose of
building your visual labeling system, is this: A Multi-Level Warehouse Rack
Label System is a set of labels coded with colors and graphics, usually located
at a reachable level, that gives a full picture of the products kept there. These
systems improve efficiency and reduce errors.

If you’re starting the process of building a labeling system for the first time, it’s
important to think about this process practically. With any barcoding, you must
consider the little details. When it comes to rack labeling, three key barcode
specifications—symbology, X dimension, and quiet zone—are crucial to building

Rack Labeling Guide www.creativesafetysupply.com/guides | 1-877-356-6584

a smart, successful labeling system. Since rack labels are posted high on
shelves, keeping these specifications in mind ensures that you create labels that
can be seen, read, and utilized at various angles and distances.

Symbology refers to the lines and spaces that define how barcodes are printed
and read. Symbology is what allows labels to communicate with barcode
readers and scanners. There are hundreds of unique barcode symbologies that
various industries use to meet their specific needs. UPC codes, for example,
are numeric-only codes used in the retail industry. These are the codes used
to ring up everything from your favorite pair of sweats to a family-size jar of
mayonnaise.

1D barcode 2D barcode
Warehouses, on the other hand, most
commonly use alphanumeric barcodes
(often called one-dimensional barcodes,
as they are printed with lines and
spaces. Two-dimensional (2D) barcodes
are the codes that are square in shape
and resemble television static. Ever
used your phone to scan a QR code to get a discount on chinos or use your
phone to scan an airline ticket? You used 2D codes. These codes have the
capability to encode data in less space than traditional 1D codes.

X Dimension is the thickness of lines and distance of spaces on a barcode. X

dimension affects the width of the printed barcode and, consequently, the size
of the label. It’s an important element to consider during rack labeling, since
the x dimension determines minimum and
maximum read distances of the barcode.
Important note: The larger your label, the X-Dimension
greater the scanning distance. Keep this in
mind when designing Rack labels.

Rack Labeling Guide www.creativesafetysupply.com/guides | 1-877-356-6584

The Quiet Zone is the blank space on either side of the barcode. This space is
required for a complete and accurate reading from scanners. Without the quiet
zone, scanners will not be able to read barcodes efficiently.

Color Coding

When it comes to rack labeling,

Common uses for Color coding in
rack labeling:
• Make labels on the same rack cross
beam stand out from each other
color coding can help operators
understand which label is
associated with each location,
or to emphasize the importance
of information regarding safety,
urgency, etc.

• Quick identification of each label

• Highlight important location

information (aisle, bay, position, etc.) Bin Labeling

Rack labeling helps locate items

to a certain point, but racks are
huge. They often hold similar
items that fit under a broad umbrella category like “gardening” or “plumbing,” but
how do you find specific items that are stored in this section? Without a method
to narrow down your search, you still have a waste time searching. Bin labeling
solves that.

Within each larger section identified on each rack are smaller sections called
bins. Bins allow workers to quick track down individual products quickly and
efficiently so they can spend less time searching and more time working.

Rack Labeling Guide www.creativesafetysupply.com/guides | 1-877-356-6584

Totem Rack Labeling

This method of labeling offers a creative solution tightly-packed, upper rack

positions by bringing the location barcodes for upper racks down to a ground
level. The Totem Pole approach allows bar codes to be stacked and placed on a
vertical post in an easy-to-scan location.

Best Totem Pole

Labeling practices:

Label every location. Placing

additional barcodes in the actual
location of products make special
circumstances like audits or
inventories easier.

Include levels on totem pole

labels. This makes scanning
consistent through your
warehouse and makes locating
products on shelves even easier.

Preprinted labels vs. Printing labels in-house

A common question people have when creating rack labeling is, well, how do we
get these things? Do we buy them? Make them? What should we do?

There are advantages to both options, but when it comes to rack labeling, having
the flexibility to print on-demand labels to your specific needs makes printing in-
house the most practical and cost-efficient choice.

Rack Labeling Guide www.creativesafetysupply.com/guides | 1-877-356-6584

With In-house printing:

• Barcode labels can be printed in small batches with no

minimum order requirements

• Labels are printed in real-time with product-sensitive data

• Flexibility to customize labels

independently with whatever
specs fit your needs

• Can easily create replacement

labels without having to wait
for the mail

• Gives you the ability to print

other visual communication
tools like OSHA-compliant signs

To do rack labeling sufficiently and cost-effectively, an industrial printer is the

right choice.

Industrial Label Printers

When you’re creating a new labeling

system, the most cost-effective
way to do that is to create the labels
themselves. Having your own label
printer means created new labels is
easy, and having a label printer on
hand means you can create visual
systems to improve organization
across all departments of your
business.

Rack Labeling Guide www.creativesafetysupply.com/guides | 1-877-356-6584

LabelTac® Industrial Label Printers are built to last. Their rugged chassis and easy-
to-use interface allow for quick and easy use. Powered by the intuitive and robust
label-making software LabelSuite™, you’ll be able to design your rack labeling
system without any headaches or hassle.

Managing inventories can feel difficult, but with the right rack labeling system, it
doesn’t have to be.

Rack Labeling Guide www.creativesafetysupply.com/guides | 1-877-356-6584

Rack Labeling Supplies

In addition to labels made with high performance vinyl, there are other types of
supplies that can help with rack labeling in unusual locations, and a variety of
materials for permanent as well as temporary labels.

Retro-Reflective Rack Labels

https://www.creativesafetysupply.com/labeltac-
magnetic-reflective-barcode-supply

These labels are best for settings that require

workers to scan from long ranges. These labels
are designed to scan from distances as far as 50
feet with long-range scanners.

Cold Storage Labels

https://www.creativesafetysupply.com/labeltac-cold-
storage-supply

In harsh environments like industrial freezers, you

must use labeling material built to thrive in tough
conditions. LabelTac® Cold Storage Supply is
designed to withstand subzero temperatures, and
their strong adhesive backing means you won’t
need waste money replacing them.

Magnetic Labels
https://www.creativesafetysupply.com/labeltac-magnetic-supply

Magnetic Label Supply is built to work for

LabelTac® printers. The high-quality magnetic
backing is built to last, so you can rely on these
labels for a long time. Labels made with this
supply are easy to apply and peel away for reuse,
and because they’re magnetic, you won’t have to
worry about labels leaving a sticky residue behind.

Rack Labeling Guide www.creativesafetysupply.com/guides | 1-877-356-6584

Repositionable Labels
https://www.creativesafetysupply.com/labeltac-
repositionable-vinyl-supply

LabelTac® Repositionable Supply is built with tough,

durable vinyl material, yet it is designed to easily
detach and reattach like standard label supplies. Their
ability to be mobile makes it easier to handle changes
in the workplace. Warehouses are often shifting
environments constantly in the state of flux.

Repositionable labels makes it so you’re able to adjust quickly to the changes

around your warehouse. The high-gloss finish of this supply makes the tape easy
to spot from a distance so your aisles are highly visible.

Floor Signs
https://www.creativesafetysupply.com/Floor-Sign/

Floor signs help workers easily locate aisles, which

means they can work faster and spend less time
stopping to find what they need. Floor signs are made
with tough, industrial-strength material to withstand
heavy foot and forklift traffic. Floor signs go a long
way turning your workplace into a highly visible
environment.

Heavy Duty Aisle Signs

https://www.creativesafetysupply.com/heavy-duty-aisle-
signs

These heavy-duty, quality signs will make your

warehouse visual communicate better. These signs
are large and easy to see, which means aisle numbers
can be seen from a greater distance than other aisle
signs. Made from tough, durable PVC plastic, you can
count on these signs to last.

Rack Labeling Guide www.creativesafetysupply.com/guides | 1-877-356-6584

 LabelTac® Pro X Rack Labeling Bundle
Rack labeling is solved with this bundle. We have selected items that our customers rely on
for rack labeling. Start with a versatile LabelTac® Pro X printer, and an assortment of supplies
that will cover most rack labeling situations. Customize this bundle to meet your project or
facility needs.

Purchased individually $3,307.88 YOU SAVE

BUNDLE PRICE $2,699.00 $608.88

LabelTac® Pro X Printer (MSRP $1199.00)

 Print on-demand, custom weatherproof labels

 Compatible with supplies from 1/2” to 4”
 Large print ribbon capacity (984’ per roll)
 Free label printing software with thousands of
included templates and symbols ($299.00 value)
 Free Full Lifetime Warranty

Plus this bundle includes:

3” Label Supply 2” Label Supply Print Ribbon

2 rolls (150’/roll) 4 rolls (150’/roll) 2 rolls (164’ and 984’/roll)

x1 x1 x2 x2
x1 x1

3” Magnetic Supply 2” Repositionable Supply

1 roll (25’/roll) 2 rolls (75’/roll)

x1 x2

3” Magnetic Supply
1 roll (75’/roll) Includes

Label
™

Design and Print

x1 Software

https://www.creativesafetysupply.com/labeltac-pro-x-rack-labeling-bundle/
With the right tools and a solid organizational system, you can tackle your rack
labeling job with confidence. A few final reminders:

• Plan ahead before implementing a label system.

• Use a barcode system to help with inventory and organization

• Be consistent with labeling and signs so new, as well as experienced

workers know what to expect for navigation and identification.

• Label everything. Communication is the best way to avoid confusion.

• Invest in a good quality label printer and supplies.

• Remember that floor and aisle signs are part of rack labeling.

Rack Labeling Guide www.creativesafetysupply.com/guides | 1-877-356-6584

Shop top products for rack labeling,
organization, and safety
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