Standard Shoe Rack Dimensions (with Drawings)
Whether you are a lover of shoes or have just the basics, a shoe rack is a must. Having your shoes organized keeps the closet tidy and makes it easier to choose the perfect shoe for your outfit. Use this as a guide to select the shoe rack best for your closet.
Standard shoe racks come in a variety of styles and types. They are designed to fit 18-inch, 24-inch, and 30-inch wide spaces and have a general depth of 13 inches.
What’s the Average Size of a Shoe Rack?
There is no average size when it comes to shoe racks, as there are so many types and styles. A general rule of thumb is that a 13-inch depth will work for most shoes. Most shoe racks will typically fit in 18-inch, 24-inch, and 30-inch spaces.
What’s the Average Size of Common Shoes?
The average shoe size worldwide for men is between a size 9 and size 12. For women, the average shoe size is between a size 7 and size 9. In the United States, the average shoe size is 10.5 for men and 8.5 for women.
Men’s shoes are relatively simple to determine the dimensions. The heel-to-toe measurement for a typical size 10.5 men’s tennis shoe is 10.9 inches.
Women’s heels, however, come in three different heel heights. Any heel over 3.5 inches is considered a high heel. Mid heels are 2.5 to 3.3 inches, and a low heel is 1 to 2 inches in height.
You will want to choose your shoe storage based on the size and types of shoes you have.
How to Choose the Right Shoe Rack
When choosing the right shoe rack, keep in mind size considerations. Whenever you buy any additional piece of furniture, you should have room in your space to accommodate it. Before you purchase your shoe rack, take proper measurements.
To measure for the right shoe rack, follow the steps below.
Step 1: Determine Where to Place the Shoe Rack
Try to decide beforehand where you’re going to place the shoe rack. Typically, people place shoe racks along the wall in their closet or bedroom. Consider whether you want your shoes to remain hidden, or you plan to keep them out in the open.
Step 2: Measure the Wall
Measure the wall or space where your shoe rack will sit, including the width and height. Also, pay attention to anything near the wall that might affect the depth of the shoe rack you choose. Once you have the measurements, you can choose the best size of shoe rack for the space.
Step 3: Consider Your Shoes
There are several types of shoe racks, so you’ll want to choose the one that is best for your needs. Not all shoes are the same, but as a rule of thumb, give each pair around 12 inches of space. You also need to consider the types of shoes, since various shoes have different heights.
For example, do you have a lot of tall boots, or are your shoes mostly sneakers and sandals? If you have high heels, think about how tall they are, etc. Once you have all of this information, you’ll be able to better determine the shoe rack you need.
How To Build A DIY Pallet Shoe Rack
Types of Shoe Racks
Whether you have a large walk-in closet or a small reach-in, shoe racks are imperative to maintain organization in your space. There are several different types of shoe racks to choose from.
Cube Shoe Rack
Cube shoe racks are racks designed with individual cubes to hold each pair of shoes. These racks are great for those who want to avoid shoes getting lost or becoming separated on the rack.
A cube shoe rack has a width of 32.28 inches, depth of 13.39 inches, and height of 27.76 inches. Each cube is 11.81 inches wide, 7.87 inches deep, and 4.72 inches high. The cubes can hold high heels, sneakers, slippers, or loafers.
An added benefit for some is that cube racks come with a limited number of cubes. Because of that, you’ll have to limit your shoe purchases. But if you love to purchase shoes, this may not be the shoe rack for you.
Hanging Shoe Rack
There are two styles of hanging racks. The shoe rack itself could be hanging, or the shoes can hang on the rack at a 45-degree angle. Depending on the hanging rack you prefer, they can save a lot of space in your closet.
Hanging shoe racks with mesh pockets allows shoes to breathe and don’t take up much space. In a pocket shoe rack, you can usually store 10 pairs of large shoes or 20 pairs of smaller shoes.
Typical measurements for a hanging shoe rack are a width of 20 inches, height of 64.3 inches. The pockets are 10 inches tall and 4.5 inches wide.
Three Tier Shoe Rack
A three-tier shoe rack is common in most homes. They are great for individuals or families as there is ample space. They’re also an efficient choice as you can have multiple racks to separate many types of shoes.
Most three-tier racks can store up to 12 pairs of shoes for men, women, or children. You can store up to 9 pairs of shoes on the shelves and three pairs of sandals or flats below. Some racks even extend in length to fit 18-inch, 24-inch, and 30-inch spaces.
A three-tier shoe rack is typically 27 inches in length, 12.75 inches in width, and 18.75 in height.
Folding Shoe Rack
If you don’t have many pairs of shoes, a folding shoe rack may be best for you. Folding shoe racks have hinges in the joints that let you fold the rack flat or into itself. This can make it easy to transport your shoe rack from room to room or the car.
Most folding shoe racks have two to five tiers and fold into an X -shaped design. Typical folding racks have a width of 11 inches and a length of 27.5 inches. Each level is about 8 inches high, but you can place boots on the upper tier.
Metal Mesh Shoe Rack
A metal mesh shoe rack is another good option to hold and organize your shoes. Metal racks also tend to be more durable than wooden ones. There is not much functional difference from a wooden rack but rather a distinct aesthetic difference.
A metal mesh shoe rack usually has two shelves and space below for flats or sandals. The shelves are expandable, and the sides are asymmetrical, wider at the bottom than the top. These racks are typically 14 inches high, 26.7 inches wide, and 11 inches deep.
Boot Storage Shoe Rack
Trying to store boots can be very difficult, especially if you have limited space. If they’re tall, folding the boots can cause creases in the material. Even if they’re short, they are still an awkward height for typical storage.
The solution to this is a boot storage shoe rack. These racks have a taller space between the shelves, so they don’t interfere with the boots. There are also racks with bamboo rods designed so that they don’t take up as much space.
These two-tiered racks can easily store multiple styles of boots while preventing and creasing or cracking in the material. Typical sizes are 21 ¾ inches in length and 9 inches in width. The first tier is 14 inches high, and the second tier is 18 inches high.
Other Shoe Storage Solutions
If typical shoe racks aren’t your style, try alternate storage solutions. There are storage cabinets, under-the-bed organizers, shoe shelves, and clear shoe boxes.
Shoe Storage Cabinet
If you don’t want your shoes out for anyone to see, and you have space, try a shoe storage cabinet. The Mackapar Shoe Cabinet lets you store your shoes behind sliding doors. The shoe cabinet is also stackable, so you can get double the storage space.
These cabinets can fit about 14 pairs of shoes. Each Mackapar Shoe Cabinet is 40 ⅛ inches tall by 31 ½ inches wide and 13 ¾ inches deep. Depending on how you prefer to store your shoes, three inner shelves can be mounted flat or at an angle.
Under the Bed Shoe Storage Organizer
If you don’t have room in your closet for a shoe rack, an under-the-bed organizer may be for you. The Woffit Under-the-Bed Shoe Organizer comes with two fabric bins that easily slide under the bed frame. This shoe organizer can fit 16 pairs of shoes and four pairs of boots.
Each organizer is 38 inches long, 24 inches wide, and 6 inches tall. Each container had clear vinyl covers, so you can easily see what’s inside each organizer.
Shoe Shelves
Standard shoe shelves are designed to fit 18-inch, 24-inch, and 30-inch wide spaces. You can upgrade these shoe shelves with pull-out racks that easily keep the shoes organized and accessible but hidden. A big benefit of these pull-out shoe shelves is that you can build them to fit most dimensions.
Clear Shoe Storage Boxes
Clear shoe boxes are a shoe storage solution that’s easy to fit inside your existing closet if you have space. These polypropylene boxes are roughly 13 inches long by 7 ½ inches wide by 4 ¼ inches tall. They fit most flat shoes, and the transparent material makes it easy to locate the pair you’re looking for.
While the shoe boxes look simple, they’re also a practical storage solution. The boxes can stack on top of each other so that you can put them on the floor or a shelf. There are also tall options for heels with the same length and width, but by 8 ¼ inches tall.
Related Questions
How should I store my shoes placed at the front door?
If you prefer to leave your shoes at the door, invest in a discrete piece of furniture to store your shoes. A storage bench or trunk are good options that can keep your shoes and double as an accent piece. In addition to storing your shoes, it can also double as a place for you to put on your shoes. If you want to be able to open it often, keep the top empty. Otherwise, decorate it as you would any other table or chest in your home!
The best way to clean your shoes is to first use a dry, soft-bristled brush removing dirt from the outside. Start from the outsole, working your way to the midsole and upper show.
Next, make a mild cleaning solution using warm water and a small amount of laundry detergent. Finally, wash the laces and soles, blot the shoes dry, and air dry.
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Stacy Randall is a wife, mother, and freelance writer from NOLA that has always had a love for DIY projects, home organization, and making spaces beautiful. Together with her husband, she has been spending the last several years lovingly renovating her grandparent's former home, making it their own and learning a lot about life along the way.
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