The Best Shoe Racks

The Best Shoe Racks

A pile of shoes is an unsightly mess. If you are looking for a better way to keep your entryway, closet, or any other area where shoes get tossed neat and tidy, a shoe rack can help. These racks provide a home for your shoes and keep the house from looking as cluttered. And if you get your kids in the habit of always putting their shoes on the shoe rack when they take them off, you won't have nearly as many missing shoes to search for on hectic mornings. If you're ready to add a shoe rack to your home, here are our favorites for your consideration.

Whitmor Wood Household Shelves

Simple and Elegant

This small wooden shoe rack has two wooden shelves and looks awesome in any entryway.
Best Overall

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If you don’t have many shoes to corral, this simple shoe rack is a great option. It holds about six pairs of shoes, three on each of the shelves. It’s elevated off the ground slightly on legs, so you can easily clean underneath it. This shelf is 24.7-inches long by 10.2-inches deep. It stands 11.5-inches high. There are 7-inches between the two shelves. Taller shoes will need to be stored on the top shelf. When this shoe rack arrives, you will need to assemble it. You need to screw the legs into the shelves. There are step-by-step directions to help you complete this process. This shoe rack comes in a natural wood color. You can stain it or paint it to match your decor or leave it as is.

Pros

  • Good price
  • Easy to assemble
  • Elevated so you can clean under it

Cons

  • It’s small and doesn’t hold a lot of shoes

ERONE Shoe Rack Organizer 8 Tiers

8 Tiers of Shelves

You can store up to 20 pairs of shoes on this shoe rack.
Best Vertical Design

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Are you trying to organize your shoes in a small space? This space savings shoe rack tower can help. It’s narrow, so it fits where wider ones will not. It measures 18-inches long, 11.9-inches deep, and 57.7-inches high. There are eight shelves, so this unit can hold between 16-20 pairs of shoes, depending on their size. You can put the kid shoes down low, and adult shoes up high to keep things even more organized. This shoe rack is durable. It’s made from metal tubes. Assembly is simple and doesn’t require any tools. You put the tubes into the fabric and then into the connectors, and build it up. If you want to store taller shoes or boots, you can easily remove one shelf to make room. The tiers are made from a strong waterproof fabric instead of slats, so you don’t have to worry about shoes falling through.

Pros

  • Waterproof fabric tiers
  • Can easily remove a shelf for taller boots
  • Shoes stay put

Cons

  • The directions for assembly aren’t great

Honey-Can-Do SHO-01599 Bamboo 3-Tier Shoe Rack

Stylish Shoe Rack

This bamboo shoe rack will look nice anywhere in your home.
Best Style

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If you need to place your shoe rack out in the open instead of tucking it into a closet, you want one that looks great. This one is a great choice. It’s made from fast-growing bamboo, which is a sustainable building material. There are three tiers. Each level is slatted. Since bamboo is naturally moisture-resistant, the water dripping from wet shoes shouldn’t cause any problems. You can easily wipe it clean. This rack holds up to 12 pairs of adult shoes. This shoe rack is fairly long, measuring in at 30-inches. It is 13-inches deep and 20-inches tall. Between the shelves, there’s a 6 1/4-inch space. Taller shoes will need to go on the top. It’s easy to assemble.

Pros

  • Made from a sustainable material
  • Easy to wipe clean
  • Naturally moisture resistant

Cons

  • There are unfilled holes after assembly, which will bother some people

VASAGLE Industrial Shoe Bench 3-Tier Shoe Rack

Sit Down While You Lace Up

This chic shoe rack features a place to sit while you take your shoes off or put them on.
Best with Bench

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Do you want a shoe rack that’s built to last? This one costs a little more than the others on the list, but it’s made from quality materials. There’s a bench on top so you can put your shoes on while you sit. It’ll hold up to 198 pounds. This shoe rack measures 28.7-inches long by 11.8-inches deep. It stands 17.7-inches high. The shelves are made from steel mesh, and there are steel legs. The top is particle board and is a great color. Assembly won’t be a problem with this shoe rack. The pieces are numbered so you can have confidence that you’re putting it together correctly the first time. Directions for assembly are easy to follow.

Pros

  • Steel construction with an industrial vibe
  • Bench to sit on
  • Parts are numbered for easy assembly

Cons

  • Will need some furniture pads on the metal legs to protect your floor

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I assemble a shoe rack?

Each shoe rack’s assembly process will vary from unit to unit. Always read the directions carefully before you begin. Make sure all of your pieces are accounted for so you don’t have to run to the hardware store for supplies in the middle of the build. If your shoe rack didn’t come with great assembly directions, try to look on YouTube to see if there are instructional videos. As you assemble your shoe rack, make sure you have the right side out. Putting pieces in backward can complicate the assembly process.  Also, putting these racks together typically goes faster if you have some help.

How do I clean a shoe rack?

When you put dirty shoes on a shoe rack, they will need to be cleaned. You can usually wipe down your shoe rack with a damp rag. If your shoe rack has slats or mesh shelves, make sure you pull the unit to the side and sweep under it. Dirt will fall through these types of shelves onto the ground. If your shoe rack has solid shelves, wipe them out occasionally to keep them looking good.

How do you put shoes on a shoe rack?

Once your shoe rack is assembled, it’s ready to use. Typically, you would store your shoes on the shoe rack in pairs. You can find a home for each pair on one of the shelves. If your shoe rack has slats, you will need to balance the shoes carefully. If you have young kids, their small shoes will probably fall through the slats. You might consider sliding their shoes underneath the bottom shelf. Place your high heel shoes carefully as well. They work best on angled shelves.