Get started building this impressive DIY shoe rack by downloading the free shoe rack plans. Follow the plans for a 16, 26 or 34 shoe rack or customize it to suit your entryway.
Using Labrico 2×4 Adjuster brackets you can prevent your shoe rack from toppling over. These innovative brackets fasten the wood frame to the ceiling. You don’t need to drill or damage your wall to hang your shoe rack.
Designed to be built using a wood frame and pine shelves so it’s sturdy, solid and will last years.
- Time to make - 2.5 hours
- Build difficulty - Easy to Intermediate
Download PDF Instructions for FREE
A Shoe Rack with Adjustable Shelves
If you have tall boots, rain boots or work boots you can stand them up on the shelf. During the winter months, space the shelf width further apart for your winter and ski boots. In summer, you’ll need less space for flats, high heels and trainers.
You can adjust the height of the shelves by moving the shelf brackets up and down the shelf track.
Shoe Rack Plans - Sizing Guide
Do you know how many pairs of shoes you have? If not, go now and count how many shoes you have and then look at the shoe rack sizing guide. You can increase the capacity of your shoe rack by cutting longer shelves.
Before you decide you need a shoe rack that can fit oodles and oodles of shoes, take a breath and go measure how much space you have for the rack. Spare space around the entryway area is always limited, especially for apartments.
Fastened the Brackets to the Ceiling so the Shoe Rack Won’t Fall or Cause Wall Damage
“My shoe rack fell over and I am trying to look for something that’ll be more sturdy”. u/silent1437 said on Reddit
Steer clear of shoe shoe racks that are not sturdy or worse fall down. Tall shoe racks are prone to being pulled down by toddlers if they are not fasten to the wall. Most of the time the shoe rack can’t hold the weight of all the shoes.
The top bracket is what gives the shoe rack it’s stability. The Labrico 2×4 Adjuster top bracket is fastened to the ceiling by turning the adjusting screw and held there by tension.
For safety purposes, a lot of shoe racks are fastened onto the wall with screws. Sometimes they are attached to the back of doors using velcro. This may cause damage or require patching & painting later on. On the other hand, the Labrico 2×4 brackets can easily be removed without damage.
Customize Your Shoe Rack Plans
Just for a bit of fun, I changed the shoe rack to have summer theme. No winter or rain boots, just bright colours and the feel of the beach.
When you build this shoe rack send me a picture. I’d love to see what interesting ideas you come up with.
An Easy to Intermediate DIY Project
For this project, you’ll need to have some beginner to intermediate DIY skills. You’ll need to know how to use a drill, mark out and drill pilot holes, install brackets and level shelves.
The timber posts are easy to set up using Labrico 2×4 Adjuster brackets. Pop a bracket onto each end of the timber post and tighten the top bracket (turn the adjusting screw) against the ceiling.
It’s held there by tension and no tools are required to install the brackets.
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Project Information
Tools
- Drill
- Wood drill bits
- Cordless screwdriver
- Screwdriver bits
- Measuring tape
- Screwdriver
- Spirit level (or download the “Bubble Level” App for iphone for free)
- Hammer
- Pencil
Supplies
- 2″x4″ wood posts – vertical frame x 2
- 2”x4” wood – horizontal frame support x 1
- 1 ¾” x 12” x 30″ wood shelves x 8
- Labrico 2″x4″ Adjuster brackets sets x 2
- 12” shelf brackets x 16
- 48” Single slot shelf tracks x 2
- 36” Single slot shelf tracks x 2
- 1 ½” x ⅝” corner brace x 4
- 1 ¼” flat head wood screws x 40
Shoe Rack Plans - Step by Step Instructions
Download PDF Instructions for FREE
1
Lay both vertical wood posts flat on the floor side by side. Measure half way up each wood post and mark a spot in the centre.
2
3
4
Position the horizontal stud post between the vertical posts and centre on corner brackets.
5
Mark the screw holes and drill pilot holes.Fasten the bracket to the stud using 1 ¼ screws.
6
On the other side of the 2×4 horizontal stud post, position the corner bracket. Do not align with the corner bracket on the other side.
Tip: Use masking tape to hold the corner bracket in place
7
Decide the location of the shoe rack. Position the base of the shoe rack close to the wall.
8
Place the upper and bottom caps onto the stud post. Bottom caps go on the base of the stud posts and upper caps the top.
9
From the top end of the shoe rack, lift the frame up and let it rest against the wall. Ensure the shoe rack is vertical by using a spirit level.
TIP: For an online spirit level, download “Bubble Level” for free from the iphone App Store.
10
Turn the adjusting screws clockwise to tighten.
Install the Hardware to the Frame
11
Measure 5”(12cm) from the bottom of the wood stud. Place a mark in the centre of the wood post.
12
Align the 36″ shelf track next to the first, centre it on the stud post. Drill pilot holes. Use 1 ¼ flat head screws to fasten the shelf track to the stud post.
TIP: Use masking tape to hold the shelf track in place while aligning the track
13
Mark each screw hole along the shelf track. Drill pilot holes. Use 1 ¼ flat head screws to fasten
14
Align the 36″ shelf track next to the first, centre it on the stud post. Drill pilot holes. Use 1 ¼ flat head screws to fasten the shelf track to the stud post.
Tip: Use masking tape to hold the shelf track in place
15
Add pairs of shelf brackets onto the shelf track. Use the handle of a hammer (or similar) to tap the top of the bracket to lock it in place.
Tip: Tap underneath the shelf bracket to release it from the shelf track
Leave a big enough gap between the bottom shelf and the floor to vacuum underneath.
16
Place on the rest of the wood shelves.
Tip: To work out the placement of each shelf, start by putting on the bottom shelf first. Add shoes on the bottom shelf (usually the tall/winter boots). The next shelf is placed 3-5 inches above the shoes. Then repeat these steps for the 8 shelves.
Safety
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Very good project, I built one for my entryway. The thing that I like are the 2×4 brackets with the tightening screw at the top. They fastened the timber to the ceiling. As I have small children the last thing I want is for the shoe rack to topple on top of them.
Wow! This is such a brilliant idea. I love it! This really inspires me and will be sure to make our own shoe organizer. Thanks for sharing it.
I can see you have 8 shelves on the shoe shelf. But I have lots of shoes! How many shelves do you think you can have?
Hi Mrs Grant,
I could probably add 2 more shelves to the 8 shelves you can see in the pictures. That would make 10 shelves in total. The height of the ceiling in the pictures was 2.7m.
If you have high ceilings, you can add more shelves.
Also depends on what shoes you have. If you have more flat shoes, which take up less height, you can have more shelves.
Hello, I came across your product today and I am very interested. I love the design and the idea. Do you have a rough idea of the weight capacity of a single set? And would carpeting be an issue? I would love to use these throughout my apartment, but there is not much I can do about the carpet. Thank you so much!
The indicate weight load is 20kg.
It is recommended the bottom bracket sits on a flat surface. However, I have tried it where the bottom bracket is on carpet and the top bracket is on a flat ceiling surface. It worked, just not recommended.
One option, if you have carpet, is to put a flat timber board over the carpet. Then let the bottom bracket sit on the flat timber board.