How to Build Garage Shelves The Easy Way

Here’s how to build garage shelves. If you have been following me for a while, you have already gotten a glimpse of the garage overhaul and all the projects I have been working on.

I can’t begin to tell you how amazing it feels to have the garage organized.

I literally go out there like 5 times a day and just stare at the fact that everything has a place. Enjoying a Sweet organizational bliss.

The Garage at the New House

The garage at my new house needed some SERIOUS organization. There was not a single shelf in the 3-car oversized garage.

The people who lived here before us had a few nails and hooks hanging, but other than that, nothing.

While I know that the garage is not usually the first project you take on when you move into a new house, I felt I had to organize my garage workspace before I build make, or paint anything inside.

Plus the movers left quite a few boxes in the garage that didn’t belong there (hello? where is the iron?).

Here is the hot mess I started with after the movers left.

Overwhelming isn’t it?

I spent ALL last week in the garage going through each and every box and creating organization and functionality for our family.

So let’s begin with project #1 – building the ginormous garage shelves.

Building Garage Shelves

The best part about this project is that if you don’t do step #5 and you have 9″ ceilings you don’t even have to pull out a saw.

Lowes ripped the plywood in half for me and I was able to use the 2 x 2″s and the 2 x 4″s at their 8 foot length.

I made two shelves for a total of 16 feet of storage by 8 feet high.

That is a whole lotta room for STUFF. These go together in less than an hour if you have two people to work on it.

Since they are so big you will need a second set of hands – believe me I tried it solo, it wasn’t pretty.

Supplies for one shelf (although I made 2)

Straight edge

Pencil

Drill

Phillips head drill bit

2″ x 4″ x 8″ (8)

2″ x 2″ x 8″ (10 – for five shelves)

4″ x 8″ sheet of 3/4″ plywood (5 – ripped length wise)

optional: 1″ x 2″ x 8″ (2)

Tape measure

1 1/2″ wood screws

2 1/2″ wood screws

5″ or 6″ wood screws

Stud finder

Brother Labeler (affiliate link)

*I got all my supplies at Lowes and for just lumber it was $196.20 for both shelves.

It looks to be around $108.84 for one shelf.

 I had all the screws on hand from other projects so you have to add that in as well if you don’t have them.

How To Make Garage Shelves – Step by Step

1. Mark the frame parts

To make it easier on yourself, you can mark them all at one time with a pencil so they go together quickly.

Do this with both the frame and the rails.

It is hard to tell in the picture below but you can see faint pencil marks where my 2 x 2″s will go.

2. Screws

Working on a flat surface screw your 2″ x 2″ rails to the 2″ x 4″ frames using 2 1/2″ screws.

One of the things that I did in step #5 is to add cleats so you have small “drawers” using plastic bins.

Measure the width of the widest part of your bin’s top and make sure your 2 x 4″s can accommodate the bin’s width plus the 1x 2″s attached for sliders (yep it requires a little bit of math).

I used two different sized bins for each shelving unit so I could have smaller and wider bins.

3. Add the Plywood

Working on the ground add your 3/4″ plywood into the rails using 1 1/2″ screws.

4. Put Shelves in Place and Level

Lift your shelving unit up and put it in place. Check to make sure your shelves are level.

You may need some wood shims if your garage floor isn’t perfectly level.

Shim where necessary. Use a 5″ or 6″ screw to screw through the 2 x 2″s into the stud.

These will be so secure you could have a party on the shelves and they won’t come down.

I added 4 screws total and it was plenty secure.

5. (Optional) Install your cleats for the slide-out bins

I used a leftover 1″ x 2″ scrap as a spacer so that the slide-outs where 1 1/2″ from the bottom of the shelf above it.

Pre-drill your holes (so your 1 x 2″s don’t split) and then use 1 1/2″ screws to secure.

You could always stack your plastic bins on top of each other but I felt like the slide-outs would make it easier since I am constantly pulling out these bins.

6. Make the Labels

Grab your labeler and make sure everything is labeled and has a home.

I like using a labeler rather than a Sharpie marker since the contents change regularly.

7. Fill up your Shelves

If you are anything like me you won’t have any problems finding stuff to put on the shelves.