How to Organize Your Garage for Under $700—and Finally Fit a Car Again

A garage can become the default home for everything that doesn’t fit elsewhere. Yet even when clutter crowds the floor, your walls and ceiling may be going underused. Finding a logical home for everything is the first step toward reclaiming your space.

This list of garage organization solutions covers everything from a mobile workbench and overhead rack to wall-mounted storage for lumber, bikes, and brooms. It mixes budget-friendly organizers with a few heavy-duty upgrades, and it includes several products from BobVila.com’s best-of guides. Whatever is causing the biggest clutter problem, there’s a fix here to match.

Scattered tools finally have a home base with the Husky Tool Mobile Workbench Cabinet, top pick in our best tool chests guide. Each of its ball-bearing drawers has a pre-cut liner, glides out smoothly, and closes softly, while the all-welded steel frame supports a solid wood top with 1,040 square inches of workspace. A built-in power strip with six outlets and two USB ports keeps tools charged, and locking casters and a push handle make moving it easy.

What our tester says: “We’ve had this tool chest for over 2 years now, and it stores the majority of our tools, charges all our lawn care and vacuum batteries, and serves as a regular work surface in our garage. We haven’t had a single issue with it since we got it.”—Michelle Larson, Product Reviews tester and writer

Get the Husky workbench at The Home Depot.

Put empty ceiling space to good use with this Fleximounts storage rack, our pick for Best Overhead in our garage storage systems guide. Heavy-duty 13-gauge steel and a grid welded directly to the frame add stability, allowing you to keep seasonal bins, camping gear, and holiday decorations off the ground. It’s also height-adjustable from 22 to 40 inches so you can fit it over the garage door.

What our tester says: “I love being able to store all my seasonal items in totes overhead—it frees up so much wall and floor space for other things.”—Glenda Taylor, Product Reviews tester and writer

Get the Fleximounts overhead storage rack at The Home Depot, Amazon, or Fleximounts.

Thanks to its commercial-grade high-density polyethylene construction, the Rubbermaid Brute Tote won Best Heavy-Duty in our lineup of the best containers for storing clothes. In addition to holding up to rough handling, it has a lid that snaps tight to keep contents secure and a shape that’s built for stable stacking. And should you need to move it, there are also ergonomic grip handles that make it comfortable to carry. 

What our tester says: “During our tests, the lids stayed on securely when we battered the containers around. We also found that they did a better job of protecting the contents from moisture than many of the other products we assessed.”—Lizzy Briskin, Product Reviews tester and writer

Get the Rubbermaid storage tote at Amazon, Lowe’s, Walmart, or Acme Tools.

The Wall Control Metal Pegboard, the Best Pegboard pick in our garage storage systems guide, is designed to turn a bare wall into a tool library. Three 20-gauge steel panels (they’re more than 10 times stronger than conventional pegboard) cover a space measuring 48 inches by 32 inches and won’t warp or fray. The kit includes shelves, bins, and hammer and screwdriver holders, and the panels accept both slotted hooks and standard pegs, making it possible to reorganize whenever your needs change.

What our tester says: “One of the best things about this pegboard system is you can expand it easily by adding more panels. It also comes in several colors, so it could even be used in a playroom, laundry room, or utility area.”—Glenda Taylor, Product Reviews tester and writer

Get the Wall Control pegboard kit at The Home Depot, Amazon, or Lowe’s.

Made of durable, easy-to-clean recycled plastic, the HDX shelving unit holds 150 pounds on each of its five shelves for a massive 750 pounds total. Vents and raised feet protect against moisture, and at 74 inches tall by 18 inches deep, the unit is sized just right to fit standard 27-gallon totes. Our pick for the Best Bang for the Buck in our tested garage shelving guide, it assembles without tools, making it a no-fuss spot for everyday supplies.

Get the HDX garage shelving unit at The Home Depot.

Named Best Overall in our best label makers guide, this Brother label maker produces durable, water-resistant labels for drawers, shelves, and storage bins. The clear print and 14 font choices ensure labels are easy to read, and there’s enough memory to store up to 30 frequently used labels. It runs on batteries or an AC adapter (sold separately).

What our tester says: “This label maker received top ratings for every attribute we tested. It’s easy to set up and use right out of the box.”—Glenda Taylor, Product Reviews tester and writer

Get the Brother label maker at Amazon, Walmart, or Office Depot.

Organizing garage tools can be as easy as pairing a standard 5-gallon bucket with the Bucket Boss 56-Pocket Organizer, the Most Versatile pick in our best tool box organizers guide. Its 38 exterior and 18 interior pockets keep hand tools and hardware visible, with ten pockets for drill bits, one for a drill holster, and three loops for hammers and pry bars. And since it’s made of durable 600-denier ripstop, it’ll also stand up to years of use.

What our tester says: “I’ve used a bucket to carry my tools for years, but never with an organizer. The Bucket Boss was much more durable than I expected and had more than enough pockets for all my stuff.” —Mark Wolfe, Product Reviews tester and writer

Get the Bucket Boss tool organizer at The Home Depot, Amazon, Lowe’s, Walmart, or Acme Tools.

As the Best Bang for the Buck pick in our best garage storage systems guide, the Imillet Mop and Broom Holder keeps long-handled tools from toppling over without costing a fortune. Spring-loaded clips with rolling rubber balls grip wet mops, rakes, and stick vacuums, holding up to 6.5 pounds each, while five ball slots and six hooks organize about 11 tools per holder. You can mount it with the included screws as one long row or split the pair for different parts of your garage.

What our tester says: “While this was the simplest storage product we tested, it was highly effective since so many tools have pole handles. We loved it in our garage, but it’d also be a winner in a utility closet.”—Glenda Taylor, Product Reviews tester and writer

Get the Imillet mop and broom holder at Amazon or Walmart.

Drawer chaos meets its match with the KeFanta organizer set. Forty-two interlocking trays in three sizes snap together into custom layouts, sorting hardware, small tools, and wire to fit most drawers. Durable plastic resists deformation under up to 100 pounds, and the trays work just as well in kitchen, bathroom, or office drawers. A versatile, low-cost standout, it’s our best bang for the buck in the best tool box organizers guide.

Read our full review: KeFanta 42-Pack Tool Box Organizer

What our tester says: “I finally picked up the KeFanta 42-Pack Tool Box Organizer a few months ago, and I’m glad I did. Now I have a dedicated spot for each tool, along with other hardware and supplies that I use most often.” —Mark Wolfe, Product Reviews tester and writer

Get the KeFanta drawer organizers at Amazon or Walmart.

Husky’s 18-inch Rolling Tool Bag, the Upgrade Pick in our best tool bags guide, rolls up to 100 pounds of gear on two heavy-duty wheels and features a telescoping handle for easy pulling. The roomy main compartment has 18 pockets plus an external tape measure loop, and the whole thing is wrapped in 600-denier water-resistant fabric built for the toughest of job sites.

What our tester says: “This Husky tool bag is really a premium product. The two padded handles were the most comfortable in our test group—even despite the nearly 12-pound unloaded weight of the bag. Also, the telescoping handle worked flawlessly with one hand, and the wheels were smooth and rugged.”—Glenda Taylor, Product Reviews tester and writer 

Get the Husky rolling tool bag at The Home Depot.

Getting a bike off the floor doesn’t have to mean wrestling it overhead. The Steadyrack holds road bikes vertically, with a design that lets you simply balance your bike on its rear wheel and roll it right in. Its durable steel and UV-treated plastic construction carries up to 77 pounds, and a 160-degree SteadyPivot swings the bike flush to the wall when you need to tuck it away. The rack also folds flat when it’s not in use.

Get the Steadyrack bike rack at Amazon, Lowe’s, or Steadyrack.

Scrap boards, pipe, molding, and sports equipment finally get a home with this six-level Bora rack, named Best Overall in our best lumber storage racks guide. Powder-coated 1-inch steel tubing holds 110 pounds per level (a 660-pound total load), and the wall mount takes advantage of vertical space to keep your garage floor clutter free.

Get the Bora lumber storage rack at The Home Depot, Amazon, or Lowe’s.

 

Our Favorite Prime Day Deals Are Live

Check out our favorite products on sale during Prime Day! We found markdowns on power tools, garden accessories, robot vacuums, power stations, and more.

SEE THE DEALS