Best Garage Storage Systems For 2022

This steel cabinet is a great starting point for organizing any garage. Measuring 72x36x18 inches, it lets you store small bins and boxes, fluids and chemicals, power tools, and more, out of sight and safe from dust and debris. Each shelf will hold 45 pounds. If you need to maximize your floor space, you can even hang the cabinet from a wall with Gladiator’s wall bracket kit. And if you need more storage room, you can add complementary components from Gladiator’s cabinet system. Ten-year warranty.

This plastic shelving unit is strong, super easy to assemble, and priced right. It measures 72x36x24 inches and can hold up to 200 pounds. Its open design makes it perfect for accessing bins, boxes, and larger items. One of our contributors has used several of these in his garage and basement for years without the shelves bowing or plastic degrading. If you need to store heavier items, though, we recommend the Steelman Metal Storage Rack, which has a 1400-pound capacity. 

A good, sturdy tool chest is a basic need for any garage. This Husky model is constructed of welded alloy steel, with a nice textured black finish. It’s 26 inches wide, and it includes a gas-strut-supported lid and five lockable drawers: three full-width and two half-width. The drawers move on ball-bearing slides and can support up to 100 pounds each. Three-year limited warranty. For less money, you can also get the smaller, plastic Keter Rolling Tool Chest.  

This powder-coated metal pegboard system is stronger and easier to install than regular fiberboard pegboard. Plus, it’s available in several different colors so you can complement or spiff up your garage’s interior. The set includes three 36-inch high panels that, together, measure 48” long. The system also includes a basic accessory set, with hooks, bins, and shelves. If you need extra accessories, look for a good quarter-inch (size of the pegboard holes) kit, such as this Eletecpro set. The Plyworx Pliersrack II is a great way to keep pliers organized. And if budget is a concern, you can opt for traditional fiberboard panels or plastic sheets.

Storing larger home-and-yard tools in a space-efficient and accessible way can be extra challenging. This heavy-duty metal rack solves the problem by letting you easily hang them neatly from a wall. The set consists of two 12” metal strips and six hooks of two different lengths (5 and 10 inches). The rack is claimed to hold up to 800 pounds. If you want to save a few bucks when hanging lighter-weight tools, you can opt for Incly’s plastic version instead.

If you’ve got a number of cordless, battery-powered hand tools, keeping them charged to optimize battery life is an ongoing concern. This clever wooden shelving unit lets you organize them in one place, while also giving you a shelf for holding and charging batteries. A power cord slot aids in adding a power strip. It measures 20 inches long by 14 inches wide. A larger version is also available.

If your garage has enough ceiling height, an overhead rack is the ideal way to stow things for which you don’t need frequent access. This powder-coated metal rack measures 4×8 feet and can hold up to 600 pounds. It can also be adjusted to hang down between 22 and 40 inches to fit your needs and ceiling height. If you want a version that can be lowered and raised by hand (instead of needing a ladder), we recommend the Fleximounts Overhead Storage Lift System

If you typically swap your all-season or summer tires for winter tires (and vice versa) each year, having an out-of-the-way place to store the unused ones can free up a lot of floor space. This powder-coated steel wall rack is a great answer. Its width can be adjusted to between 32 and 48 inches, it can hold up to 300 pounds, and it can accommodate up to four standard-sized tires (storing wider tires may require a second rack). When not in use, it easily folds up against the wall, which makes it worth the extra cost. 

This inexpensive bins rack is a great way to store nails, screws, hooks, tape, or any other small items you commonly reach for. The set includes 30 polypropylene bins in two sizes and three colors. Each bin is about four inches wide and has a slot to insert a label. There are two plastic mounting panels that, together, measure about 25 inches long. The set can be attached to a wall or pegboard. If you need larger bins, this Wallmaster system may work better for you.