Here are our top recommendations.
Top 5 Garage Shelving Units
Seville Classics UltraDurable Commercial-Grade 5-Tier Shelving DEWALT 3-Shelf Steel-Wire Industrial Storage Rack FLEXIMOUNTS Garage Shelving FLEXIMOUNTS Overhead Garage Storage Rack Gracious Living Medium-Duty Shelf Unit
Seville Classics UltraDurable Commercial-Grade 5-Tier Shelving
This shelving unit comes with wheels and can be moved from one side of your garage to the other. The wheels lock once you’ve moved the unit, preventing it from rolling away in the middle of a project. The unit also has steel-wire shelves and can hold up to 4,000 pounds of heavy items.
DEWALT 3-Shelf Steel-Wire Industrial Storage Rack
This storage rack from DEWALT has three shelves that can each hold 1,500 pounds for a total weight capacity of 4,500 pounds, which is enough to support most of your tools and supplies. The shelves are made of heavy-duty metal and have a powder-coated finish, and the cross beams on the rack provide extra support to the structure.
FLEXIMOUNTS Garage Shelving
This shelving unit from FLEXIMOUNTS installs directly to your garage walls, allowing you to make use of wall space and minimize the amount of clutter on your garage floor. The shelves can mount to both studs and solid concrete, and you can purchase a version that has hanging hooks to give you more storage space.
FLEXIMOUNTS Overhead Garage Storage Rack
This FLEXIMOUNTS garage shelf attaches to the studs in your garage’s ceiling, allowing you to create a storage area out of unused ceiling space. This type of storage works best for seasonal items that you use only for a portion of the year, like holiday decorations or snow blowers. This specific storage rack is available in a pack of one or two.
Gracious Living Medium-Duty Shelf Unit
If you’re on a budget, these shelves from Gracious Living may be a good option. The unit comes with four shelves, each of which are made of tough resin, giving you enough space and strength to hold a variety of tools and supplies. You can purchase several of these units and connect them to give you one long, uniform unit.
Types of Garage Shelving
Garage shelving units can be split into three categories—wall-mounted, ceiling-mounted, and freestanding. Keep reading to learn more about each type.
Wall-Mounted
Wall-mounted shelves sit on brackets that are fixed to the studs in your walls, but you can also find shelves that work in the absence of studs. For example, the FLEXIMOUNT unit can be mounted to solid concrete. One benefit of a wall-mounted unit is that it doesn’t take up floor space, but it does require more assembly than other types of garage storage shelving.
Ceiling-Mounted
Ceiling-mounted shelves have brackets that are drilled into your garage’s ceiling studs. This type of shelving saves more space than a wall-mounted unit because it uses ceiling space that wouldn’t normally be used for storage. However, assembly is more difficult than it is with wall-mounted units.
Freestanding
This type of shelving unit looks similar to a bookcase or cabinet without doors. It requires some assembly and takes up useful floor space, but it doesn’t mount onto a wall or ceiling, cutting down on installation time.
Factors To Consider Before Buying Garage Shelves
Before choosing a shelving unit for your garage, consider how much storage space you need, how much room in your garage you have, and how much time you want to spend on installation. Read our guide below to learn what to look for in garage shelving before making a purchase.
Capacity
You’ll want to purchase a shelving unit that fits your storage needs. If you have only a few tools and supplies to store, a single wall- or ceiling-mounted shelf should provide enough space. However, if you need to store a variety of items, you may want to invest in several shelves or cabinets.
Material
Garage shelving is typically made of metal or wood. Wall- and ceiling-mounted shelving units are typically made of metal, while freestanding shelves use both types of material. Wood is more aesthetically pleasing than metal and can be painted if you want a customized look. However, metal is usually more durable and lasts longer than wood.
Installation
While all shelving units will require some assembly, consider the additional installation time that wall- and ceiling-mounted models need before making a final purchasing decision. If you don’t want to deal with a lengthy installation process, you may want to invest in a freestanding shelving unit.
Do garage shelves list their weight capacity?
Yes. Some units will list how much weight they can hold on their label or in their product manual. This number can range from a few hundred pounds to a few thousand pounds.
Can I build my own shelving unit?
Yes. If you don’t want to purchase pre-made shelving units, you can always buy plywood, screws, and other supplies to build the shelves yourself. This method will take more time, but it will likely be cheaper and allow you to create a unit that fits your specific storage needs.
How do I keep my shelves organized?
If you’re storing smaller items like hand tools and fasteners, you can keep them organized by purchasing bins or dividers to break up the shelves into compartments.
Can I use garage shelving units in other parts of my home?
Yes. Because of the mounted nature and industrial look of a ceiling- or wall-mounted unit, you can use these products in your garage or basement. A freestanding unit is more versatile and can work in a pantry, kitchen, garage, basement, or closet.
What can I store on my garage shelves?
Here are a few examples of what you can store on your garage shelves:
Sports equipment, like soccer nets and tennis racquets Automotive equipment, like air compressors Yard tools, like rakes and leaf blowers Seasonal items, like sleds and snow shovels Hand and power tools, like jigsaws and hammers
Consider staying away from items that can’t withstand extreme weather, like bedding or electronics, or items that can’t be exposed to extreme heat, like propane tanks.
Why Trust The This Old House Reviews Team
This Old House has empowered homeowners for more than four decades with top-notch home improvement content in the form of television programs, print media, and digital content on its website and social media platforms. The This Old House Reviews Team focuses on creating in-depth product and service review content to help inform your purchasing decision for just about any item or resource that you might need for your home. The This Old House Reviews Team has written over 1,000 reviews on products in the home space, from cordless drills to kitchen trash cans, lawn mowers, and dining room decorations. To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews team at reviews@thisoldhousereviews.com.
