Magnetic Rack Labels and Totem Labels: When to Use Each

Magnetic vs adhesive rack labels: how to decide

Most of the decision comes down to one question: how often do your locations change?

Choose magnetic when locations move

Every time an adhesive location moves, someone scrapes the old label, cleans the residue, reprints, and re-applies. A magnetic label comes off clean and goes back on in the new spot. The CIS warehouse guide puts it simply: "Easily remove and reposition labels without messy cleanup or adhesive residue." That makes magnets a good fit for forward pick, seasonal zones, and 3PL client areas that change with each contract.

Choose adhesive when locations stay put

If a location will not move, a permanent adhesive label costs less per label and stays where you put it. There is no reason to pay for flexibility you will not use. Reserve storage and bulk areas are usually adhesive.

Check the surface first

Magnets need steel they can grip. They will not hold on aluminum, wood, or plastic. If your racking or shelving is not steel, use an adhesive label there.

Think about impact

On beams that take regular pallet strikes, a magnet can be knocked loose. Use thicker magnet stock in those spots, or use adhesive. CIS magnets come in .030" and .060" thicknesses. Ask us which thickness fits your traffic.

Cost, without the guesswork

Magnetic labels cost more up front. They pay for themselves when your locations change often enough to make reprinting adhesive labels a regular chore. The right answer is often zone by zone, and we can help you sort out which zones are which when you send your location file.

A middle option for fixed racking: CleanBeam

If your racking is fixed but the old labels are damaged or covered in residue, CleanBeam is a cover applied over existing labels and damaged beams. New location labels go on top. See our warehouse rack labels page for details.

Shelving, signs, and cold storage

CIS shelf labels come in adhesive-backed, magnetic, and clip-on formats, and aisle signs come with hanging and magnetic options. The CIS warehouse guide lists magnetic labels as suitable even for deep freezers, and freezer-grade magnets are available. If you have a cold storage area, ask us about cold storage when you request a quote.

What a totem (multi-level upright) label is for

A totem label is a single vertical label mounted on the rack upright that holds the location data and barcodes for several levels in that bay. In the words of the CIS warehouse guide, it "contains the data for multiple locations within a single label."

Why use a totem label

• Upper beams are hard to scan from the floor without a long-range scanner. A totem puts those barcodes on the upright, where a picker can reach and scan them. The CIS guide calls totems "great for applications without a long range scanner."
• Some racks have no good beam face for a label. The upright is the natural place for the location data.
• Lay the levels out bottom to top on the totem, in the same order as the rack, and color-code each level so the picker scans the right one.

When beam labels and long-range scanning fit better

If your team already uses long-range scanners, retro-reflective beam labels let them scan upper levels from the floor, with 10+ feet scan distance (typical for a long-range scanner). See our retro-reflective rack labels on the warehouse labeling page.

Formats and mounting

CIS offers totems and A/B labels. Ask us about mounting options for your uprights.

Mixing magnetic, adhesive, and totem labels in one building

Most buildings do not pick one label type. They mix them by zone: magnetic labels where slotting changes, adhesive labels in fixed reserve storage, and totem labels on tall uprights. What keeps it simple for pickers is one standard across all three: the same location format, the same color scheme for levels, and the same barcode symbology. A picker should not notice which kind of label they are scanning. For more on naming and layout, see our rack labeling best practices.

Check the location data before anything prints

Re-slotting and new totems both mean new location codes, so the data check matters even more on these projects. CIS can run your location file through the CIS Label Data Validator, which runs 16+ automated checks, before production. Duplicates, sequence gaps, and format errors get caught in the spreadsheet, not on the rack.

"For Zion Solutions Group, a supply chain automation integrator, running their location data through the CIS Label Data Validator before print caught errors that would have meant about $15,000 in reprints."

Learn how to check your location data before printing.

What to send for a quote

• Rack type and beam profile
• Number of locations per zone, and which zones re-slot often
• Rack heights and number of levels per upright
• Scanner type (handheld, or long-range)
• Your location file (Excel or CSV export)
• Photos of a typical bay
• Go-live date

Want to see the steps from file to finished labels? Read how a labeling project runs.

Why CIS

• 500+ clients and 15+ years in business.
• Four nationwide stocking facilities.
• Based in Winder, Georgia.
• Magnetic, adhesive, and totem labels, plus aisle signs with hanging and magnetic options, from one supplier.
• Location data checked with the CIS Label Data Validator before print.

See our full range of warehouse rack labels.