7 best shoe racks, according to professional organizers
To save some space, here are expert-recommended shoe racks, shelves and organizers for your closet, entryway and more.
The Container Store 2-Tier Bamboo Stackable Shoe Shelf
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$39.99
There are a few important factors to keep in mind when choosing the best shoe rack and storage options. Here’s everything our experts recommended we keep in mind when making this list:
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Here are a few shoe storage solutions to consider. All of the options below are either recommendations from our experts or have at least a 4-star average rating from 500 reviews or more on Amazon.
This durable metal shoe rack has three shelves, though you can stack multiple ones on top of each other to store more shoes. Alternatively, you can put multiple shelves adjacent to one another, too. With a 4.6-star average rating from 36,090 reviews on Amazon, it can hold many types of shoes, like sneakers, sandals, and boots, depending on their heights.
This shoe rack is a great option if you want one for almost all of your shoes, including one of different sizes and shapes. This rack has shelves for short shoes like sneakers and sandals, but also has a side for tall boots. The surface of each shelf is flat and holds multiple types of heels without them potentially falling through. To set it up, all you have to do is connect the metal tubs with the connectors. Plus, the rack, which has a 4.5-star average rating from 1,010 reviews at Walmart, has multiple pockets on the side for storing more accessories.
An over-the-door shoe holder is a go-to option for storing shoes, especially when you have an extremely small room, since they allow you to have more surface area on your floor for furniture. This option has 24 pockets that are around 4 inches across each. While it isn’t the best choice for storing boots or tall shoes, the brand also sells an option with extra-large pockets. It also has a 4.7-star average rating from 130,110 reviews on Amazon.
While it may seem unconventional to use a bookcase for a shoe rack, Solomon said the Billy Bookcase from Ikea is one of her favorite “no-nonsense” ways to store her heels and show them off for visitors. The bookcase has adjustable shelves so you can move them around according to the height of your shoes — boots, for example, will need more space than a pair of sandals. But each shelf is only about 11 inches deep (about a size 11 in men’s shoes or a women’s 12), so make sure that works for your shoe collection. There are six shelves, and assuming you can place around three pairs of shoes per shelf, it should fit 18 pairs of shoes. Solomon also recommended the shorter version of the bookcase for those with half the pairs of shoes.
Meck prefers a classic shoe shelf: She feels it’s a no-fuss fix for lining up shoes easily, efficiently and neatly. Even better, you can find shoe shelves in many different flavors, from custom builds to those that have been repurposed (like we mentioned above) or ready-made. For those who don’t want to spend the time or money on customized builds, Meck recommended this stackable shoe shelf from The Container Store. It’s made from bamboo, which the brand says “is easily renewable, so it’s an environmentally friendly material.” It has two shelves that can typically hold around eight pairs of women’s shoes or six pairs of men’s shoes, according to The Container Store.
McGreevy said this Large Drop-Front Shoe Box Case from The Container Store made “organization a breeze.” Part of the appeal of a box like this one is that you can keep your shoes safe from external forces while also letting you see them. (And if this particular profile or aesthetic doesn’t fit your closet, The Container Store has lots of other options, too: check out its Tall Side Profile Drop-Front Shoe Box and the Cambridge Drop-Front Shoe Box in Linen. No matter which you buy, the store doesn’t recommend stacking more than seven or eight boxes on top of each other for stability.
Meck mentioned this 15-Unit Stackable Organizer from ClosetMaid for those who want cubbies, which can be great if you want order and division between pairs of shoes (or single shoes). Because the height of each cubbyhole doesn’t reach very far, the organizer is only good for accommodating flip flops, sandals and other low-profile shoes, it says. ClosetMaid specifically singles out any that measure smaller than 5.75 inches tall by 4.5 inches wide by 11 inches deep. The organizer comes in three colors: white, espresso and dark cherry.
Organize your shoesBefore buying any kind of shoe storage, McGreevy encourages a shoe cleanse: Categorize all of your shoes first and then place them side-by-side and decide whether to hold on to them, donate them or throw them away. “Going through this step is important so that you don’t end up organizing extra pairs of shoes or buying more storage than you need,” she said. “Count how many pairs — and how many of each type — you have after decluttering. Purchase storage based on those numbers.”
Factor in shoe sizeAfter you assess which shoes need to go in the shoe case, look at your space as a whole. The type of shoe organizer you buy should also depend on the size of your space and how often you wear each pair, McGreevy said.
Wear frequencySolomon agreed and added that the frequency at which you wear your favorite pairs is especially important when searching for shoe storage, since you won’t want to tuck away shoes into individual storage bins if you plan on wearing them frequently. Instead, opt for open storage like a shoe cubby or shoe rack that allows for easy access, Solomon suggested. An over-the-door shoe bag could work for someone who doesn’t need their collection in plain sight, she said. Plus, it frees up floor space.
Generally, you should make sure you’re storing shoes somewhere that isn’t directly hit by sunlight but is well-ventilated and cleaned regularly, according to Meck. This can help prevent shoes from becoming damaged or collecting dust.
For shoes that you want to pack away, Meck explained that wrapping them in tissue paper (and even old clothes) can keep them from scraping or scuffing together.
For those shoes you reach for regularly, Solomon recommended leaving them around an entryway to prevent dirt from traveling further into your house or apartment.
Here are a few other expert-recommended tips to consider when arranging your shoe storage:
At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
Ambar Pardilla is a former reporter for NBC Select.
Justin Krajeski and Cory Fernandez contributed.
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