The 9 Best Shoe Racks of 2023, Tested and Reviewed

The Open Spaces Entryway Rack is the winner

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No matter how many pairs you own, figuring out where to put your shoes can be tricky. You want them to be tidy and out of the way but also accessible when you need them. For lots of folks, a shoe rack is the perfect solution — but what kind?

Professional organizer Laura Bostrom of Everyday Order suggests figuring out where you'll place the rack first, whether on the floor, against a wall, or hung from a door. "The second thing is to know how many shoes you need to store," she explains.

To help you narrow down your options, we tried 30 models first-hand. Several stood out for setup, stability, capacity, and aesthetics, but the Open Spaces Entryway Rack was an all-around winner.

These are the best shoe racks that PEOPLE tested.

Saks Fifth Avenue

Easy setup with included tools

Steel construction is very sturdy

Fits more shoes than what the product listing says, even with boots and men's shoes

Only one size option offered

The Open Spaces Entryway Rack earned nearly perfect scores in all our tests. Like most shoe storage units, it calls for at-home assembly — but it does comes with all the necessary tools, and we put it together in about 20 minutes. While the online listing says it can accommodate up to nine pairs of shoes, we fit 12 on the three shelves, including multiple pairs of boots and large men's shoes.

This steel rack is super sturdy — none of the shoes fell off when we hit it with a vacuum. The powder-coated finish comes in your choice of several tasteful hues and is a breeze to wipe clean. We also found it easy to move around, thanks to the upper handle.

Though it's billed as an entryway storage solution, this shoe rack would also work well in a closet, garage, or mudroom. And if you don't fill the top shelf with shoes, you can use it to stash your wallet, keys, a catch-all tray, you name it. It's not the most affordable option we tried, but in the end, we think it's perfectly priced.

Price at time of publish: $184

Dimensions: 34 x 12.5 x 26 inches | Capacity: 12 pairs | Material: Steel

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Wayfair

Quick and easy setup, taking our tester less than eight minutes

Excellent stability

Finished wood is easy to clean

Shelves aren't adjustable, making boots a tighter squeeze

On a budget? Check out this solid wood shoe rack from Rebrilliant. Our testers assembled it in under eight minutes, noting that all the parts fit together without a fuss. While the slatted shelves aren't adjustable, the two-tier design is definitely well-made with excellent stability. (It didn't wobble or shake when we hit it with a vacuum.) The finished wood is also easy to wipe clean with a damp paper towel.

We fit eight pairs of shoes on this rack without stacking them on top of each other, though boots will be a tighter squeeze. And if you use the space on the floor underneath the bottom shelf, you could theoretically fit up to 12 pairs. While the price comes in at $42, this product is often on sale for less at Wayfair.

Price at time of publish: $41.99

Dimensions: 27.5 x 10 x 16 inches | Capacity: 8 pairs | Material: Solid wood

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west elm

Straightforward setup process

Sturdy solid wood design

Easy to clean

Assembly took our tester around 30 minutes

Only holds 7 pairs of shoes

If you have a larger budget for shoe storage, you won't regret investing in West Elm's Mid-Century Rack. Unlike many other furniture items from the brand, this one calls for at-home assembly. It took us about a half-hour to set up but was a pretty straightforward process. We could fit seven pairs of shoes within the cubby and on the top shelf. Nothing fell off when we jostled the unit, and wiping it clean was no problem.

Aesthetics may not be a top priority for this type of product, but we were big fans of the elegant solid wood design. "I'd be okay with it being out in the open in my entryway," said one tester. And while it doesn't hold as many shoes as other racks, it serves its purpose. If you can swing the price, you'll definitely get your money's worth.

Price at time of publish: $220

Dimensions: 27 x 13 x 16 inches | Capacity: 7 pairs | Material: Solid wood

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Amazon

Easy to wipe clean

Steel frame is very stable

Holds up to 15 pairs of shoes

Contains 30 parts for assembly

Need something bigger? We recommend the Vasagle 5-Tier Shoe Rack. Though it has 30 parts, not including screws, we assembled it in under 15 minutes. This storage unit has a steel frame, a particleboard upper shelf, and polyester canvas slings for the bottom four tiers.

The slings are taut, which makes them surprisingly stable, and the entire unit is easy to wipe clean, including the canvas. Our testers fit a total of 15 pairs of shoes on this rack, and when we hit it with a vacuum, nothing moved. All things considered, we think the price is more than reasonable.

Price at time of publish: $39.99

Dimensions: 29.5 x 12 x 36 inches | Capacity: 15 pairs | Material: Particleboard, steel, polyester canvas

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Urban Outfitters

Design-forward construction

Smooth finish is easy to clean

Pretty lightweight

Assembly required, taking our testers around 20 minutes

Slightly wobbly

Looking for something to put in your entryway? The Billie Shoe Rack from Urban Outfitters might be your best bet. With lacquered MDF (medium-density fiberboard) shelves and a contrasting curved steel frame, it'll look nice on display next to your front door or in a mudroom. The smooth finish is easy to wipe clean, too.

This unit took us 20 minutes to assemble. Despite the compact design, it fits nine pairs of shoes — likely more if you're stashing mostly women's or kids' styles. Since it's relatively lightweight, it's a little wobbly. However, hitting it with a vacuum didn't damage it or knock off any shoes. The price is above average for a shoe rack, but we think it's a decent value.

Price at time of publish: $139

Dimensions: 25.5 x 13.5 x 16 inches | Capacity: 9 pairs | Material: MDF, steel

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Target

Sleek, smooth metal construction that is easy to clean

Locking caster wheels for stability

Decent capacity, holding 12 pairs of shoes

Assembly required, taking our testers around 20 minutes

This storage rack was also a hit with our testers. They assembled it in under 20 minutes, which is impressive considering it has three large shelves and four casters. It's very sturdy, but since it has wheels, you can expect it to move when you bump into it. (The wheels lock, though, so it won't roll away.)

This rack comfortably fits 12 pairs of shoes. Sneakerheads and high-end shoe collectors may want to stop there, but you might be able to squeeze in a couple more, depending on the size. "The smooth metal is a dream to clean," said one tester. "Dry dirt slides off, and mud wipes away with a paper towel." This makes it ideal for a garage or mudroom. Considering the sleek design, portability, and overall quality, the price is right on point too.

Price at time of publish: $70

Dimensions: 32 x 14 x 24 inches | Capacity: 12 pairs | Material: Plastic, steel

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Amazon

Easy assembly and installation with hooks that hang across top of the door

Sturdy construction

Generous capacity, holding about 21 pairs of shoes

Racks aren't adjustable

Not big enough for most boots

Wall-mounted and over-the-door storage solutions are ideal for small spaces, as they don't take up any room on the floor. This one took us less than eight minutes to assemble and has two hooks that go over a door, so it's a breeze to install. The metal and plastic design is not only sturdy but very easy to clean.

More to the point, it holds a whopping 21 pairs of shoes, but you might be able to fit a few more if you're storing only women's or kids' styles. We should note the bars aren't adjustable, and boots taller than ankle height probably won't work. Still, it's a great choice for a bedroom or coat closet. And for just over $50, we think it's a pretty good deal.

Price at time of publish: $55.69

Dimensions: 22.5 x 7.5 x 49 inches | Capacity: 21 pairs | Material: Metal, plastic

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Amazon

Cushioned seat that supports up to 330 pounds of weight

Varying cubby sizes for different types of shoes

Three color options available

Complex assembly since some holes don't come pre-drilled

Does not include anti-tip kit, which prevents furniture from falling over

For some households, the best shoe storage might be a bench. We like this one from Vasagle, which comes in three colors and features a cushioned seat on top. Assembly was somewhat complex. Since some of the holes aren't pre-drilled, it took our testers nearly 50 minutes. But once they got it set up, they were thrilled with the design.

This unit has 10 cubbies for storing shoes, including larger compartments that easily fit boots. While it doesn't come with an anti-tip kit, it feels pretty stable and supports up to 330 pounds of weight. All components are easy to clean as well. "The bench on top adds a nice touch to what would normally be a run-of-the-mill shoe rack," said one tester. "I'd be happy having this in my entryway!"

Price at time of publish: $97.99

Dimensions: 41 x 12 x 18 inches | Capacity: 10 | Material: Particleboard, foam, cotton-linen fabric

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The Container Store

Reasonably priced

Comes fully assembled

Solid wood construction

Only fits four pairs of shoes, but there is a six-pair option

Boots can be tricky to store due to the height, but The Container Store's Natural Boot Rack is a great solution. It comes fully assembled, which makes things easy. The long pegs are perfect for tall boots, but they can also hold shorter styles like hiking boots and heeled booties.

Boasting solid wood construction, this unit is nice and sturdy. The rack itself is easy to clean, but if there's any dirt on your boots, it'll fall to the floor. We think it's fairly priced, and while it only fits four pairs, there's also a six-pair option.

Price at time of publish: $39.99

Dimensions: 37.5 x 9.5 x 19 inches | Capacity: 4 pairs | Material: Solid wood

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When buying a shoe rack, the first thing to consider is where you'll put it. This might be where you have available space, such as in your garage, or a spot that's most convenient, like your entryway or bedroom closet. The details of the shoe rack will differ depending on its intended space and use. For example, choose something more design-forward like the Urban Outfitters Billie Shoe Rack if you need one for your entryway. Or if you need a place to sit at while putting on your shoes in a high-traffic area, perhaps consider a bench shoe rack like the Vasagle Shoe Bench.

There are various types of shoe racks available. They range from traditional shelving units and cubbies to over-the-door systems and storage benches. You'll also find options designed specifically for different shoe categories. For instance, there are racks with long pegs for stashing tall boots, like The Container Store 4-Pair Boot Rack — and individual boxes for storing dress shoes and valuable sneakers.

Storage units also vary in terms of capacity. Bostrom recommends counting how many pairs of shoes you own and considering whether you plan to add to your collection. "This will ultimately tell you how many shoe racks or boxes you'll need to purchase," she says. In our tests, the Whitmore Over The Door Shoe Rack was able to fit the most shoes (21 pairs, to be exact).

Shoe racks come at a wide range of price points, so think about your budget before shopping around. Bear in mind an expensive unit might be sturdier or more stylish, but it won't necessarily hold more pairs of shoes. On the other hand, you can find affordable large-capacity racks if you don't mind a more basic design, such as the Vasagle Shoe Rack 5-Tier.

After testing 30 different shoe racks, the Open Spaces Entryway Rack came out on top with an average 4.8/5 rating. Our testers appreciated its ease of assembly and how easy it was to wipe clean. We also observed it even holds more pairs of shoes than the brand advertised, including men's shoes and boots. While pricier than some on the list, its sturdiness and high quality construction make it worth it. It also comes in six colors.

The best place to put a shoe rack is often where you take off your shoes when you get home, such as by the front door, in your mudroom, or in your garage. Alternatively, you can put it where you get dressed in the morning, likely in your bedroom or closet. In any case, the idea is to avoid taking off your shoes without putting them away. "It sounds so simple, but once you have a system for your shoes, the only way to keep it organized is to put items back where they belong," says Bostrom.

The garage can be a great place to store shoes, especially if it's most often where you enter and exit your home. They'll be out of the way but also accessible when you need them. Having said that, you may want to put more expensive pairs in a climate-controlled space, as humidity and high heat could damage the materials.

To keep your shoes from getting moldy, you'll want to minimize excess moisture. If they're sweaty or wet from stepping in a puddle, allow them to air dry in a ventilated place or use a blow dryer on the cool-shot setting.

Also, storing shoes in plastic bins and other air-tight containers isn't recommended, as it can trap moisture. Silica gel packets can help absorb moisture. You can use the ones that come with new pairs or buy them online.

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We selected 30 highly rated, best-selling shoe storage solutions to try first-hand. Our testers assembled each unit according to the instructions, timing how long it took. Next, they placed multiple pairs of shoes on the racks to see if the listed capacity was more or less than what actually fit.

We also hit them with a vacuum cleaner to see if they wobbled, then smeared dirt and mud on them to see how easily it came off. Each model was scored for setup, design, stability, capacity, ease of cleaning, and value, and those with the highest overall ratings are featured in this roundup.

Based on our testers' experiences, freelance lifestyles writer Theresa Holland compared several popular shoe racks based on features like price, size, material, capacity, ease of assembly and installation, and durability. For additional expert advice on choosing the best shoe racks, we spoke to Laura Bostrom, professional organizer of Everyday Order.

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