Best Garage Shelving of 2025 - This Old House

Aug. 04, 2025

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Best Garage Shelving of - This Old House

Garage shelving can help you remove clutter from your floors by providing loose items with dedicated storage space. Garage shelves typically come as wall-mounted, ceiling-mounted, or freestanding units, and they can hold anywhere from a few hundred pounds to a few thousand pounds depending on the unit’s size and material.

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To help you improve your garage oranization, the This Old House team researched the best garage shelving units on Amazon.

Here are our top recommendations.

Advertisement Most Portable Seville Classics Commercial-Grade 5-Tier Shelving 4.6 /5 Check Price Most Heavy-Duty DEWALT Steel-Wire Industrial Storage Rack 4.6 /5 Check Price Best Rivet Shelving Inc. 5-Shelf Single Rivet Starter Unit 4 /5 Check Price

Compare Top Garage Shelving Units

Ad Disclaimer Product Image Dimensions Material Number of Shelves Mounting Type Seville Classics Commercial-Grade 5-Tier ShelvingCheck Price18 x 48 x 75 inchesSteel wireFiveFloor mount DEWALT Steel-Wire Industrial Storage RackCheck Price18 x 50 x 47.6 inchesNylonThreeFloor mount Shelving Inc. 5-Shelf Single Rivet Starter UnitCheck Price12 x 36 x 48 inchesGauge steelFiveFloor mount FLEXIMOUNTS Garage ShelvingCheck Price2 x 6 feetPowder-coated steelTwoWall mount Shelving Inc 2-Tier Pallet Rack Starter UnitCheck Price42 x 144 x 96 inchesPowder-coated steelTwoFloor mount FLEXIMOUNTS Overhead Garage Storage RackCheck Price48 x 48 x 48 inchesMetalOneOverhead Gracious Living Medium-Duty Shelf UnitCheck Price14 x 32 x 54.5 inchesResinFourFloor mount Shelving Inc. Chrome Wire ShelvingCheck Price18 x 23.6 x 54 inches18 x 23.6 x 54 inchesFourFloor mount

Top 8 Garage Shelving Units

Seville Classics Commercial-Grade 5-Tier Shelving: Most Portable
DEWALT Steel-Wire Industrial Storage Rack: Most Heavy-Duty
Shelving Inc. 5-Shelf Single Rivet Starter Unit: Best Rivet
FLEXIMOUNTS Garage Shelving: Best for Walls
Shelving Inc 2-Tier Pallet Rack Starter Unit: Best Pallet Rack
FLEXIMOUNTS Overhead Garage Storage Rack: Best Overhead Storage
Gracious Living Medium-Duty Shelf Unit: Best Budget
Shelving Inc. Chrome Wire Shelving: Best Wire Shelves

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Most Portable

Seville Classics Commercial-Grade 5-Tier Shelving

Courtesy Amazon

This shelving unit comes with wheels so it can move 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.

Courtesy Amazon $159.99 At Amazon Prices taken at time of publishing.

Pros and Cons of Seville Classics Commercial-Grade 5-Tier Shelving

Pros

Is easily portable between rooms
Is made from durable steel-wire construction
Is available in several sizes

Cons

May be too big for some small garages
Some customers felt it didn’t hold as much weight as it claimed

What People Are Saying About The Seville Classics Commercial-Grade 5-Tier Shelving

Customers who gave this product a positive review liked that it was built with high-quality materials, required minimal assembly, and was easy to move. However, others found that this shelving unit didn’t hold up in some instances to the amount of weight that it advertised, and several customers had problems with the packaging and how the item arrived.

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Most Heavy-Duty

DEWALT Steel-Wire Industrial Storage Rack

Courtesy Amazon

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 steel and have a powder-coated finish, and the cross beams on the rack provide extra support to the structure.

Courtesy Amazon $229.98 At Amazon Prices taken at time of publishing.

Pros and Cons of DEWALT Steel-Wire Industrial Storage Rack

Pros

Made from durable, high-quality powder-coated steel
Has glass-filled nylon feet that keeps your garage floor protected
Racks come with two stacking plates for joining racks together

Cons

Has a high price point
Not available in other sizes

What People Are Saying About The DEWALT Steel-Wire Industrial Storage Rack

Several customers were impressed with this product’s sturdy, durable design. Others also liked that the units were expandable. However, we found that several customers had installation issues, with multiple reviewers pointing out that the instructions were difficult to follow.

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Best Rivet

Shelving Inc. 5-Shelf Single Rivet Starter Unit

Courtesy Shelving.com

These sturdy and easy-to-assemble shelves provide ample vertical space between levels and allow for open access to the shelves from all angles. They are made from durable, 14-gauge powder-coated steel and have a straightforward assembly that can set up in minutes.

Courtesy Shelving.com $188.38 At Shelving.com Prices taken at time of publishing.

Pros and Cons of Shelving Inc. 5-Shelf Single Rivet Starter Unit

Pros

Levels are easily adjustable on
Features five openly-accessible levels
Can be purchased with particle board decking

Cons

Has a lower weight capacity than some other models
Is more expensive than some other, similar units

What People Are Saying About The Shelving Inc. 5-Shelf Single Rivet Starter Unit

This product had no customer reviews at the time of this writing. If you own this product, feel free to share your thoughts with us by sending an to

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Best for Walls

FLEXIMOUNTS Garage Shelving

Courtesy Amazon

This metal 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 includes hanging hooks to give you more storage space.

Courtesy Amazon $119.99 At Amazon Prices taken at time of publishing.

Pros and Cons of FLEXIMOUNTS Garage Shelving

Pros

Has straightforward one-person installation with necessary tools and equipment included
Is available in multiple sizes and color options
Can hold up to 800 total pounds

Cons

Only effective for wall-mounting
Can’t be mounted to metal walls

What People Are Saying About The FLEXIMOUNTS Garage Shelving

We found that customers who liked this product said that they were sturdy and could hold a lot of weight. Others were impressed with their easy installation and sleek design. On the other hand, we also found that some customers felt the velcro straps were not enough to fully secure them in place, and others felt the anchors were not high quality.

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Best Pallet Rack

Shelving Inc 2-Tier Pallet Rack Starter Unit

Courtesy Shelving.com

This two-tier pallet rack is a great choice for warehouses or distribution centers but can also work well in garages. It is built with a powerful high-gloss powder coat finish that is abrasion-resistant. The beams also feature a three-rivet connection and safety clips that ensure the locking is secure.

Courtesy Shelving.com $456.46 At Shelving.com Prices taken at time of publishing.

Pros and Cons of Shelving Inc 2-Tier Pallet Rack Starter Unit

Pros

Is made with abrasion-resistant high-strength steel
Is available in several size options to best match your needs
Beams include three-rivet connections and safety clips

Cons

Is more expensive than other shelves in this review
Is not available in other colors

What People Are Saying About The Shelving Inc 2-Tier Pallet Rack Starter Unit

This product had no customer reviews at the time of this writing. If you own this product, feel free to share your thoughts with us by sending an to .

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Best Overhead Storage

FLEXIMOUNTS Overhead Garage Storage Rack

Courtesy Amazon

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.

Courtesy Amazon $137.99 At Amazon Prices taken at time of publishing.

Pros and Cons of FLEXIMOUNTS Overhead Garage Storage Rack

Pros

Helps avoid water damage
Is made with heavy-duty cold-rolled steel
Is available in one- or two-pack sizes and comes in various colors

Cons

Can be challenging to install
Storing items on your ceiling means you may need to access a ladder to remove them

What People Are Saying About The FLEXIMOUNTS Overhead Garage Storage Rack

We saw that customers who liked this product liked that it had a large amount of storage capacity, was durable, and was great for saving space. However, we also noted that several customers had problems with the installation, with many noting the assembly took an excessive amount of time.

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Best Budget

Gracious Living Medium-Duty Shelf Unit

Courtesy Amazon

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 is 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.

Courtesy Amazon $46.99 At Amazon Prices taken at time of publishing.

Pros and Cons of Gracious Living Medium-Duty Shelf Unit

Pros

Come in pack sizes of one, two, three, or four
Has a tall, thin design that helps save space
Evenly distributes weight to prevent the unit from caving in

Cons

Not as durable as some other models
Has a low-weight capacity

What People Are Saying About The Gracious Living Medium-Duty Shelf Unit

Customers we saw who gave this product positive reviews were impressed by its simple assembly, noting that the units snapped together easily. We also saw several point out its excellent value. However, we did not that others found the unit to be made from cheap materials, and some were disappointed it did not have adjustable shelves.

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Best Wire Shelves

Shelving Inc. Chrome Wire Shelving

Courtesy Shelving.com

This wire shelving unit has four well-constructed shelves that can hold up to 800 pounds each. Each shelf can also be adjusted in one-inch increments, allowing you to fully customize the height. These shelves are for dry-garage use only and are NSF approved.

Courtesy Shelving.com $129.10 At Shelving.com Prices taken at time of publishing.

Pros and Cons of Shelving Inc. Chrome Wire Shelving

Pros

Has a narrow design that is good for smaller garages
Holds up to 800 pounds per shelf
Shelves can be adjusted in one-inch increments

Cons

Is only intended for dry use
Shelves are not as wide as some other units in this review

What People Are Saying About The Shelving Inc. Chrome Wire Shelving

While this product had limited reviews at the time of this writing, one customer did note that they were impressed with this unit’s stylish design and sturdy build. They noted that while they had an issue with threading one of the legs, the company sent a replacement right away.

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 and find the best storage solution for your garage.

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 garage storage system, 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

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:

For more information, please visit UNISTAR.

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 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 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 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.

We recommend products in each review using an intensive research process, spending hours combing through the best available models on Amazon. For a product to make our list of top picks, it must hold a solid sales record on Amazon, have consistently positive customer reviews, and offer unique features, among other factors. After narrowing down our list of recommendations, we conduct additional research and sometimes in-person testing to ensure that the products meet our standards. Once we conclude the research phase, we craft a well-rounded, user-friendly article that includes our recommended products and additional information to help homeowners like you make the right purchase.

Industrial Shelving Comparison: Rivet vs Clip vs Wide Span Shelving

When you’re planning out a new warehouse build or reconfiguring your existing warehouse, it’s natural to start with your larger, high-volume items first. Pallet racking systems are designed for this purpose, but what about your smaller, hand-picked, miscellaneous items that require fast access without the need for a forklift?

That’s where industrial shelving comes in. Industrial shelving systems like rivet shelving, clip shelving, and wide span shelving are designed for hand-loaded items that require easy access. These types of industrial shelving allow you to store non-palletized loads where you have smaller stock and a wider variety of product types.

Industrial shelving systems allow your warehouse team to access products by hand, without requiring special machinery. Furthermore, due to the relatively smaller sizes and modular nature of industrial shelving systems, they can be integrated into a variety of areas in your warehouse to work in conjunction with your existing high-volume, heavy load storage systems (like a selective pallet racking system).

This article is an industrial shelving comparison. We will cover the three main different types of industrial shelving systems: rivet shelving, clip shelving, and wide span shelving, to help you determine which type is best for the unique needs of your warehouse.

What is Rivet Shelving?

Rivet shelving is made of uprights, support beams, and shelves, much like a traditional rack system. Similar to teardrop rack, rivet shelving utilizes teardrop holes on the uprights that are punched at regular intervals where the pins slide into the teardrop holes. When the pins are secured at the bottom of the teardrop holes, a very stable connection is made. This makes rivet shelving systems resistant to swaying and allows for reliable load capacity and stability.

Due to its teardrop punching design, rivet shelving is also quick and easy to assemble. Rivet shelving systems can be built piece-by-piece by combining your own components, or you can start off with a rivet shelving kit that comes with all the parts you need to create a starter bay which can then be expanded by implementing adder bays.

Rivet shelving is available in a variety of heights, widths, and depths, making it very versatile on top of being reliable and secure. Additionally, rivet shelving can be found in both single and double rivet configurations. Double rivet systems offer higher load capacities and stability at the expense of taking up more vertical space and increased costs versus single rivet systems. Regardless, rivet shelving is a great option for fast-access storage solutions that require medium to heavy loads when pallet racking is not an option.

Rivet Shelving: A Summary

Rivet shelving is a simple yet sturdy industrial shelving option that is constructed of only three pieces. Rivet shelving offers the easiest, fastest installation with the cleanest look. Compared to the other types of shelving (which we will cover below), it has the lowest weight capacity and is limited in available width options.

Best Used In: Warehouses with lightweight storage requirements where quick installation and low cost is a priority.

What is Clip Shelving?

Clip shelving is another common type of industrial shelving system. Much like rivet shelving systems, clip shelving systems also consist of uprights, beams, and shelves. What makes clip shelving unique is the design and construction of the system.

The main differentiator of clip shelving is the fact that these systems are entirely made of steel and require clips to secure the shelves to the uprights. This makes clip shelving perfect for heavy-duty storage applications where you are storing corrosive materials or products with abrasive properties. In wide span storage systems and rivet shelving systems, shelving is often made of particleboard, whereas a clip shelving system has steel shelves.

The shelves on a clip-type system are attached to the uprights using compression clips. Sway braces are also added to clip shelving systems to increase the stability of the system.

Clip shelving is also available in both open and closed-type systems. Open clip shelving systems allow you to access stored items from all sides, whereas a closed clip shelving system has panels that cover the back and sides. Open clip shelving systems are the most versatile, however, closed clip systems provide additional protection of your products from environmental elements like dust and debris, allowing you to keep your objects clean while also ensuring product doesn’t slide from one shelf to another.

Clip Shelving: A Summary

Clip shelving systems are a little more complex in design than rivet shelving systems because they include clips, side bracing, and back bracing. This makes the installation time of a clip shelving system much longer than wide span storage rack and rivet shelving, however, they are the heaviest duty option as the 100% metal construction allows for greater durability. Due to the all-metal construction and increased storage capacities, chip shelving tends to be the most expensive if purchased brand new.

Best Used In: Maintenance or manufacturing environments where heavy duty storage requirements need to be met.

What is Wide Span Storage Rack?

Wide span shelving, is also commonly called long span shelving. Like the other types of industrial shelving, wide span shelving systems also consist of uprights, beams, and shelves. What makes wide span shelving different from clip shelving and rivet shelving is the availability of longer spanning shelves that enable you to store more products.

The uprights on a wide span shelving system that we stock here at American Storage and Logistics are designed with tapered keyhole slots. Much like rivet shelving, the tapered design of the holes reduces the amount of flex in the system, making it a strong, sturdy, and reliable quick-storage solution.

The shelves in a wide span storage rack system are usually either made of particle board or wire mesh, however, laminated board is sometimes used to add protective durability to the system.

Wide Span Storage Rack: A Summary

Wide span storage rack includes additional front-to-back supports and side-to-side supports along with shelf reinforcements, allowing up to 2,500 pounds of product to be stored on in the system. Wide span storage rack offers the longest width options in terms of shelving, allowing up to 8’ of storage space.

Best Used In: Heavily trafficked eCommerce facilities or similar ‘piece pick’ type setups where flexibility is important.

Which Type of Industrial Shelving Should I Use?

The decision to use rivet shelving, clip shelving or wide span shelving comes down to your storage and load requirements. All of these systems are architected similarly, but the unique features of each system will have their pros and cons in terms of how you use them. From an assembly standpoint, all of these systems are relatively easy to set up and break down.

Lowest Cost - Winner: Rivet Shelving

Due to the relatively simple construction of rivet shelving, this type of industrial shelving system is the least expensive (if purchased brand new).

Storage Volume - Winner: Wide Span Storage Rack

Because wide span storage rack can be purchased with longer shelves, you can store more product per rack versus clip shelving and rivet shelving. This also affects the cost, as you can invest less into each shelving unit by being able to store more product on an individual rack.

Storage Weight - Tie: Wide Span Storage Rack & Clip Shelving

The punching style of wide span storage rack and rivet shelving reduces flex in the wide span system naturally by the design of the holes and pins that secure the shelving to the uprights. The added sway braces and metal shelves on a clip shelving system add significant capacity and rigidity.

Storage Accessibility: Tie: Wide Span Storage Rack & Rivet Shelving

Wide span storage rack and rivet shelving are inherently open by design, allowing you to be able to access your products from all sides of the system. On the other hand, clip shelving systems with sway braces or closed clip shelving systems will limit your access to your products from either the front (in closed systems) or front and back (in an open system).

Durability & Product Protection: Winner: Clip Shelving

Because clip shelving systems are entirely made of steel, they offer the most durability when it comes to day-to-day wear and tear as you store and retrieve your items. The steel shelves can also better withstand abuse from potentially corrosive products (think: chemicals, paint, etc.) in comparison to particleboard and wire mesh shelving.

Fastest Installation Time - Winner: Rivet Shelving

Again, due to the simple design of rivet shelving, this system offers the fastest and easiest installation of the three types of industrial shelving.

Where To Buy Industrial Shelving Near You

At American Storage & Logistics, we carry all three major types of industrial shelving: clip shelving, rivet shelving, and wide span shelving. We have fully built systems, kits, and individual components that will allow you to customize your storage solution to fit your needs. If you are in the mid-Michigan area near Grand Rapids, Lansing, Kalamazoo, or Battle Creek, you can purchase your industrial shelving products online and pick them up at our warehouse the same day, or get them delivered to your business as soon as tomorrow.

If you are looking for more details, kindly visit rivet shelving manufacturer.

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