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Garage Shelves Plans
A deep, open shelving unit for paint, tools and storage boxes. The shelves are fixed with screws through the sides and dividers, the dividers are added automatically so no shelf spans more than 800 mm, and the bottom shelf stands on a plinth, clear of a damp or uneven garage floor. It works in the garage or the basement and adapts to any wall. Building it is a one-day job.
- Default size
- 1800 × 1800 × 500 mm
- Parts
- 20 pieces · 7 sizes
- Sheets (2440 × 1220 mm (4 × 8 ft))
- 4 carcass + 3 back
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Build time
- About 5 hours
- Edge band
- 19.2 m
Cut list (default size)
| Part | Qty | Length | Width | Thick. | Board | Edges |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Side | 2 | 1800 | 500 | 18 | Carcass board 18 mm | |
| Top | 1 | 1764 | 500 | 18 | Carcass board 18 mm | |
| Bottom | 1 | 1764 | 500 | 18 | Carcass board 18 mm |
Sizes in millimetres; length runs along the grain. Edges: bold lines are banded.
4 more parts, the sheet layout and the cut order are in the full plan.Resize it to any size, print labels and save it in a project.Sign in free to open it
How it is built
- A divider is added for every 800 mm of width, so no shelf spans more than 800 mm.
- Shelves are full depth and fixed: screw them through the sides and dividers, two screws at each end.
- The back comes in one piece per bay, so every piece fits a 4 × 8 sheet; the joints land on the dividers.
- The bottom shelf stands on a 100 mm plinth, clear of water on the floor.
Common mistakes
- Standing the bottom shelf directly on concrete: moisture creeps into the board.
- Not fixing a tall unit to the wall: loaded shelves make it top-heavy.
Tools you need
- Track saw or circular saw with a guide
- Drill/driver
- Clamps
- Square
Frequently asked questions
How much weight can the shelves hold?
With spans of 800 mm or less and 18 mm plywood screwed at both ends, each shelf carries heavy boxes, paint cans and tools; keep the heaviest things on the lower shelves.
How deep should garage shelves be?
400–600 mm (16–24 in). Storage boxes are usually 400–600 mm long; deeper shelves make the back hard to reach.
MDF or plywood for garage shelves?
Plywood or melamine-faced board: raw MDF swells in a damp garage. Seal or paint any raw edges.
Related guides
How to Build a ShelfHow to build a shelf on a wall, in the garage or in a corner: cleats and brackets into studs, garage shelving, corner shelves and safe spans.OSB vs PlywoodOSB vs plywood compared: strength, stiffness, moisture, weight and cost, and which is better for subfloors, roof and wall sheathing, shelving and furniture.Types of SawsThe main types of saws for wood: power saws (circular, table, miter, track, jigsaw, band) and hand saws, what each one cuts best, and which saws to buy first.
