Shovels and rakes stored upright in shed

Garden Tool Storage Ideas That Keep Shovels and Rakes Organized

The best garden tool storage gets long-handled tools off the floor, keeps everything dry, and puts what you use most within arm’s reach. A wall rack for shovels and rakes, a bucket or tote for hand tools, and a lockable cabinet or shed for everything else will cover most yards. Below are the ideas that work, what they cost you in time and space, and how to prep tools so they last.

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TL;DR

  • Hang long-handled tools on wall-mounted racks or hooks anchored to studs. Floors collect moisture, rust and clutter.
  • Clean, dry and oil tools before you store them. Storage can’t fix a muddy, damp shovel.
  • Match the container to the contents: buckets and totes for hand tools, shelves for heavy soil, a cabinet or shed for the rest.
  • Keep batteries and chargers indoors, away from freezing temperatures, even if the tool lives in the garage.
  • Reusing buckets, crates and old golf bags is a legitimate low-cost start.

Table of Contents

Prep your tools first

Storage ideas fail when tools go in dirty. University of Vermont Extension recommends cleaning, inspecting and repairing tools before winter so they are ready in spring, instead of turning storage into a spring repair backlog. The routine is short:

  1. Scrape off soil and sap, then wash and dry completely.
  2. Treat rust. The same extension guidance describes a 1:1 vinegar and water soak for 24 hours, then drying, steel wool and oil. Wear eye protection if you remove rust mechanically. Our own guide covers budget ways to remove rust from tools.
  3. Sharpen blades where appropriate, tighten screws and bolts, and oil metal parts.
  4. Drain hoses and coil them on a rack or a flat surface.

Wood handles deserve extra care. Landscaper Teddy Rutberg notes in The Seattle Times that moisture makes wood swell and contract, which can lead to cracks, splinters and breakage. Store clean, dry wood-handled tools under cover.

Storage ideas for shovels, rakes and other long tools

Long-handled tools take the most room and fall over the most. Get them vertical and off the ground.

Wall-mounted racks and hooks

A rack that screws into wall studs is the simplest fix. Bob Vila points to stud-mounted racking for rakes, shovels and brooms that keeps them organized and off the floor. Hang the heaviest tools lowest, and leave a few inches between heads so you can lift one without pulling the rest.

Wall-mounted racks and hooks — overview diagram

A shaker-style peg rail

A wooden rail with extra pegs works for hats, gloves, hand pruners and coiled hose as well as rakes. Martha Stewart describes adding extra dowels to a classic Shaker rail for exactly this kind of use. It looks tidy in a garage and costs little.

PVC and pallet racks

If you like to build, Family Handyman shows PVC and tubing systems, and also suggests a pallet rack for shovels and rakes. Secure any pallet or crate assembly to wall studs so it can’t tip.

Pegboard

Pegboard suits hand tools, shears and spray bottles, and you can rearrange it as your tool collection changes. See why pegboards suit garage walls for layout tips.

Storage ideas for hand tools, gloves and small supplies

Trowels, twine, seed packets and gloves vanish in a big pile. Contain them.

  • Five-gallon bucket. Portable, cheap and easy to carry to the bed. Family Handyman lists buckets among its reuse ideas, along with old golf bags for long tools, bike baskets, crates and labeled boxes.
  • Latching tote. This Old House suggests a small labeled bin or tote for gloves, twine, seed packets and hand tools, and a weather-resistant latching tote for outdoor storage.
  • Clear or labeled bins. They make retrieval faster, and the same advice puts heavy items such as soil on lower shelves and lighter seasonal items higher.
  • A four-shelf rack. Bottom shelf for soil and seed, then pots, then shallow bins for small tools.

A bucket with a lid is also a decent option for a hose coil and tools if you want it closed.

Garage, shed or cabinet: choosing where it all lives

Option Best for Watch out for
Garage wall racks Long tools, hoses, ladders Needs studs; keep chemicals out of reach of kids
Shed Mowers, wheelbarrows, bulk supplies Needs a level, dry base and ventilation
Outdoor cabinet Hand tools, gloves, fertilizer Size; choose weather-resistant materials
Rolling tool chest Hand tools, pruners, fasteners Floor space for rolling

If you’re buying or placing a shed, Consumer Reports advises a level foundation such as a gravel pad, blocks or a slab, because a shed set directly on grass or dirt can shift and develop moisture problems. Home Depot guidance referenced there also favors ventilation, a floor and a lock. Zoning and permit rules vary, so check with your local building authority before you build or place one.

Measure before you buy. List your biggest items, such as the wheelbarrow, mower and spreader, work out the square footage they need, and use walls for the rest so the floor stays clear.

Outdoor Garden Storage Cabinet | Weather-Resistant PE Rattan and Steel | Acacia Wood Knobs

Keep batteries and gas equipment separate

Store cordless tools in a cool, dry garage or shed, but bring batteries and chargers inside, together, away from freezing temperatures, as the University of Vermont advises. Rutberg also recommends keeping batteries and gas-powered equipment in protected indoor spaces. It takes a minute and saves a dead-battery surprise in April.

Our perspective

After years of selling home, yard and garage products, we see the same pattern: people buy more storage than they need because the tools are on the floor and everything feels chaotic. We’d start by hanging the long tools, adding one bin for hand tools, and only then deciding whether you need a cabinet. Reusing a bucket or crate is fine. When you do buy, pick weather-resistant materials, a lock if kids or theft are a concern, and a footprint that fits the wall you actually have. Good storage should cost less than the tools it protects.

— Thane Holland

Storage that’s ready to ship

If you’d rather not build, PriceLows™ carries garage and yard storage with free shipping on most orders and 100% Shipping Protection. The Outdoor Garden Storage Cabinet uses weather-resistant PE rattan over steel with acacia wood knobs, a good fit for a patio or deck. For the garage, the Rolling Garage Tool Cabinet is a lockable steel chest with a powder-coated, rust-resistant finish, and the 8-drawer Rolling Tool Chest has a detachable organizer with hooks. You can browse everything at PriceLows™.

Rolling Tool Chest | 8 Drawers | Detachable Organizer With Hooks | For Garage Use

More ways to stretch your space

FAQ

What is the best way to store garden tools?

Hang long-handled tools on a stud-mounted rack or hooks, keep hand tools in a labeled bucket or tote, and clean and dry everything first. Off the floor and out of the rain are the two rules that matter most.

How do I store shovels and rakes in a garage?

Use a wall rack, peg rail or pegboard anchored to studs, with the heaviest tools lowest. An old golf bag or a pallet rack works if you want a cheaper option, as long as it is secured so it can’t tip.

What is the best storage box for garden tools?

It depends on the contents. A small labeled tote suits gloves, twine and hand tools, a weather-resistant latching tote suits outdoor use, and shelves or a rack suit heavy soil and long tools.

What are some inexpensive ways to store tools?

Reuse five-gallon buckets, crates, boxes and old golf bags, or build a simple rack from pallet wood or PVC. Label containers so you can find things quickly.

Sources

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