The Meaning of Different Colors in Warehouse Markings

Warehouse Floor Marking Color Guide

Floor marking colors in a warehouse serve as a "visual language." Different colors represent different functions, and standardized application ensures that people, vehicles, and goods can quickly "read" the environment. Common color meanings are as follows:

PART 01: Yellow - General Guidance & Warning

Yellow is the most common floor marking color in warehouses, carrying the important duties of general guidance and warning.

• Aisles: Main aisles and secondary aisles are often marked with solid yellow lines. The bright color helps forklift drivers, trolley operators, and workers clearly identify aisle boundaries, ensuring smooth goods movement and safe pedestrian traffic.

• Area Division: Yellow is also widely used for zoning.

• Standard storage areas, preparation/staging areas, and semi-finished goods areas are typically outlined with yellow lines.

• Areas for temporary item placement, such as tools, temporary forklift parking, equipment, auxiliary materials, and workbenches, are also commonly marked with yellow lines.

PART 02: Red - Hazard & Prohibition Identification

Red has a strong warning effect in warehouse markings, primarily used to identify hazardous, prohibited, or non-conforming areas.

• Non-Conforming/Reject Area: This is a typical application for red markings. Goods identified as non-conforming during inspection are placed within areas defined by solid red lines.

• Fire Lane Markings: Fire lanes are usually marked with solid red lines. Occupying these lanes with goods, equipment, or vehicles is strictly prohibited under any circumstances to ensure clear access for emergency responders during a fire.

PART 03: Green - Safety & Conformance Symbol

Green conveys an intuitive sense of safety and permission. In warehouses, it's mainly used to identify safe zones and areas storing conforming products.

• Finished Goods Storage Area: Areas holding completed and inspected conforming products are often outlined with green lines, facilitating shipping and inventory management.

• Safety Facilities: Green lines also indicate the location of important safety features like safe passage routes, emergency assembly points, and emergency exits. During an emergency, personnel can quickly follow green markings to find evacuation routes, ensuring their safety.

PART 04: Blue - Public Facilities & Service Indication

Blue is used less frequently in warehouse floor marking. It primarily indicates areas for public facilities and services within the warehouse, such as restrooms or information desks.

PART 05: Yellow-Black Stripes (45° angle) - Hazard/Danger Zones

Yellow and black striped markings (like zebra stripes) are primarily used to highlight areas for "collision prevention, access restriction, and trip hazard avoidance," hazardous material zones, and specific operational areas.

• Examples: Columns/pillars, elevator/open shaft perimeters, equipment corners, electrical control cabinet surroundings.

• Purpose: They alert personnel to areas requiring operational caution, careful movement, or where there is a risk of head injury.

PART 06: White - Regulated Parking Areas

White lines are used to define parking spots for mobile equipment (e.g., forklifts, pallet jacks) and fixed walkway boundaries, indicating permitted but regulated parking.

Technical Specifications:

• Line width is typically 5–10 cm.

• Main aisle centerlines can use 10 cm width.

• Internal area separation lines can use 5 cm width.

• All colors should maintain "uniform color codes and uniform widths" throughout the warehouse to ensure clear visibility.