How to Mount Garage Wall Storage

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Wall shelves, cabinets, track and panels are only as strong as what holds them to the wall. The rating on the box assumes the maker’s mounting method. If you mount it another way, that rating no longer tells you much. This guide covers what to check before you drill.

Know your wall

Drywall over wood studs is common in attached garages. The drywall itself carries very little. The load needs to go into the studs.
Concrete or block needs masonry anchors made for that material, and often a masonry drill bit.
Bare studs, plywood or panelling each behave differently. If you cannot tell what is behind the surface, find out before you buy.

If you rent, check whether you may drill at all. A freestanding unit may suit you better. See freestanding vs wall-mounted shelving.

Find the studs

Use a stud finder, then confirm with a small test hole or a nail where it will be hidden. Mark the center of each stud. Stud spacing varies from house to house, so measure yours. Then check it against the product. Many makers say how far apart the mounting points are, or which stud spacings the rail or bracket suits. Where that is not stated, our product pages say “Not listed”. Ask the maker before you assume it will line up.

Fasteners included or not

Some products come with screws or anchors. Some come with none, and some include hardware for one wall type only. Read the parts list and the instructions before you start. If the maker names a fastener type, size or length, use that. Hollow-wall anchors in drywall alone are often excluded from a rating, so read that line closely.

Read the install limitations

The installation manual is where makers state the conditions behind their ratings. Look for:

whether the product must be fixed into studs or joists to reach its rating;
wall types the maker does not support;
a minimum number of fixing points per rail, panel or bracket;
how the load must be spread, and any limit per hook or shelf.

Ratings are the maker’s claims under those conditions. Our guide to weight ratings explains how to read them, and slatwall vs pegboard covers the panel types.

Before you load it

Check that it is level and every fixing is tight. Load it gradually, heavy items low. If you are unsure what your wall can carry, ask a qualified professional.

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We have not installed or tested these products. Everything we list comes from the manufacturers’ documents. Always follow the manufacturer’s installation instructions.