12 DIY Lumber Storage Racks

Finding a neat and organized way to store your lumber can be a challenge. Here are several options to help you build the perfect lumber storage rack for your space. 

If you have worked with wood for even a short amount of time then you can relate to the ever growing wood pile that builds with each completed project. Having a lumber storage solution will help to keep the area clean, organized, safe and frustration free. 

Just as it is essential to having a space to work on projects having an area to store lumber is also essential when it comes to completing your workshop space. 

Lumber storage racks come in many different shapes, sizes and costs to fit many different storage needs and budgets. You can find FREE options, upcycle/recycle an item or build one from scratch. 

This post will show you several lumber storage options for solving your wood pile problems but before getting started there are three things to consider. 

3 Things to Consider when Deciding on the Best Lumber Storage Build:

• Size of available space 
• Cost/your budget
• Function/purpose

Size of Space for Storage

When it comes to the size of your lumber storage rack measure the exact dimensions for your allowable space. The amount of space you have will determine the size of your storage unit despite your dreams for a bigger build. 

Consider several options in your research: where is there available space in a garage or workshop, can it be mounted to the wall or ceiling, have it fixed in one space or do you want wheels for easy movement. Consider the direction of the boards do they need to be stored vertical or horizontal. Consider a multifunctional build one that can be used to not only store wood, but to store other items or double as a workbench to complete projects. Due to the beauty of DIY you can make it to fit your space and your preferences. 

Funds Available for Building a Storage Unit

Most often as the size of your storage unit increases so does the cost. However if you are trying to keep costs low don’t let that deter you from your dreams of a storage unit. Get creative and think outside the box. Utilize FREE items from sites such as Craig’s List, Offer Up, Facebook Marketplace and Next Door. Upcycle/recycle an item like a metal rack or pallets (you will see below) and make it into a storage unit appropriate for wood. 

Purpose/Function of the Storage Unit

Think about how much, the type and the size of lumber you plan to store.  Do you tend to use lots of plywood or more boards, or both? Different types of wood will require different ways to store them. 

12 DIY Lumber Storage Racks

Lets start up and work our way down. Since storing wood can take up a lot of space there is some precious real estate that can be utilized on the ceiling. Here are two great lumber storage racks that utilize the ceiling instead of taking up any valuable floor or wall space. 

Ceiling Mounted Lumber Rack

Use this Ceiling Mounted Lumber Rack from Fine Woodworking to store long boards overhead. The design of the system allows the vertical components to be easily removed from the ceiling when not in use. Overhead Lumber Rack

The design of this Overhead Lumber Rack from Popular Woodworking is quite intuitive where the long boards are stored parallel with the rack while the short boards are stored perpendicular. This makes for easy access and allowable storage for a variety of sized boards. A nice affordable build at around $20. If the ceiling isn’t your thing consider utilizing wall space. Even a small amount of wall space can allow enough room for some wood storage.

Easy DIY Lumber Storage – Made from Scrap Wood

If you have some scrap wood laying around then consider these Easy DIY Lumber Holders from Dream Design DIY. This storage solution is simple to make using several 2 x 4s and mounting them to the wall studs with long screws. Two different placements were made to accommodate shorter and longer pieces of wood. Vertical Lumber Organizer

If boards sitting vertical fits better in your space then check out this Vertical Lumber Organizer from Popular Woodworking. This lumber storage rack required very little wood to build it and it organizes boards nicely by size. I especially appreciate the added chain for safety. Pallet and Loose Lumber Enclosure Tower

If you have access to some pallets then consider this Pallet and Loose Lumber Enclosure Tower from The Owner Builder Network. This lumber rack was made from two and a half medium sized pallets partially disassembled and then assembled together to create the tower. Metal Storage Rack

Funky Junk Interiors used a Metal Storage Rack she found from a dumpster to very creatively store all of her reclaimed wood. What a great example of an upcycle/recycle that fits perfect for it’s new purpose and for the space she had in her garage. Inexpensive Conduit Lumber Rack

If you can’t find something to upcycle/recycle and you have the wall space and or height then consider this Conduit Lumber Rack from Jay’s Custom Creations. Conduit is strong enough to hold lumber and 1/2 the price as iron pipe making it a good storage solution option. Now we move away from the wall to storage solutions that are mobile with several different innovative designs to fit a variety of tastes and preferences.  

DIY Mobile Lumber Rack

If you are looking for something mobile that holds several different sizes of boards then what about this DIY Mobile Lumber Rack from Addicted 2 DIY? This was built out of 2 x 4s and pocket hole joinery offering several platforms to hold wood. A Smart Cart

This Smart Cart from Fine Woodworking can hold lots of leftover boards in many sizes. Its design allows for easy “storing and sorting” making it quick and easy to glance at your inventory and grab a particular size board you have in mind. The wheels are a plus as well. 

DIY Lumber Cart

This DIY Lumber Cart from Shanty 2 Chic gets mega points for being multipurpose. Not only is it mobile and stores wood both vertical and horizontal but it also stores other garage items and power tools as well. It is a mobile workstation. 

Workbench with Built-in Storage

Here is another multifunction build. This Workbench with Built – in Storage from Family Handyman stores sheets of plywood and boards while also having a table top space to work on projects. Ultimate Lumber and Plywood Storage Cart

This Ultimate Lumber and Plywood Storage Cart from Ana White is for the ultimate wood hoarder storer. There is storage for both boards and plywood offering options for several different sizes of lumber. The wheels make it easy to move around your workspace when needed. I hope this post has helped you come up with some ideas for your lumber storage needs.