Slatwall shelves are among the most versatile storage and display systems to keep your garage organized. It can hold all sorts of odds and pieces, from your garage supplies, footwear, sporting goods, car parts, power tools, and almost everything else you can think of.
When it comes to Slatwall panels, you have plenty of options: acrylic, wire or perforated metal, wood, glass, and solid metal panels. Each of them has a different weight capacity, durability, and style.
Types of Shelves for Slatwall
Slatwall shelves for the garage is primarily distinguished based on the material it’s made from. They can either be inserted right into the Slatwall system or installed using Slatwall accessories like shelving brackets.
1. Slatwall Acrylic Shelves
Best for:
- Small and light items
There are various shelving panels for Slatwall systems, but perhaps the most common are Slatwall acrylic shelves.
Acrylic shelves are a great way to add simple display space to your garage walls. They come easily attached to the Slatwall panels, no accessories or additional hardware necessary. When it comes to style, you have plenty of color options for acrylic shelves. But clear acrylic shelves work best for a classy display system for collectible items, where you want the items to be the center of attention.
They also come in varying thicknesses to serve different weight capacities. But Slatwall acrylic shelves are primarily best suited for smaller and lighter items. They can accommodate magazines, books, mobile phones, and other small stuff you have in your garage.
The only downside of acrylic shelves for Slatwall is that it’s easy to get the surface scratched.
Editor’s Picks:
- Dazzling Displays Acrylic Slatwall Shelves – This pack of 3 4×10 inches Slatwall shelves can hold items like books, magazines, phones, water bottles, and more. The panels are lightweight but sturdy, a good option for its price.
- Premier Display Clear Slatwall Shelves – If you need a cheaper Slatwall storage option, this pack gives you ten acrylic Slatwall shelves made of styrene material. It locks in tight on standard Slatwalls, so there’s no risk of things toppling over.
2. Metal Slatwall Shelves
Best for:
- Heavy loads and heavy-duty equipment
Metal Slatwall shelves are the best options for heavier items, ideal for all things the acrylic shelf can’t hold without breaking.
Metal shelves, often made of steel, come in various sizes to fit your garage storage needs. This type of shelving material offers plenty of advantages for use in a workshop garage. Metal panels are easy to clean and sturdy enough to handle the extreme garage environment.
Metal is non-porous, so there’s no worry in case of paint and chemical spills. They also come in a protective finish, often in sturdy black paint or powder coating. These finishes make metal shelves more rugged and resistant to damage and rust.
You can either mount metal shelved right into the Slatwall panels or on top of fixtures, depending on its design. It might cost more, but metal Slatwall shelves are durable and will last for a long time.
Editor’s Picks:
- My Gift Black Metal Display Shelf – This set of two metal shelves will complement well with any interior. It doesn’t mount directly to the Slatwall, but you can attach it to a Slatwall black plate with a screw.
- Ihomepark Metal Ledge Shelves – If you want to hang photos in your garage wall, this pack of three metal ledges will easily screw into a Slatwall backplate.
3. Slatwall Wire Shelves
Best for:
- Medium-heavy and bigger items
Slatwall wire shelves have most of what a metal Slatwall shelf offers, except for the extra weight. If you want a versatile shelf panel for your garage Slatwall system to hold medium-heavy items, wire shelves are a great choice.
They offer almost the same strength as solid metal shelves but without their weight. Wire shelves are often made of chrome mesh or steel. They come in different styles: flat or sloping Slatwall wire shelves.
This type of Slatwall shelving is best suited for storing books, magazines, bins, and boxes. They also work well for tools and cans, as long as they are larger than the mesh gaps.
Editor’s Picks:
- Proslat Ventilated Metal Shelf – This 2-pack 12×24 inches metal shelf is exclusive for Pro salt Slatwall panels. It’s a heavy-duty steel shelf, ideal for storing paint cans, booths, and boxes.
- Proslat Organizer Value Pack – Do you need extra Slatwall storage space? This value pack includes three steel wire shelves with powder coating for maximum resistance. There are also two wire racks included in the bundle.
4. Slatwall Glass Shelves
Best for:
- Delicate items and collectibles
Glass shelves aren’t often the first choice for garage Slatwall storage systems, but it has its appeals. Perhaps, its most advantageous feature is its versatility. Slatwall glass shelves are subtle and will fit into any interior or design scheme of the garage.
Glass also maximizes visibility, so it’s an excellent choice for storing your showpieces in the garage. It’s also easy to clean, low maintenance, and typically impervious to stains. A spritz of glass cleaning and a wipe using a soft towel or sponge is often enough to make the surface new again. Glass shelves will look brand-new through the years with only periodic cleaning and dusting.
The only downside of using Slatwall glass shelves is they are fragile. But its delicate nature also encourages careful handling to prevent accidental damages. Hence, it’s a good shelving option for more delicate items.
But when using glass shelves on Slatwalls, you might want to consider mounting them far beyond the kids’ reach.
Editor’s Picks:
- Knape & Vogt Shelf-Made Glass Shelf – With a pair of 6-inch Slatwall brackets, you can mount this glass shelf on your Slatwall system with ease. It’s made of tempered glass for a sleek Slatwall display system.
- GeekDigg Tempered Glass Shelf – This pack of two clear glass shelves is perfect for an extra display area in your garage wall. You can simply exchange the aluminum bracket with an appropriate Slatwall bracket first.
5. Slatwall Wood Shelves
Best for:
- Light to heavy items, depending on wood material
Perhaps, the best appeal of using Slatwall wood shelves is their style and elegance. They are classic, beautiful, and adds a particular element to the garage wall storage system. Not to mention, wooden shelves are sustainable.
But weight capacity and durability vary broadly, depending on the type of wood. For instance, softwood shelves like pine are only best suited for light-duty storage. The same goes for pressed wood panels like chipboard and plywood. These types are often cheaper but will easily break, buckle, or warp under heavier loads.
If budget isn’t an issue, Slatwall shelves made of hardwood like maple and oak are best. They are durable and robust to handle heavier and bulkier items without getting damaged.
But while Slatwall wood shelves are easy to put up on the Slatwall system, you’re going to need appropriate Slatwall brackets to mount it. You might also want to consider getting bracket bumpers to serve as a cushion and protect the wood panels.
Editor’s Picks:
- Amanda Wood Floating Shelves – This set of two wood display ledges is a stylish solution for displaying all sorts of items in your Slatwall system. You only need to mount it on at least a 9.3-inch Slatwall bracket.
- Spiterto Reclaimed Wood Shelves – These floating shelves will fit right in a Slatwall system with a heavy-duty bracket. Its crafty, rustic wood will add a country-like character to the garage walls. Meanwhile, the metal rail is perfect for holding paint cans, bottles, and jars.
How to Hang Shelves on Slatwall?
Many shelving units for Slatwall already come with tabs on the back portion. This design allows you to insert or mount the shelf directly into the Slatwall panels; no accessories or additional hardware are needed. You can see this type in most acrylic, wire, and metal Slatwall shelves.
However, you often need to mount Slatwall accessories for wood and glass shelves to hold the ledge in place.
So, what can you use?
- Slatwall shelf brackets
- Slatwall hang rails
- Slatwall backplate
- Flatlock Slatwall mount
FAQs:
How much weight do Slatwall shelves hold?
Slatwall shelves come in different types of materials. Hence, they differ in how much weight they can carry. There’s no simple way to determine how much exactly a Slatwall shelf can hold, as you don’t often see that in their descriptions.
But as the rule of thumb, if you want a Slatwall shelf that can carry bulkier and heavier items, go for wire and metal Slatwall shelves. Hardwood shelves also work well for carrying heavier loads without warping or getting damaged.
Glass, acrylic, and softwood Slatwall shelves, on the other hand, are only best for storing delicate, light items. Otherwise, they can buckle or break.
How much will acrylic shelves for Slatwall hold?
It depends on how flimsy or thick the acrylic shelf is. But typically, acrylic Slatwall ledges are only good for holding a couple of books, clothing, a pair of shoes, and a few cans of spray paint. Anything more than a couple of pounds can damage or break the shelf.
