BiGDUG's Helpful Buying Guide: Garage Shelving | BiG BLOG

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Sep. 08, 2025

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BiGDUG's Helpful Buying Guide: Garage Shelving | BiG BLOG

When you need to upgrade your garage shelving but are unsure where to start, this BiGDUG Helpful Buying Guide will help you understand what to decide on the best garage shelving type, size, and configuration for your specific needs. Having the perfect shelving for your garage workspace can make a world of difference to your organisation and productivity levels. Learn which ones are ideal for your situation with our Garage Shelving Buying Guide!

Goto Maxrac to know more.

Best Shelving Type for a Garage

There are several types of garage shelving available to choose from. Which is most suitable for your space will depend on your needs. Within each type, you will find unique characteristics that will cater to different storage requirements and preferences. All shelving types are perfect for storing garage essentials such as tools, equipment, supplies, and seasonal items, to keep your space organised all year round.

Different Types of Shelf Materials

Metal Shelves

Ideal for heavy-duty storage, metal shelves offer great moisture resistance; especially when made from stainless steel or galvanised steel. This resistance makes them great for colder, damp, or humid garage environments. They are also resistant to rust, which increases their durability and lifespan.

Wood Shelves

Typically chipboard or MDF and suitable for lighter storage such as gardening supplies and smaller equipment – but be sure to check shelving product descriptions for accurate information on weight capacities! Wood shelving isn’t very moisture-resistant. Treated or sealed wood can offer better moisture protection but not as good as metal or plastic shelving. Wood can warp and rot in damp conditions so they must always be kept dry.

Plastic Shelves

Plastic shelving offers great moisture protection and is a solid solution for more lightweight items, seasonal decorations, and household supplies. Often the cheapest material for shelving and available in various sizes and colours. Plastic is easy to clean and maintain so your garage space can always look tidy. Although not as strong as metal shelving, plastic shelving is a reliable shelving material.

Wire Shelves

Wire shelving is suitable for medium-weight items, boxes, and bins. Wire shelving offers good moisture resistance and allows for airflow, which can help prevent mould and mildew buildup. Wire shelves provide a minimalistic, open look, making your garage appear more spacious and organised.

What Shelving Do You Need for Your Garage?

Understanding your storage needs is the first step in choosing the right garage shelving. To make the best choice, start by considering what you will be storing on your shelves. Do you need to organise tools, sporting equipment, supplies, or household items? Each type of item has different requirements for shelving material, weight capacity, and shelving type.

Assessing Your Storage Needs

Figure out the weights of your items, your heaviest and lightest items. This will likely consist of garage essentials such as hand and power tools, gardening supplies, automotive parts, and seasonal decorations. Identifying the range of weights will help you determine the appropriate shelving material and strength needed. For instance, lightweight items can be stored on standard shelves made from plastic or wood, while heavier items may require robust metal or heavy-duty shelving designed to handle significant loads. By taking time to consider the weights, you ensure your shelving provides the necessary support and stability.

Measuring Your Garage Space

Next, you will need to evaluate the available space in your garage. Measure the areas where you plan to install your new garage shelving; include height, width, and depth. Ensure the measurements are accurate so the shelving units fit properly so you can maximise your storage space. Take into account any obstacles that may affect the installation of the shelves such as doors or windows.

Tips for Maximising Space

You can make the most of your garage space by implementing some of these popular techniques:

  • Vertical Space: Use vertical space by installing taller shelving units or adding more shelves. This makes use of limited space by saving floor space.
  • Corner Units: For awkward corner spaces, corner shelving units ensure all space is used in the corner and doesn’t leave weird, unused space behind.
  • Adjustable Shelves: Choose adjustable shelving to always accommodate various item sizes. Having the flexibility provided by them ensures you matter what state or how busy your garage is, you can always modify your shelves to optimise your storage space.

Garage Shelving Accessories & Additional Features

When selecting garage shelving, make sure to consider shelving accessories such as hooks, compartments, and other add-ons that can improve the practicality and organisation. Hooks are ideal for hanging tools and equipment that are used frequently and need to be easily accessible. Compartments can help sort smaller items, so they stay organised and easy to find.

Additionally, design elements like modular configurations allow for customisation and expansion as your storage needs change and evolve. Look for shelving units that offer adjustable heights, enabling you to reconfigure the space to fit various items, from tall gardening tools to short bins. Some shelving units also come with integrated workbenches or tool racks, combining storage with workspace for added convenience.

How to Install Garage Shelving?

  • Preparation: When installing any type of shelving planning and preparation can go a long way. Gather the necessary tools (most are provided with shelving – refer to instruction manuals for provided equipment) which may include a mallet, drill, anchors, screws, and other bits.
  • Safety: Safety equipment such as goggles and gloves may be needed. Always follow the manufacturer’s guidelines to ensure you stay safe.
  • Installation: During installation, it is best to follow the manufacturer’s instructions to ensure the shelves are properly assembled and provide the strength and stability you paid for! Some garage shelving units involve a simple tap-together assembly while others may require more complex steps such as securing shelves to wall studs.
  • Extra Stability: Ensure that the shelves are level and securely anchored to the wall for stability. Using the appropriate anchors for your wall type (plasterboard, concrete, etc.) is essential for a secure fit.

Finally, always double-check the weight limits and load capacities to prevent overloading and potential damage.

Are you interested in learning more about Long span shelving? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!

Can I Install Garage Shelves Myself?

The shelves themselves are usually very straightforward to install. Some may involve tools and others, such as drills and screwdrivers, while others might use simpler methods like snap-together assembly. For example, our very own BiG340 Garage Shelving range involves boltless assembly where you just tap the unit together!

Popular BiGDUG Garage Shelving Units

Here are some of the more popular types of garage shelving available here at BiGDUG…

How to Maintain Garage Shelves?

Carry out regular checks on the condition of your garage shelving. By conducting these checks you can identify and address issues before they become too severe. Regular maintenance is important to keep your garage shelves in top condition. Inspect for wear and tear, loose screws, or signs of rust, and ensure shelves are evenly loaded and not overloaded beyond their weight capacity.

When cleaning, depending on the type of material use appropriate cleaning agents: a mild detergent for plastic, a damp cloth for metal (followed by drying to prevent rust), and a wood cleaner for wooden shelves. When unsure how to clean and maintain your shelving, check the manufacturer’s guidelines.

How to Maximise Storage with Garage Shelving?

Once you have your garage shelving installed, you may consider optimising how your items are organised. Several add-ons and accessories are available to complement the shelving. Some examples include…

  • Hooks and Pegboards: Install hooks and pegboards on the sides of your shelving units or garage walls to hang tools, hoses, and other equipment.
  • Bins and Baskets: Use labelled bins and baskets to keep smaller items organised and easy to find. Clear bins are especially useful for quickly identifying contents.
  • Drawer Units: Incorporate drawer units within your shelving for storing smaller tools, screws, and nails. These help keep tiny items in order and easily accessible.
  • Shelf Dividers: Use dividers to separate different items on the same shelf, preventing them from mixing and making it easier to maintain order.

Contact Us

Used Wide Span Shelving | American Surplus

Used Wide Span Shelving, also known as bulk shelving, is a hand stacking shelving solution for storing medium to heavy loads. These loads are often considered to be too small for pallet rack or cantilever rack. Wide span shelving is very useful when storing small quantities of materials in bulk. Typically, wide span shelving allows non-palletized items to be easily accessible. The type of items best fit for storage in wide-span shelving include boxes, packages, small crates, bins, and other like items. This kind of storage system is flexible, cost-effective, and can easily be reconfigured depending on the needs of one’s facility. Bulk wide span shelving is often seen as a storage solution used in many warehouses, storage facilities, and distribution centers. In general, if you need to store and access materials and products requiring individual piece picking, wide-span shelving is one of the best solutions available.

Are you moving or liquidating your facility and looking to sell your used wide span shelving?
American Surplus Inc. can help you get the most out of your old equipment!
Get started today by either...

  • Learning more about our wide span shelving purchasing program online
  • Calling our purchasing manager at (800) 876-
Learn More About Our Purchasing Program

Wide span shelving is one of the most versatile shelving solutions for warehouses. Shelving like this is quick and easy to assemble causing little disruption to a facility’s overall operations. Aside from being extremely versatile, wide span shelving is also durable for almost any type of environment. This built to last shelving solution will help to improve your warehouses safety, productivity, and organization.

For bulk storage of materials wide span shelving is the most affordable shelving solution for hand loaded items. Besides warehouses this shelving is typically seen in backroom or storeroom storage. Designed for the manual storage of products in bulk, this system combines the benefits of pallet racks and industrial shelving in one hybrid solution.

This shelving solution is a space efficient storage solution that will help businesses to keep their facility organized. A warehouse will be able to maximize your floor space by using a facilities unused vertical height. Its open design allows you to be able to quickly identify items being stored for maximum productivity.

Wide span shelving has a modular construction that allows a single unit to stand alone or permit for future expansion based on your storage needs. This makes them perfect for businesses that are looking to grow and expand, but not wanting to commit to a more permanent storage solution. This long-lasting shelving is constructed of all-steel providing strength and rigidity for years to come.

One of the key features of wide span shelving is its ability to span long distances, allowing for ample storage space. The shelves are typically made of heavy-duty materials, such as steel, which ensures durability and strength to withstand heavy loads. The shelves are usually adjustable in height, allowing for flexibility in organizing items of varying sizes.

In conclusion, wide span shelving is a reliable and efficient storage solution for heavy, bulky, and large items. Its durability, flexibility, and accessibility make it a popular choice for various industries and applications where efficient organization and storage of large items are required.

For more information, please visit longspan Shelving China.

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