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Take it from me, a writer who tests sneakers for a living: The best shoe racks, shelves, and other storage options instantly add order to a chaotic closet or messy mudroom. It’s better for my state of mind and for the sneaks themselves: Having a sizeable shoe collection is definitely a first world problem (and I’ve lost count of how many barely worn pairs I’ve donated over the years), but the pairs I keep stand a far better chance at lasting if they’re tucked away—and not left in a dirty pile by the front door.
If your sneakers, sandals, and slippers need a place to call home, you came to the right place. I asked my fellow SELF staffers about their shoe storage solutions and highlighted our favorites here, including high-capacity options and DIY-friendly shelves.
Our top picks
- Best Entryway Storage: Gaomon Hall Tree Shoe Bench, $50
- Best Storage Bench: The Container Store Lotus Bamboo Storage Bench, $150
- Best Over-the-Door Closet Organizer: Zebricolo Shoe Organizer, $20
- Best for Small Spaces: Yamazaki Home Adjustable Shoe Rack, $35
- Best for Travel: Pack All Water Resistant Travel Shoe Bags, $14
Shop the best shoe racks
It’s time to think outside the (shoe) box.
Best Entryway Storage: Gaomon Hall Tree Shoe Bench
My life changed when I set up this coat rack-shoe shelf hybrid in my studio apartment’s entryway. Suddenly, there was a place to drop all the crap I shed upon arriving home: my layers, my keys, my bags—and, yes, my shoes. It officially has two open shelves, but I like to use the top surface (which is intended to be a bench) as a bonus third place for shoes when there’s overflow. It’s surprisingly sturdy and can hold a ton of jackets, on top of all the shoes I manage to cram into the shelves.
(And speaking of overflow, I also keep this freestanding shoe rack next to my dresser, for pairs that my partner and I wear less frequently, but still like to have handy.)
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Sturdy and durable | Somewhat annoying to clean under |
| Holds more than just shoes | |
| Easy to assemble |
Product specs
Dimensions: 11.80 x 23.66 x 70.89 inches | Capacity: 2 shelves; up to 8 pairs of shoes
Best Storage Bench: The Container Store Lotus Bamboo Storage Bench
Kristyn Ivey, a KonMari consultant and home stylist at For the Love of Tidy, previously recommended this discreet storage solution to SELF, noting that some of its key features happen to be rather shoe-friendly. "The plastic-lined interior wipes clean and the durable bamboo exterior is an environmentally friendly material,” she said.
This is a great pick if you want to keep your shoes near the door but don’t want a clunky shelf taking up too much space (or interfering with your home decor, for that matter). The Lotus bench is pretty compact and, when its main compartment is closed, doesn’t even look like it’s intended for storage.
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Easy to clean | Lower capacity than other options on our list |
| Not too utilitarian—blends in with decor | Over $100 |
| Also serves as seating |
Product specs
Dimensions: 13 x 20 x 20 inches | Capacity: 4 compartments; up to 4 pairs of shoes
Best Over-the-Door Closet Organizer: Zebricolo Shoe Organizer
SELF’s visuals director recommended this door-length, 10-tier shoe rack, and it’s easy to see why. For $20, you get a simple-to-install, out-of-the-way place for as many as 20 pairs of shoes. It’s made of strong, durable fabric, so it’ll last a long time but won’t feel like dead weight against your closet door. Bonus: Each individual shoe cubby is impressively roomy.
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Holds tons of shoes | May limit the storage space inside your closet, due to its depth |
| Frees up floor space | |
| Under $50 |
Product specs
Dimensions: 10.60 x 17 x 74 inches | Capacity: 10 shelves; up to 20 pairs of shoes
Best for Small Spaces: Yamazaki Home Adjustable Shoe Rack
Sarah Felbin, SELF’s senior commerce editor, says this handy metal shoe rack “basically doubled my shoe storage space in my closet—a godsend for my tiny NYC apartment!” Its expandable design lets you shorten it to fit into the tiniest closet spaces around your home or extend it to make the most of its capacity. Felbin says it only took a minute or two to put together and feels pretty sturdy, even though it’s lightweight.
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Expandable steel frame | Slightly less deep than other options on our list—might not be suitable for large shoes |
| Easy assembly | |
| Under $50 |
Product specs
Dimensions: 9.80 x 27.60 x 6.90 inches | Capacity: 1 shelf; up to 6 pairs of shoes (also available as a 3-shelf rack)
Best for Travel: Pack All Water Resistant Travel Shoe Bags
You can keep your shoes organized (and, if they get dirty or damp, away from the rest of your stuff) when you’re on the go with a couple of these mesh bags. Each one can fit a pair of shoes and comes with a convenient loop handle for carrying and hanging.
SELF’s art director gifted one to her husband so he could keep his work clothes separate during his bike commutes, and it worked like a charm—it’s odor-resistant, easy to clean, and the perfect size to add some internal organization to a larger bag.
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Odor- and water- resistant | Only holds one pair of shoes per bag |
| Available in lots of colors | |
| Under $20 |
Product specs
Dimensions: 2.17 x 8.66 x 15.70 inches | Capacity: Up to one pair of size 11 shoes
Related:
- The Best Insoles for Flat Feet Meet Your Arches Where They Are
- 60 Useful Gifts That Make Life a Little Easier
- Plantar Fasciitis Relief Starts with These Podiatrist-Approved Shoes
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