Larger or more involved shelving units will take longer.
Cost
$80—$150
If you already own the tools, this DIY is a no-brainer.
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What you'll need:
TOOLS
Pencil
Safety glasses
Hearing protection
Tape measure
Speed square
Level
Miter saw
Circular saw or table saw
Power drill
Drill bits
Chalk line or T square
Platform or sawhorses (optional)
Wood clamps (optional)
SUPPLIES
½ inch plywood or particle board
2x4 lumber
2½ inch deck screws
3-inch deck screws
Wood glue
Imagine opening your garage to see an organized space that fits all your gear, lawn equipment, and tools. Luckily, you can make this dream a reality by building sturdy DIY garage shelves with basic tools and a few supplies. Follow our step-by-step guide and learn how to build DIY garage shelves.
Prepping to Build DIY Garage Shelves
Ready to tackle your garage organization idea? Assemble your measurements and tools early to make this project an even more rewarding Saturday morning.
Put Together a Garage Shelving Plan
Photo: Praewphan / Adobe Stock
Draw a rough sketch of your garage shelving on a piece of paper. Measure and record key dimensions of where you plan to put the shelves to ensure your unit fits the space and serves the function you need. Consider the square footage, common walkways, and the amount of space needed for cars and bikes. Also, make sure to place your shelving unit where it fits—consider the placement of the garage door and the movement of garage door parts when open and closed—and where you can easily attach it to the wall via the existing studs.
Locate and Mark the Wall Studs
Find the studs in the wall where you intend to build the shelves. Mounting shelves to the wall creates stability, allowing your shelves to hold lots of weight, and it will prevent them from falling if you ever need to climb on the shelves to reach higher areas.
Use a stud finder or another method for finding wall studs if your garage is finished. Mark the entire vertical studs clearly with a pencil. Use a level to ensure the line is straight.
Cut Your Wood
Photo: Grispb / Adobe Stock
Don your protective gear and use a miter saw to cut your 2x4s to length and a circular saw or table saw to cut your plywood pieces. Follow your plan and dimensions to ensure you make each cut the right length and width.
2x4s
Cut the leg pieces equal to the total height of your shelving. Cut the framing sides of your shelves to the width of each shelf. Cut smaller pieces for the depth of your shelves minus 4 inches (to account for the 2 inches of each 2x4 that make up the sides of your shelf frame). Use a stop block for repeated cuts of the same length to speed up the process.
Plywood
Cut your plywood pieces for the size of your shelves. If it's a 2-foot-by-4-foot shelf, make sure your board matches that as closely as possible.
Construct Your Shelf Frames
Lay out the rectangular frame for a shelf with your 2x4s. Apply wood glue along the short ends of each board that adjoins with another. Use a level and a speed square to line up the pieces at 90-degree angles.
Pre-drill two holes in each corner where you want to secure the short boards to the longer ones. Aim to put your holes approximately ¾ inch from each edge for maximum stability. Then, screw the frames together with 2½ inch deck screws, keeping the corners as square as possible during assembly. Build the other shelf frames the same way.
Attach the Vertical Legs
Photo: Uladzimir / Adobe Stock
Once your shelf frames are done, attach your vertical legs at the ends and middle of your shelving unit. These should run from the top of your shelving unit to the floor. Pre-drill your holes, then attach with 2½ inch screws. Make sure everything is level and square as you secure the pieces.
You might need some help from a friend to get this done, or you could opt to use wood clamps to hold everything in place while you work.
Mount the Frames to the Wall Studs
Next, stand your shelving unit up in its place and check that it’s in the right spot. Open your garage door and any other doors to make sure everything works and the shelves won’t get in the way of your garage door chains or rails.
Once confirmed, pre-drill two holes for each wall stud into the wood based on where you want the unit to sit. Then, screw the frame in with 3-inch deck screws. Use braces or have a helper hold up the shelf frame, so the frame remains straight and leveled onto the wall. Work from top to bottom to attach all shelving frames to the wall studs.
Secure the Plywood Shelves
Apply wood glue on the top edges of your shelf frames. Place your pieces of plywood on top and align the edges with your frame. The alignment doesn't have to be perfect, but it's best if the plywood doesn't overhang the frame.
Pre-drill around the perimeter of each plywood shelf about every 12 inches, then drill in 2½ inch screws to secure them.
Tackle the Finishing Touches
If you have a small garage or just want to maximize the use of your space, consider adding a set of hooks to the side of your unit for jackets or tools. If you’d prefer to add pegboards for tools, secure them to the wall or your framing. Attach LEDs to the underside of the plywood shelves to add some light to your new garage organization solution.
You can also paint your shelves to match your garage door paint color or some other color in your space. Consider using a waterproof paint for added protection.
DIY Garage Shelves vs. Hiring a Pro
Building your own garage shelves is a relatively straightforward project, but it does require careful measurement and use of a saw. Paying careful attention to your dimensions and keeping everything level are the keys to success. Building wooden shelving for your garage is a great DIY that can provide long-term satisfaction.
But if you'd rather put the axe on woodworking projects, consider hiring a local handyman to install a set of garage shelves. If you need assistance arranging or optimizing your shelves, call a local garage organizer to set you on the right path.
Frequently Asked Questions
It’s much less expensive to build your own garage shelves, and you’ll still get stable, long-lasting, and sharp-looking shelves. Garage storage systems cost between $615 and $2,635, with the national average of about $1,455. Building DIY garage shelves typically costs less than $500, and the quality of a DIY garage shelving unit will almost always be higher than what you could buy premade for the equivalent price.
It’s usually best to use pressure-treated lumber for any portion of your garage shelves that will be in contact with an unfinished concrete floor. Concrete is porous and can transfer moisture inside, and pressure-treated wood will last longer in the presence of moisture. If you have epoxy on your garage floors or some other waterproof finish, then you can safely use standard wood instead.
Standard 2x4 boards and plywood or particle boards are sturdy and cost-effective for making garage shelves, and pressure-treated 2x4s are best for any portion that will contact an unfinished concrete slab in the garage. You can create custom shelving with these materials or use standard sizes for fewer cuts. Plywood and 2x4s are easy to work with and cut with a standard miter saw. The natural wood offers a modern look and will hold up for decades.
Any of your garage shelves should be able to hold heavier loads, but it’s best to place heavier items on middle shelves. The only reason for this is to prevent injury—lifting heavy loads from down low requires squatting or bending over, which can lead to back injury, and lifting heavy loads off of high shelves in the garage can be especially dangerous if you drop them.
Dan is a writer and property manager and can be found sharing his home improvement tips on sites like EcoWatch and Today’s Homeowner. He loves sharing his years of hands-on experience and love of DIY to help homeowners bring their visions to life.
Dan is a writer and property manager and can be found sharing his home improvement tips on sites like EcoWatch and Today’s Homeowner. He loves sharing his years of hands-on experience and love of DIY to help homeowners bring their visions to life.
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