Quick answer: Forklift barriers are bolt-down steel guards that stop a forklift before it hits people, racking, walls or equipment. Use single height guardrail to protect racking ends and equipment, double height guardrail along pedestrian walkways, steel bollards at doorways and corners, and rack, column, door track and pipe guards for point protection. Our heavy-duty guardrail is rated 10,000 lb at 4 mph when properly installed, kits start at $273, and most orders ship in 2 to 3 business days from the Dallas area.
Key takeaways
- Match the barrier to the hazard: guardrail for runs, bollards for points, protectors for racking, columns, doors and pipes.
- Double height guardrail is the usual choice where forklifts and pedestrians share space.
- Everything bolts to an existing concrete floor, so there is no coring or pouring.
- All prices are listed online, with volume pricing on orders over $10,000.
In this guide
- Types of forklift barriers
- Which forklift barrier do you need?
- Guardrail specifications
- Forklift barrier prices
- Installation and delivery in Texas
- FAQs
Types of forklift barriers
- Single height guardrail: 19″ posts with the rail at 17.61″. Stops forks and wheels at floor level in front of racking ends, machinery, conveyors and walls.
- Double height guardrail: 41.5″ posts with rails at 17.61″ and 40.16″. Separates pedestrian walkways and work areas from forklift traffic.
- Steel safety bollards: 36″, 42″ or 48″ high in 4″ or 6″ schedule 40 steel pipe on a bolt-down 8″ x 8″ base plate. Protects doorways, building corners, panels and dock areas.
- End of rack protectors and rack column protectors: guard the uprights forklifts hit most often at aisle ends and in the aisle.
- Overhead door track guards: keep dock door tracks straight so doors keep working after a strike.
- Downspout and pipe guards: protect exposed pipes, conduit and downspouts from 2″ to 12″ diameter.
Which forklift barrier do you need?
| What you are protecting | Recommended barrier |
|---|---|
| People on walkways and at work stations | Double height guardrail plus an adjustable pedestrian gate at crossings |
| Racking ends and aisle entries | Single height guardrail or end of rack protectors |
| Individual rack uprights | Rack column protectors |
| Machinery, conveyors and electrical panels | Single height guardrail around the footprint |
| Doorways, building corners and dock areas | Steel safety bollards |
| Overhead dock door tracks | Door track guards, left and right hand |
| Exposed pipes, downspouts and conduit | Downspout and pipe guards |
Not sure where to start? Our guide on where to install warehouse guardrails first ranks the highest-risk zones in a typical warehouse.
Guardrail specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Impact rating | 10,000 lb at 4 mph when properly installed |
| Post | 4.72″ x 4.72″ x 3/16″ steel on a 10″ x 10″ x 5/8″ base plate |
| Anchors | Four 5/8″ x 5″ wedge anchors per post |
| Rail | 12.2″ high, 11-gauge pre-galvanized steel, safety yellow powder coat |
| Rail lengths | 2 ft to 10 ft nominal, center to center of posts |
See the full range of warehouse and industrial guardrail systems for kit options.
Forklift barrier prices
| Product | Price from |
|---|---|
| Single height guardrail starter kit (2 posts, 1 rail) | $273 |
| Double height guardrail starter kit (2 posts, 2 rails) | $473 |
| Heavy duty safety bollard | $143 |
| End of rack protector | $130 |
| Rack column protector | $23 |
| Overhead door track guard | $100 |
| Downspout and pipe guard | $88 |
Prices are current online prices; shipping and tax are calculated at checkout. Orders over $10,000 qualify for volume pricing.
Installation and delivery in Texas
Every barrier bolts to an existing concrete floor with the anchors supplied, so your maintenance team or contractor can install it without concrete work. Follow our step-by-step guardrail installation guide for layout and anchoring. Forklift barriers are impact protection, not fall protection, so check our guide to OSHA guardrail requirements for mezzanines and dock edges.
Most orders ship within 2 to 3 business days from our Dallas warehouse on Valley Branch Lane, to facilities across Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, Austin and San Antonio.
Get a free quote or call 817-961-9471 to plan your forklift barrier layout.
Forklift Barriers from Our Dallas Warehouse
12917 Valley Branch Ln
Dallas, TX 75234
Phone: 817-961-9471
Email: sales@guardrail.online
| Monday to Friday | 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Saturday and Sunday | Closed |
Serving warehouses and distribution centers across Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, Austin and San Antonio, with shipping across the contiguous United States.
FAQs
How strong are your forklift barriers?
Our heavy-duty single and double height guardrail is rated to withstand a 10,000 lb impact at 4 mph when properly installed. Bollards use schedule 40 steel pipe in 4" or 6" diameter on a bolt-down base plate.
Which forklift barrier should I use to protect pedestrians?
Double height guardrail, with 41.5" posts and rails at 17.61" and 40.16", is the usual choice along walkways because it blocks forks and wheels and gives people a visible barrier at waist height. Add an adjustable pedestrian gate where people need to cross.
Do forklift barriers need concrete work to install?
No. Our guardrail posts and bollards bolt down to an existing concrete floor with wedge anchors, so no coring or pouring is needed. Each guardrail post takes four 5/8" x 5" wedge anchors.
Does OSHA require forklift barriers?
OSHA does not name forklift barriers in a specific standard, but 1910.176(a) requires safe clearances and marked aisles where forklifts operate, and employers must protect workers from recognized hazards. Many facilities use barriers to separate forklifts from people.
How fast do you ship forklift barriers in Texas?
Most orders ship within 2 to 3 business days from our Dallas warehouse on Valley Branch Lane, to warehouses across Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, Austin and San Antonio. Orders over $10,000 qualify for volume pricing.
Written by the Guardrail Online team. Reviewed and updated in October 2026.