Medical wire basket storage exists for the stock that will not sit tidily on a shelf: bagged solutions, soft packs, bulky consumables and anything counted by the handful rather than the box. A basket gives it a captive space with an open front, so it can be picked from without being tidied first. This page covers the Quantum Medical basket families we supply — stacking baskets, hanging baskets and complete basket units — with the manufacturer’s published sizes and capacities. Labs USA is a supplier and project partner, not the manufacturer — see healthcare shelving for the wider programme.

Chrome stacking wire basket with a divider across the middle
110 lbpublished capacity per stacking basket
1 inbasket adjustment increment
18-24 inshelving depths baskets fit
Freelayout and configuration support

Stacking baskets on shelving posts

The workhorse: an open-front basket that hangs from the same posts as your shelves and moves up or down in one-inch steps.

The manufacturer publishes these as modular stacking baskets in a chrome finish, describing them as a dispensing and storage module that can be added to 18, 21 and 24 inch deep shelving units. A collar hook holds each basket, so a basket can be removed or repositioned as the product mix changes, and baskets adjust on one-inch increments. Published load capacity is 110 pounds per basket. Dividers and casters are listed separately.

The published basket sizes are worth reading before you choose a shelving depth, because the basket dictates the usable footprint: 14 by 36 by 9 inches, 14 by 48 by 9, 20 by 36 by 9, 20 by 36 by 12, 20 by 48 by 9 and 20 by 48 by 12. The 12-inch-deep versions hold noticeably more soft stock; the 9-inch versions keep contents visible from above, which is what makes a par count fast.

Chrome modular stacking basket with an open front and divider

Published basket and unit configurations

Model What it is Published size Published capacity
1436BC Stacking basket 14 in x 36 in x 9 in 110 lb
203612BC Stacking basket, deep 20 in x 36 in x 12 in 110 lb
2048BC Stacking basket 20 in x 48 in x 9 in 110 lb
1836BC6C Stationary basket unit 18 in x 36 in x 63 in 3 baskets at 110 lb each, 2 wire shelves
M1836BC6C Mobile basket unit 36 in x 18 in x 69 in 3 baskets, 2 shelves, casters and bumpers
BSK1836C Hanging basket 18 in x 36 in x 10 in 600-800 lb evenly distributed
WRC74-1836CSG-5BSK Five-basket mobile cart 18 in x 36 in x 80 in complete cart, caster kit included

Complete basket units, stationary and mobile

Rather than assembling parts, most departments buy the published unit. The manufacturer lists each stationary basket unit as four 63-inch posts, three adjustable baskets including collar hooks, and two wire shelves — so you get baskets for loose stock and flat shelves for boxes in one frame. It positions the family for exchange carts and par level storage, which is exactly where we specify it most.

The mobile version publishes the same make-up plus four donut bumpers and four swivel 5 by 1-1/4 inch polyurethane casters, two with brakes. That caster and bumper specification is the difference between a unit that survives a corridor and one that marks every doorframe on the ward.

Published unit sizes we loaded are 18 by 36 by 63 inches stationary and 36 by 18 by 69 inches mobile, with 18 by 48, 24 by 36 and 24 by 48 inch versions listed in the same families. Casters add height, which is worth checking against the lowest doorframe on the route.

Stationary wire basket unit with three baskets and two shelves
  • Mobile basket units — three baskets and two shelves on 5 in polyurethane swivel casters, two braked, with donut bumpers: built for exchange and par restocking.
  • Hanging baskets — heavy-duty chrome wire with a 5/8 in mesh bottom, a drop front and sloped sides; published at 600-800 lb evenly distributed and adjustable on 1 in increments.
  • Five-basket carts — a complete cart with the caster kit included, published at 18 x 36 x 80 in for bulk picking on the move.
  • Label holders and hooks — clear label holders are published to fit 18, 24, 36, 48 and 60 in wide baskets; basket hooks secure a basket to the post, sold in packs of four.
Mobile wire basket unit with three baskets on swivel casters

Baskets, bins or shelves

  • Baskets — bagged, soft or bulky stock that does not stack; open front, air circulation and contents visible from above. Best for high-turn items counted by eye.
  • Bins — small, hard-packaged items where a moulded front and a label matter more than airflow. Bins subdivide better and come in colours for coding: see medical bins and containers.
  • Flat shelves — boxes and cases that stack squarely and are picked by the box.
  • Mixed — the published basket units already mix baskets and shelves in one frame, which is why they suit exchange carts.

The failure mode to design out is the overfilled basket. A 12-inch basket stuffed above its rim blocks the basket above it and hides everything at the back. If your par level fills the basket to the top, the answer is a second basket position or a shallower basket, not a deeper one.

Configuring basket storage that stays tidy

  • Set the basket pitch by the stock, then leave a gap — a hand has to get in above the rim.
  • One SKU per basket wherever possible; two SKUs in one basket become one pile within a week.
  • Label the basket front, not the item, with the par level on the label. Published label holders fit 18 to 60 inch basket widths.
  • Keep the heaviest baskets low — published capacity is 110 lb per stacking basket, evenly distributed, and a high heavy basket makes a mobile unit feel unstable.
  • Decide mobile or stationary before ordering; casters change the working height and the door clearance.
  • Check the route, not just the room — the published mobile unit is 69 inches high before you load it.

Any capacity or quantity figure we produce during planning is an estimate for discussion, and final specifications are confirmed on the quote and field-verified before installation. The Medical Cart Configurator and the Room Configurator both let you try basket and shelf mixes with the arithmetic on screen.

Send your par list, we will lay out the baskets

Tell us what is stored, the par levels, the room dimensions and whether the unit has to move. You get a basket and shelf schedule, a parts list, and a quote at no charge.

Resources

Design & price it online: Metro Bins, Totes & Trays Configurator

Configure bins, totes, trays and shelf-fit baskets in our free Metro Bins, Totes & Trays configurator — build the layout, see a full bill of materials and save or send the quote in minutes. Need a different Metro product? Browse all 17 tools in the Metro configurator hub.

Wire basket storage FAQ

How much does a wire basket hold?
The manufacturer publishes 110 pounds per stacking basket, evenly distributed. Hanging baskets are published separately at 600 to 800 pounds evenly distributed, with a 5/8 by 5/8 inch mesh bottom, a drop front and sloped sides.
What basket sizes are published?
Stacking baskets are listed at 14 by 36 by 9, 14 by 48 by 9, 20 by 36 by 9, 20 by 36 by 12, 20 by 48 by 9 and 20 by 48 by 12 inches. Hanging baskets run from 18 by 24 up to 24 by 60 inches in the published family, with the 18 by 36 inch version listed at 10 inches deep.
Will baskets fit our existing shelving?
The manufacturer describes stacking baskets as a module that can be added to 18, 21 and 24 inch deep shelving units, held on a collar hook and adjustable on one-inch increments; hanging baskets adjust on standard one-inch diameter posts. Send us a photo and the post dimensions and we will confirm before quoting.
What comes in a complete basket unit?
Each stationary unit is published as four 63-inch posts, three adjustable baskets with collar hooks and two wire shelves. The mobile version adds four donut bumpers and four swivel 5 by 1-1/4 inch polyurethane casters, two with brakes.
Baskets or bins?
Baskets suit bagged, soft and bulky stock, keep contents visible from above and allow air circulation. Bins suit small hard-packaged items, subdivide better and come in colours for coding. Many rooms use both on one frame.
Can we add dividers and labels?
Yes. Dividers are listed separately for the stacking baskets, and clear label holders are published to fit 18, 24, 36, 48 and 60 inch wide baskets. Basket hooks, sold in packs of four, secure a basket to the post or hold longer items.
Are these good for exchange cart and par systems?
That is exactly how the manufacturer positions the basket unit family, and how we specify it most often: baskets for loose stock, two shelves for boxed stock, casters where the unit follows the restock route.

Get a wire basket storage quote

Send your par list, the room dimensions and whether the unit has to move. You get a basket and shelf schedule, a parts list, freight and lead times, and layout support at no charge.