The best garage storage solutions of 2024, per an expert

Oct 15, 2024

Sure, we rely on shoe storage and closet organizers to keep the inside of our homes as tidy as can be but, when it comes to our garages, it seemingly falls low on the priority list.

But, listen up. We’re in full spring cleaning mode and it’s best to render your garage in a state that you can be proud of. After all, isn’t it nice to be able to locate your tool boxes and actually get into your car?

Enter your all-in-one edit — right here, right now. We rounded up the 20 best garage storage options and ideas to have your space tidy. From DIY ideas for your garage to bike storage, we hit everything that’s been sitting all nice and pretty on your Pinterest board.

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“Over time, accumulated belongings can create clutter,” Gary McCoy, store manager at Central Charlotte Lowe’s who’s an expert across all product categories, including organization and storage solutions, told the New York Post. “The garage can work well as a storage space but needs to be kept organized.”

Not to mention, now’s the time to spring-clean your garage into a pleasing state. “As the weather gets warmer and our customers start to think about spring cleaning, they may be considering purchasing garage organization or storage items to help them do the job,” McCoy told us.

With the right storage solutions, you can make accessing your belongings easier and your garage tidier. Find our top expert-approved storage items and ideas below, and be sure to check out our in-depth FAQ section for more cleaning and organizing tips.

“This is an innovative, durable solution for freeing up floor space in your garage and storing up to 600 pounds,” McCoy told The Post. “Store large and bulky items like winter tires, camping gear, or luggage within easy reach, while regaining space to park your car.”

Additionally, the overhead frame is weather-resistant, scratch-resistant and rust-resistant so it’ll last for years of much-needed storage use.

“Looking for a quick refresh? This [type of] hook is ideal for application in the garage,” McCoy noted. You can opt for this bundle on Amazon or turn to the Project Source Utility Hook ($4) available at Lowe’s for an a la carte option that’s an all-purpose, wall-mount utility hook.

Moreover, the Amazon bundle is offered at a terrific value, which is likely why nearly 3,000 shoppers rave about the collection of hooks. Made from powder-coated alloy steel, each piece is built to last and easy to install; the set comes with a total of 60 sets of screws and anchors, simply with a drill and screwdriver.

“Keep your supplies neat, organized and in one central location for easy access with this toolbox,” McCoy recommended. “It boasts a spacious interior that you can use to hold a hammer, measuring tape, screwdrivers, a wrench and more.”

We especially love its comfort-grip handle for a more ergonomic hold and a front metal latch for added security.

“If you are looking for a total garage reno, this is the splurge-worthy product for you,” McCoy said. “Designed to make a big statement in garages, this cabinet system instantly upgrades the look of your space, providing you with organized storage for all your belongings.”

The height-adjustable steel shelves accommodate different sized items so you can truly organize what you’d like. As a whole, the unit is comprised of 24-gauge steel frames and doors with a powder-coat paint finish.

More, the doors are fully lockable and have full-length aluminum handles that speak to the all-in-one storage center’s durability. With easy-to-clean and stain-resistant bamboo worktops, it’s the one-and-done set worth the investment.

“This heavy-duty cabinet offers a durable storage solution for your garage,” McCoy noted. “The 2-door, 48-inches tall cabinet is engineered for quick assembly and includes four shelves, three of which are adjustable, and each shelf has a weight capacity of 150 pounds.”

The Kobalt Steel Freestanding Garage Cabinet has lockable doors for peace-of-mind security and the back panel even features two grommets for cord accessibility. If you have an uneven floor, not to worry; the adjustable feet are what’ll offer you more flexibility to allow the unit to work well in your garage.

“This offers a durable, versatile storage solution for your garage,” McCoy said. “The four-drawer base cabinet comes fully assembled – you only need to attach the casters, which are included. Each drawer has a weight capacity of 75 pounds.”

It’s fairly priced and the addition of rolling wheels is *chef’s kiss.* In a flash, this storage center can transform from a near-the-wall unit to a wheel-out cart to aid in all of your house projects.

“This utility cabinet accommodates supplies of various sizes, including storage for five levels of gardening tools, paint supplies and automotive gear,” McCoy listed. “The heavy-duty plastic material resists rust, scratches, dents and peeling for lasting performance.”

With nearly 3,500 gleaming reviews on Amazon alone, the Keter Utility Jumbo Freestanding Cabinet features lockable doors and a loading capacity of 55 pounds per shelf. In essence, it’s the ideal vertical cabinet for all of your storage needs.

“This 5-shelf, heavy-duty unit boasts a storage capacity of up to 800 pounds,” McCoy explained. The Project Source Steel Heavy Duty 5-Tier Utility is one of our favorites on this list because it’s reasonably priced and boasts commercial strength posts to ensure it’ll last you without worry.

It’s one of the more personalized garage storage options on the market because its shelves are adjustable in 1.5-inch increments. Because it’s easy to assemble and accessible from all four sides, it receives our stamp of approval.

“This heavy-duty plastic shelf was designed with ventilated shelves and a plastic construction to be durable, lightweight, easy to clean and mold resistant,” McCoy noted. “Each individual shelf has a weight capacity of 250 pounds, allowing for storage of heavier items such as hardware, food, gardening supplies and more.”

The Craftsman 5-Tier Utility Shelving Unit is American-made with more than 1,000 fans on Amazon alone. Its weather-resistant polypropylene is said to be rust-, stain- and peel-resistant, sure to withstand the elements.

Its rugged and lightweight design makes it easy to transport from one location to another as well. With simple assembly only takes 10 minutes. Simple, easy, finished.

“This product is designed to hold kayaks, paddle boards, surfboards, wakeboards, canoes or ladders up to 125 pounds,” McCoy explained. Thanks to the Fleming Supply Adjustable Height Overhead Garage Storage, its included strong nylon straps have multiple loops so you can adjust the length to the size you need.

Plus, installation is a breeze. These pulley and strap storage lifts mount into ceilings with the provided hardware for overhead storage in your garage.

“If you’re looking for a compact storage solution, this is the product for you,” McCoy said. “This compact wall bike rack allows for storage of up to three bikes in 3 ft., up to 200 pounds.

What’s great about the Monkey Bars Gray Steel Bike Rack is its high-quality powder coating and solid steel brackets and bar. The brand also has four-bike and six-bike options, depending on preference and total garage space available.

“This ceiling-mounted pulley and rope storage lift is designed to hold any style bike, ladder or cargo carrier up to 75 pounds,” McCoy said. “It provides overhead storage in your garage, keeping your vehicle off the ground and clearing up floor space.”

Because the Leisure Sports Black Steel Bike Hoist is designed with an innovative automatic locking brake that pinches the rope with every pull, each hoist allows one person to raise and secure cargo by themselves. Additionally, a wall cleat is provided to tie off excess rope.

It also features a durable PVC coating to help prevent your equipment from being scratched.

“Boasting 8,030 cubic inches of storage, this rolling toolkit is perfect for any handyman looking to arrange tools so you can quickly and easily locate what you need,” McCoy noted.”It includes the rolling tool cabinet, a set of keys and a caster set.”

The Craftsman 1000 Series Steel Rolling Tool Cabinet comes with an internal keyed locking system to safeguard your tools, along with a nonslip open-weave top mat that protects the surface of the rolling cabinet. It’s also quite spacious — another checkmark in this garage storage solution’s favor.

“Made from high-grade, all-welded steel construction with a tough, rust-resistant powder coat finish, this unit is great for storing and organizing tools and hardware,” McCoy said. “Its solid wood top with a protective coating provides the perfect work surface.”

Exclusively at Lowe’s, the Kobalt Rolling Black Wood Work Bench is clad with different-sized drawers for storing and organizing all your tools and hardware. The quality is there, too, much ado to its all-welded steel construction with a tough, rust-resistant powder coat finish.

Namely, we love how it offers a spacious area to work, a huge bonus in addition to other seemingly generic tool storage options you may find.

With nearly 3,000 rave reviews on Amazon, this is the real deal when it comes to your sports storage. Think of it as your all-in-one sports center. Simply put, it’s sure to come in handy.

“This spacious, wall-mounted sports organizer is the perfect solution for storing all sports equipment and toys in one place,” McCoy shared, recommending the Lynk Sports Rack.

It was consciously made with strong steel and polymer parts for increased durability and strength, too. No more missing your football mitt.

“This storage solution is ideal for the golf lover,” McCoy said. “This organizer fits three golf bags with three extra medium shelves for shoes, two movable heavy-duty hooks for hanging hats or gloves, one closed-in net shelf for golf balls and an additional side storage space for up to 12 golf clubs.”

This golf storage is equipped with heavy-duty wheels that are lockable and provide convenience when moving your rack. And, compared with some other golf storage organizers, this wooden shelf design is more durable.

For an open-concept, wall-mounted garage storage solution, the Rubbermaid FastTrack Garage Storage Rail System is your best bet.

“This kit provides you with everything needed for mounted shelving storage, including three shelves that conveniently mount to the FastTrack Rail to create quick and easy storage for a variety of items,” McCoy said.

“This 54-inch wall cabinet provides added storage in a transitional door style to complement aesthetic design features,” McCoy pinpointed. “This wall cabinet features a raised panel door in a white thermo foil finish that is durable, scratch resistant and easy to clean.”

The glossy white exterior and well-made handles make the Estate Wood Composite Wall-Mount Utility Storage Cabinet a sturdy choice for your garage, too. It also helps save space since it’s only the upper unit, not a floor-to-ceiling option.

“This rolling drawer cart provides perfectly versatile storage solutions for anything you reach for on a regular-basis in your garage,” McCoy said. For less than $100, the IRIS Top 10-Drawer Cart with Organizer is one of the most versatile options on this list, suitable for your garage or even your indoor craft room.

Additionally, the unit is available in three-drawer and seven-drawer configurations, among others. It’s also a No. 1 Amazon best-seller with shoppers speaking to its ease of assembly, lightweight design and suitable storage capacity.

“This heavy-duty, stackable tote is designed to handle your tough storage and organization needs to keep bulky valuables in the garage safe,” McCoy said. Not only are the Project Source Commander Heavy Duty Tote with Standard Snap Lid ones we swear by and recommend, too, but you’ll find its multi-purpose charm to be extremely advantageous to your living space over time.

The lids are well-made and durable, helping no outside debris or dust make their way inside. For less than $15 a pop, they’re yours for the taking.

Ahead, our seasoned product expert best explains what to know ahead of your garage makeover.

According to CRAFTSMAN’s Garage Works 2024 survey, an overwhelming 76% of homeowners say their garages could potentially become the most productive room in their house. Moreover, nearly 1 in 4 attribute the development and growth of a side hustle to their garage space.

Additionally, 70% of homeowners want to use their garage for creative pursuits, more than 2 in 5 homeowners indicate that they use their garage space as a gym to work out or area to exercise and more than 60% of respondents are open to using their garage for a new venture like a side hustle or hobby.

The takeaway? It’s that much more important to keep your garage well-organized.

“You can store a multitude of items in a garage, including gardening supplies and tools, sports and hobby gear, seasonal items such as holiday decorations, household tools and hardware and much more,” McCoy told The Post.

If you’re short on space in your garage, consider storing larger items like lawnmowers in a storage shed.

From wall shelving and utility cabinets to plastic containers, bins, and organizers, there’s an entire catalog of storage options you can find at your disposal.

“In addition to more traditional storage solutions, hooks and pegboards can help you hang items on your garage walls,” McCoy added.

Those two-wheelers take up *plenty* of space but, luckily, McCoy shares exactly how to maximize your space.

“If space is at a premium, the key is to be creative and invest in a product that lets you hang, rack or dock your bicycle on a wall or shelf or from the ceiling,” he said. “For example, a garage bike rack lets you keep your bike within easy reach but out of the way.”

Garage cabinets are great for storing items that you want enclosed, versus shelving where you keep items out in the open.

“Since some cabinets offer lockable doors to keep curious little ones from accessing items within, they could be used to house sharp tools,” McCoy said.

“Storing items vertically on shelves can save a lot of valuable floor space, increasing your garage’s overall storage capacity and providing a safer, more productive work area,” McCoy said. “When you’re buying shelving units, there are two factors that you should consider: if you want wall-mounted or footed shelving, and if you want casters (lockable wheels) or feet.”

You’ll also want to store items you don’t use as much on top of the shelves, per McCoy, while keeping more evergreen items on the easily reachable shelves.

Overhead garage storage racks are the perfect garage storage solution to utilize currently unused space while organizing your garage.

“They are particularly useful for seasonal items like kayaks, canoes, outdoor furniture, or decorations, as well as items like ladders and bikes,” McCoy listed.

“Steel tool storage cabinets and chests are well suited for garages and workshops with large tool collections, as drawers and trays can hold bulky tools and small accessories,” McCoy explained.

You can also use versatile pegboard and pegboard kits for a custom layout of tools, shelves and storage bins.

Let’s be real — it’s easy for sports equipment to become a jumbled mess.

“Use hanging rails for sports gear and fishing rods,” McCoy advised. “Plastic bins can hold extra baseballs, mitts, pool stuff and clothing. Bungee cords added to the bottom of a shelving unit can easily store balls.”

Wall-mounted shelving works especially well for larger objects, including boxes and tools. “Some systems have a plastic coating that protects the shelving from the garage environment and prevents rust and corrosion,” McCoy said.

Given wall-mounted shelving requires more installation to move, “ensure that you know what you want your garage storage system to look like before you install,” he added.

“Whether you’re storing sporting equipment or holiday decorations, there are many different bins and boxes that you can use to organize your garage,” McCoy said. “I’d recommend using clear ones to quickly identify what you need.”

Most prefer to clean out their garage seasonally. “A deep clean each season and quick touch ups every few months should keep your garage in tip-top shape,” McCoy recommended.

The first step of garage organization is to look through the space and determine which items should or can be stored together. “This sorting step helps maximize space in the long run,” he shared.

Additionally, McCoy likes to recommend that when you’re organizing your garage, you create a storage plan. “You can do that by using grid paper to note measurements of windows, doors and utilities,” he recommended.

Another expert tip: Remember that garden tools work best near the door, trash and recycling should be within easy reach and seasonal items can be stored out of the way.

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