World-class
picture racking
solutions
Expertly designed, supplied, installed and maintained for the world's leading museums, art galleries, libraries and private collections.
- British manufactureEngineered in the UK
- Shipped worldwideUK · EU · Middle East · USA
- BS EN load testedCertified load ratings
- Conservation-gradeInert, non-off-gassing finish
- ISO 9001 processesQuality-managed delivery
Specified by curators & collection managers worldwide
- National Museums
- University Libraries
- Royal Collections
- Regional Galleries
- Private Foundations
- Conservation Studios
- Auction Houses
- Diplomatic Estates
Picture racking projects in action.
A selection of recent Rackstor UK Ltd installations — sliding mesh racks, pull-out picture storage and wall-mounted mesh systems delivered for museums, galleries and archives.
What is picture racking?
Picture racking is a specialist high-density storage system designed for the storage, retrieval and display of framed artwork, canvases, panels and photographic prints. Used by museums, galleries, auction houses, art storage facilities and corporate collections, picture racking systems allow large numbers of artworks to be stored vertically in a compact footprint — with each piece individually accessible without moving others.
Types of picture racking systems
Static picture racking
Fixed vertical dividers creating individual slots for framed artwork of varying sizes. Suitable for smaller collections with moderate access requirements.
Mobile picture racking
Picture racking units mounted on wheeled carriages running along floor tracks, eliminating fixed aisles and doubling storage capacity in the same floor area. The preferred choice for large museum and gallery collections.
Sliding panel racking
Panels or screens that slide on overhead tracks, allowing artworks to hang vertically and be slid apart for access. Widely used in art storage and museum reserve collections.
Heavy-duty picture racking
Structural steel systems designed for large, heavy canvases, sculptures and three-dimensional objects. Load-rated for pieces up to several hundred kilograms.
Who uses picture racking?
- Museums and galleries — Storing reserve collections, rotating displays and incoming loans. Picture racking is standard equipment in museum and gallery stores across the UK.
- Auction houses — Storing consignment lots between cataloguing and sale. High-density picture racking maximises storage capacity in auction house warehouses.
- Art storage and logistics companies — Specialist fine-art storage businesses use picture racking as the primary storage system for client collections.
- Corporate collections — Businesses holding large art collections use picture racking for secure, accessible off-display storage.
- Artists and studios — Large-format picture racking for storing finished and work-in-progress canvases.
- Conservation studios — Picture racking designed for conservation environments with climate control and vibration minimisation.
Picture racking and museum storage
Rackstor UK Ltd has supplied and installed picture racking and museum storage systems for heritage organisations across the United Kingdom and internationally. Our experience covers small gallery stores through to major national museum reserve collection facilities. We understand the specific requirements of museum and heritage storage — climate compatibility, load sensitivity, accessibility for conservation teams and compliance with PAS 197 and BS 4971.
Why choose Rackstor for picture racking?
25+ years of specialist storage experience. Picture racking projects delivered for museums, galleries and heritage organisations across the UK. Systems designed to your collection's specific requirements. Free site survey and fixed-price quotation.
Across a decade of installed museum and gallery projects, our sliding picture racking stores the same collection in roughly 40% of the floor area of static wall hanging — releasing space for conservation, study or growth.
Find your number with a free site survey.
Send us your room dimensions or a floor plan. We'll come back with a written capacity calculation, a layout option and a fixed quotation — no obligation, no fee, anywhere in the world.
Request a free site surveyPicture racking, mesh panels & wall-mounted storage.
Every Rackstor system is engineered for the safe, high-density storage and display of framed paintings, prints, textiles and works on paper.
Sliding Picture Racks
Pull-out steel mesh panels mounted on overhead tracks — high-density storage for framed art with smooth, low-effort access.
Wall-Mounted Mesh Panels
Static wall-fixed mesh panels for displaying or storing artwork along perimeter walls — ideal for smaller stores and viewing rooms.
Bespoke Mobile Systems
Custom-engineered mobile racking on tracks. Maximise capacity in any footprint, designed to your collection and floor plan.
Trusted by curators, conservators & collection managers.
Museums
National and regional museums storing fine art, ethnographic and historical collections.
Art Galleries
Commercial galleries, dealers and private collections needing accessible, secure art stores.
Libraries & Archives
Maps, prints, framed documents and special collections in university and national libraries.
Conservation Studios
Restoration workshops, framers and fine-art logistics requiring flexible, protective storage.
Supply. Installation. Servicing.
From initial site survey to ongoing maintenance, Rackstor delivers a single point of responsibility for your art storage project — anywhere in the world.
Survey & Design
Free site assessment, CAD layouts and load calculations tailored to your collection and building.
Manufacture & Supply
Precision-engineered steel racking and mesh panels manufactured to museum-grade specifications.
Installation & Servicing
Certified installers and scheduled servicing programmes to keep your systems running for decades.
Why specifiers choose Rackstor
- Museum-grade steel construction & powder-coat finish
- Conservation-safe materials — inert, non-off-gassing
- High-density layouts maximising existing floor area
- Worldwide shipping, installation & after-care
- Compliant with UK, EU and international building codes
Picture racking projects on four continents.
From the British Museum's stores to galleries in Dubai, university libraries across Europe and private collections in New York — we ship, install and service worldwide.
United Kingdom
London, Manchester, Edinburgh & nationwide installations.
Europe
Paris, Berlin, Amsterdam, Madrid, Rome and across the EU.
Middle East
Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Riyadh — museum & gallery projects.
United States
New York, Washington DC, LA — coast-to-coast delivery.
Trusted by museums & galleries worldwide.
Verified client reviews coming soon. References available on request for curators, registrars and collection managers considering a picture racking project.
Five questions to settle before you specify.
A short specifier's brief drawn from forty years of museum and gallery installations. Bring this checklist to any picture racking conversation — with us or anyone else.
- 01
Collection type & media
Framed paintings, works on paper, textiles and three-dimensional works each demand different panel spacing, suspension fittings and protective interfaces. We design around what you actually hold.
- 02
Floor loading & building fabric
Loaded racking imposes concentrated point loads. We provide structural calculations for sign-off and work with your engineer to confirm slab capacity, especially in historic buildings.
- 03
Ceiling height & overhead obstructions
Sliding picture racks suspend from overhead steelwork; mobile bases run on floor tracks. Ductwork, sprinklers and roof structure dictate which configuration delivers maximum capacity.
- 04
Conservation environment
Materials must be inert and non-off-gassing — powder-coat to a conservation-safe specification, no plasticisers, no untreated steel. Airflow around stored works also matters in climate-controlled stores.
- 05
Growth & flexibility
Collections grow. We plan in expansion bays, reconfigurable panels and modular framework so the system you commission today still serves you in twenty years.
Made to protect what isn't replaceable.
Every Rackstor system is specified to the standards a national-collection conservator would write themselves.
Inert, conservation-safe finish
Powder-coat to a museum-grade specification. No plasticisers, no solvent residues, no off-gassing — independently certified safe for prolonged contact with sensitive media.
BS EN 15512 / 15620 design
Structural design follows the European standards for static storage equipment. Load calculations are provided in writing for engineer and insurer sign-off.
Built to outlast the building
Heavy-gauge steel frames, 3mm mesh in 50mm sections, sealed bearings on overhead tracks. Designed life in excess of forty years with scheduled servicing.
Manufactured responsibly in the UK
Short supply chains, low-carbon British steel where available, and a take-back route at end of service life for fully recyclable disassembly.
Questions from curators & collection managers.
How much artwork can a picture racking system hold?
Capacity depends on panel size, footprint and ceiling height. A typical bay carries 6–10 pull-out mesh panels, each holding 30–60 framed works on both faces. We provide a written capacity calculation with every site survey.
Will the system damage frames, glass or canvases?
No. Our mesh is powder-coated to a conservation-grade finish — inert, non-abrasive and non-off-gassing. Panels slide on overhead tracks so frames never rub against neighbouring works. Hanging is done with archival-spec hooks selected for your frame profile.
Can you install in occupied museum and gallery stores?
Yes. We routinely install in live collection environments with phased works, dust-control, out-of-hours shifts and conservation-led handling protocols. Our installers are DBS-checked and CSCS-carded.
Do you ship and install outside the United Kingdom?
We do. Picture racking projects have been delivered across the UK, Europe, the Middle East and the USA. Systems are crated for export from our British factory and installed by our own teams or vetted local partners under our supervision.
What standards and load ratings do you work to?
Systems are designed to BS EN 15512 / 15620 principles for static load, with structural calculations supplied for sign-off. Our manufacturing operates under ISO 9001 quality processes and SEMA member best practice.
How long does a typical project take?
Survey to installation is usually 8–14 weeks for standard configurations, longer for bespoke or large-scale schemes. We provide a detailed programme at proposal stage so your collection moves and curator availability can be planned around it.
Plan your picture racking project.
Tell us about your collection and space. We'll respond with options and a quote within 48 hours.