If you’re like me, your garage is more than just a place to park your car. It’s a sanctuary, a workshop, a storage hub, and even a showroom. But to make it truly shine, you need a place for everything and everything in its place.
That’s where shelving and cabinets come in!
Have you ever wondered about the best height for your wall cabinets or the best depth for your shelves?
Maybe you’ve debated whether to mount your garage cabinets on the wall or keep them on the floor.
Or perhaps you’re just trying to figure out how to bolt down a heavy-duty storage rack without calling in professional help.
Well, you’re in the right place. I’ve mounted my Gladiator storage cabinets on my garage walls, so I’ve been able to answer these questions.
In this article, we will walk you through some quick tips and guidelines to help you master these questions and more.
Let’s dive in!
What’s the Standard Mounting Garage Wall Cabinet Height?
When we say “standard height,” we’re talking about the distance between the top of your wall cabinets and the ceiling. Most garage ceilings in the United States and Canada are between 8 and 10 feet high, so there’s some variability in the ‘standard height’ for garage cabinets.
Your garage cabinet height impacts how easy your cabinets are to reach, how much stuff you can stash in your garage, and how your garage looks.
Generally speaking, most people like to hang their garage wall cabinets somewhere between 18 to 24 inches from the ceiling. If you have a 10′ high garage ceiling, mount your wall cabinets 24″ from the top. Homes with lower garage ceilings can mount wall cabinets higher, at 18″ or less.
However, there are situations when you might want to buck the trend and mount your wall cabinets higher or lower than normal.
Let’s dig into why.
Mounting Garage Wall Cabinets High (18 inches or closer from the ceiling):
- Room for more stuff: The higher you go, the more space you’ve got under the cabinets for your workbench or bulky tools. You’ll be making the most of that wall space.
- Appears more open: Hanging wall cabinets high up can make your garage feel more open and organized.
- Tough to reach: The downside of going high is that the cabinets might be a bit of a stretch, which is especially important for shorter homeowners.
Going Low (24 inches or more from the ceiling):
- Easy to reach: Hanging wall cabinets lower makes it a breeze to grab your tools and gear.
- Less space underneath: The catch is that you might cramp the space underneath. This could be a bummer if you need that room for storage.
Remember, these are just ballpark figures. The ‘standard’ should be what works for your garage.
How Much Space to Leave Between Base and Wall Cabinets?
Let’s tackle another common question: How much space should you leave between your base and wall cabinets?
This time, the ‘minimum garage wall cabinet height’ we’re talking about is the space between the top of your base cabinet (or workbench) and the bottom of your wall cabinets. Generally, the standard gap here is between 18 and 20 inches.
This is all about hitting the sweet spot between convenience, safety, and functionality.
But, like before, there are some pros and cons to consider:
Larger Gaps (20 inches or more):
- Easier to use: A bigger gap means more headroom and visibility. This is useful if you’re working on a bench underneath.
- Safety: More space minimizes the risk of bumping your head on the wall cabinets. Trust me. We’ve all done it!
- Easier to Reach: If you’ve got shorter arms (or don’t enjoy tiptoe stretches), reaching the wall cabinets might be a workout.
Smaller Gap (18 inches or less):
- Accessibility: Keeping things closer makes for easy grabbing without stretching.
- Limited headroom: A smaller gap might feel restrictive, particularly if you’ve got a workbench underneath.
Remember, it’s your garage, and the ‘minimum’ should be what’s most convenient for you. If you’re planning to install a quality workbench beneath your wall cabinets, you’ll definitely want to account for extra headroom.
Should You Wall-Mount Garage Cabinets?
When we talk about cabinets being off the floor, we’re deciding whether to mount them on the wall or place them on feet or casters. Typically, this ‘lift’ is around 4 to 6 inches, but like anything else, it can vary.
First, lifting your cabinets off the ground keeps them away from any water in your garage. Whether it’s from rain, snow, or that one time you dropped the garden hose (hey, we’ve all been there), water and cabinetry aren’t a great mix.
Secondly, cleaning is much easier when you wall-mount garage cabinets. Instead of struggling to sweep or mop around cabinet feet, you can clean right under them.
Additionally, if your garage floor is uneven (and, let’s face it, many are), hanging cabinets on the wall are more stable.
Finally, elevated cabinets can add a sleek, modern touch to your garage. This is your space, after all, so why not make it look good? Before mounting anything heavy on your walls, though, you should consider the best wall finish options for proper mounting support.
On the flip side, not every home can wall-mount garage cabinets or place them on casters.
First, cleaning under the cabinets might seem like a breeze on paper, but in reality? Not so much. Raised cabinets are easy to navigate with a broom or mop.
Typically, cabinets on feet or casters have just enough ground clearance for a thriving dust bunny colony underneath. Unfortunately, that tight space also makes a perfect home for wandering rodents or crafty insects.
Finally, most cabinets still need to be secured to the wall to prevent tipping.
What is the Average Size of Garage Cabinets?
Understanding the average sizes can help you choose cabinets that will fit your garage while still holding all your stuff too.
Most garage cabinets range between 72 to 96 inches in height, 18 to 24 inches in depth, and 24 to 36 inches in width. They’re designed to give you enough space to store your stuff and enough room to move around.
The weight capacity largely depends on the material and construction of the cabinet. On average, each shelf in a garage cabinet can typically hold about 100 to 200 pounds. Some heavy-duty cabinets can even handle up to 500 pounds per shelf.
But remember, always check the manufacturer’s specifications to be safe.
What is the Best Height for Garage Shelves?
Here, the ‘best height’ refers to the most comfortable and practical position to place your shelves. It’s critical to consider so you can easily access, see, and safely use your garage shelves.
Typically, homeowners mount their garage shelves 48 to 60 inches from the floor. As with everything else, there are pros and cons at different heights.
Higher shelves make it easier to see what’s on display, especially if they’re behind a workbench or other gear. It also means less chance of accidental bumps or knocks.
Lower shelves might be harder to see behind taller items, and there’s a higher risk of bumping into them.
That said, the higher you mount your garage shelf on the wall, the harder it will be to reach.
Again, the ‘best’ garage shelf height is what works for you.
Consider what you’ll store on the shelves and who’ll be using them. The goal is to make your garage as functional and comfortable as possible.
What is the Best Depth for Garage Shelves?
Alright, let’s cut to the chase about shelf depth. It might sound trivial, but it’s crucial for your garage organization.
Most garage shelves come in between 12 to 16 inches deep. But remember, there’s no universal answer here. The right garage shelf depth depends on what you’re planning to store.
If your items are on the smaller side, like hand tools, paint cans, or gardening supplies, then a 12-inch deep shelf could be your go-to. These shelves are ideal for keeping things in view and easy to grab, which is super handy when you’re in the middle of a project.
On the other hand, if you’re planning to store larger items like power tools, bulk storage bins, or even sporting equipment, a 16-inch deep shelf might work better. It’s a little more robust, offering additional storage capacity and stability for heavier items.
Don’t be afraid to think outside the box if you have oddly shaped or extra-large items. Consider custom shelving or specialty racks.
Kayaks, bicycles, and larger lawn equipment often need special storage solutions, so don’t limit yourself to standard shelf sizes if they won’t meet your needs.
What Height Should Be Between Shelves?
When it comes to the distance between your garage shelves, size really does matter. And by size, I mean the height of the stuff you’re stashing on those shelves.
Things get personal here because the ideal shelf spacing depends on your unique collection of tools, cleaners, supplies, and whatever else you’re storing in your garage.
The most common range for shelf spacing in garages is 12 to 18 inches. But let’s get specific. Here’s a little table to help visualize how different items might dictate your garage shelf height:
