Bun Pan Rack Sizes and Capacities: OEM Reference

Why dimensions decide your daily workflow

Two racks can hold the same number of pans and still fit your bakery completely differently. One clears the proofer door and the walk in cooler and turns on the spot at the end of the make up line. The other one does not, and every shift pays for that mistake. This reference covers the dimensions that matter and the measurements you should take before you place an order.

Start with the pan

The pan sets everything else. Measure the pan you actually bake on, not the pan you plan to buy, because switching pan standards later means replacing the rack as well.

Give the pan clearance

A rack shelf should be slightly wider than the pan and a small allowance for gloved hands. If the shelf is tight, pans jam when they are hot and the operator stops loading carefully, which is how pans get dropped.

Rack footprint: width, depth and aisle

Rack width is normally driven by the pan and by the number of columns. A single column rack holds one pan across, while a double column rack holds two pan columns side by side. The double column rack stores twice as many pans in almost the same height, at the cost of a wider footprint and a heavier push.

Common rack sizes and capacities

Values above are typical IEQUIPMENT builds with standard casters. Ask us for the drawing for the exact model you are considering, because caster diameter alone changes overall height by up to 50 mm.

The measurement that causes the most surprises

Height is where most ordering mistakes happen, and it is the easiest thing to check. Measure the clear opening, not the frame, at every point the rack must pass.

• Proofer and oven openings, including the door frame and any latch that protrudes.

• Walk in cooler and freezer doorways, measured with the door fully open.

• The clear height under any sprinkler head, duct or light fitting on the route.

• The tailgate or side door of the delivery vehicle, measured on level ground.

• Existing work tables or equipment that the rack must pass beneath.

Remember to add the caster height when you compare the rack against these openings. A 20 pan rack with 200 mm casters is taller than the same rack with 125 mm casters.

Shelf spacing and pan stops

Shelf spacing is set by the tallest product that will sit on the pan. Common spacings are 75 mm, 100 mm and 125 mm. Tight spacing holds more pans and suits flat goods, while wider spacing suits proofed dough, tall bread and anything with a dome.

Pan stops are small brackets that stop a pan sliding off the back of the shelf. They cost very little and they prevent the most common accident in a busy bakery, so specify them unless your operators have a specific reason to slide pans through.

How to measure before you order

• Measure the pan footprint, including any rim or handle.

• Count the pans that are in circulation at the busiest hour, not the pans you own.

• Measure every clear opening along the delivery route inside the building.

• Note the floor surface and any slope, ramp or drain the rack will cross.

• Decide whether the rack must roll into a proofer, an oven carriage or a blast chiller.

• Confirm how the rack will be cleaned, because that decides the frame material.

When a custom size is the right answer

Custom heights, widths and shelf spacings are normal in this industry. We build racks to suit low basement doorways, older buildings, specific proofer carriages and mixed pan fleets, usually at little or no tooling cost for welded aluminum frames. Send a sketch with your measurements and we will return a drawing for approval.

Ask us for a dimensioned drawing

Send us your pan size, pan count and the tightest clear opening on your route. We will recommend a rack model, confirm the overall height with casters, and send a dimensioned drawing before production starts.

Talk to Our Team

Building or sourcing racks, shelving or carts for your operation? IEQUIPMENT supplies aluminum and stainless steel equipment as OEM, ODM and knock-down (KD) programs, shipped in containers from Shanghai or Ningbo (FOB/CIF). Browse our bun pan racks or contact our team with your spec.