The 25 best shoe racks for every space, according to professional organizers

With only two shelves, this 29-inch wood-top metal shoe rack is a good option for smaller spaces, says Robyn Reynolds, certified professional organizer and owner of Organize2Harmonize. “Because this has a solid top, that makes it good to store other things on the top — including boots.”

Laura Price, founder and creative director of The Home Organisation, recommends this “multi-functional” shoe rack/bench from Ikea. “The solid bench top will help keep off some of the dust, but also reduces some of the visual clutter too.” At 42.5 inches long, it holds approximately eight pairs of shoes — more if you slip sandals and low sneakers on the floor under the bottom shelf.

“Extendable shoe racks are perfect for closets as you can easily adjust them to perfectly fit the width of the space,” Price says, sharing this two-tiered pick. This rack can expand from just under 29 inches long to just under 42 inches, and it’s stackable too. So if you ever run out of space, you can always just stack another rack on top for double the storage. 

Professional organizer Meaghan Kessman calls this three-tier shoe rack “versatile, durable and perfect for everyday shoes,” adding that “its clean lines complement any decor.” The painted wood and steel shoe rack is just under 30.5 inches long, and one shopper noted that they were able to fit nine pairs on the shelves with a few extra underneath. 

Melanie Summers, professional organizer and owner of I Speak Organized shared that she likes this shoe rack for its “customizable length” that can accommodate “growing collections,” and that it “fits all types of shoes.” Plus, the metal rack is stackable, so you can adjust the height as needed too. 

“Stackable shoe racks like this one are great for making use of vertical space within a cupboard,” says Price, who recommends this affordable bamboo pick from Amazon. “This particular design comes with wooden dowels allowing you to simply stack them as high as you need, without the risk of them slipping off each other.”

“This shoe rack is great but it is also on the bigger side,” Reynolds says. “This would be good for a larger space like a garage. I also like the fact that the shelves are slanted, which allows you to easily see what is on them.” You can also choose to make the shelves flat during assembly. And if you need even more space, this shoe rack also comes in a five-tier version.

Bohne Leah, professional organizer and owner of Be Organized Method, calls this expandable metal rack “a great basic that can adjust based on your collection,” since it expands from 24.75 inches long to 46 inches. “I find it to be great for garage and mudroom areas,” she says.

For a more aesthetic option with four tiers, Leah recommends this sleek, modern pick from The Container Store. Made of acrylic, the shoe rack holds around 16 pairs of shoes. “I seriously love these luxe acrylic shoe racks,” she says. “They absolutely highlight a shoe collection and will effortlessly elevate your space.”

Tina Priestly, owner and CEO of Ready, Set, Refresh, says this rotating tower shoe rack “is great for quickly finding your shoes because it spins around, making it easy to see everything.” With cubbies for 32 pairs of shoes and a shelf top that you can use to display another pair (or other accessories), it’s a stylish option that also uses far less floor space.

Summers describes this wood and metal tower rack with eight tiers as “compact but holds a lot” and “great for small spaces and all kinds of shoes.” At only 11 inches wide by 11 inches deep, it’s the perfect size to tuck into a little corner nook in your entryway. Since it has removable shelves, you can pull one out to store tall boots. 

A combo of the typical tiered shoe rack and a tower rack, “this 10-tier rolling shoe rack is for someone that is not messing around,” Leah says. With space for 50 pairs of shoes, the metal rack is “perfect for storing many pairs of shoes efficiently,” she says. Plus, since it’s on wheels, you can easily move it around to reach other items in your closet. 

If you have no floor space to spare for a rack, go for one that fits on the back of a door. “This door model is good on a closet door if you have one that swings out,” Reynolds says. “I prefer this for smaller-sized shoes or children's shoes because they just fit better in each pocket. Larger-sized shoes tend to hang out of the pocket a bit.” 

If you like the idea of hanging pockets but want a sleeker option, try this over-the-door rack. Kessman likes it because it’s “ideal for maximizing vertical space,” and points out that it “tucks neatly behind a door” while holding up to 36 pairs of shoes. The metal rack mounts over the door with special brackets, but if you have the wall space, you can mount the rack to the wall instead. 

Summers recommends this over-the-door shoe rack that she says “saves floor space and keeps lightweight shoes like flats and sneakers organized.” The metal and mesh pick can similarly be mounted on a door or on a wall, but is a lighter option if you’re not trying to stash bulky shoes on it.

This rack was recommended by both Priestly and Summers. Priestly notes that it’s “strong and can hold up to 24 pairs, perfect for a big shoe collection,” while Summers specifically calls out how useful it is for boots thanks to the two sections with larger openings: “[It] keeps tall boots upright and in shape. No more slouching!” she says.

If you’re looking for an option that’s solely for boots, try this basic boot rack. As Kessman points out, it’s “specifically designed to keep tall boots upright and crease-free.” Simply flip your long boots upside down and place them on the 18-inch wooden rods, and they’ll fit perfectly. The rack fits four pairs, but there’s also a larger six-pair version if you’ve got more boots to store.

If you prefer a storage solution that keeps your shoes out of sight, try a shoe cabinet. “I love the concept of a flip door to hide shoes in a busy entryway,” Leah says. “This product offers multiple sizes and colors so you can put shoes away in a busy space. It also has a top drawer to store items you regularly grab on the go like sunglasses, etc.”

Priestly also likes this shoe cabinet because it “looks nice with its rattan design and adds style to your room.” The three-door cabinet can fit 24 pairs of shoes, but it’s also not limited to just shoes. Use it in an entryway to store shoes and other essentials like bags and accessories, or use it for an entirely different purpose altogether, like as a buffet in a small dining room.

Price recommends this four-drawer shoe cabinet from Ikea that holds approximately eight pairs of shoes because it’s “perfect for narrow spaces like hallways where a standard rack would take up precious floor space.” She explains that cabinets like this pick are also “great for hiding the visual clutter of footwear and make for a tidier-looking space.”

Reynolds says this shoe cabinet “is nice in an entryway or mudroom because you can actually hide what is being stored, which makes for a cleaner look." This particular pick is especially useful because, as Reynolds points out, “the shelves are also removable, which allows you to store taller shoe boots.” 

“Not a rack, but I’m in love with the concept!” Leah says of this plastic shoe box from The Container Store. “Stackable drop-front shoe boxes can be a perfect way to create a ‘shoe wall’ and protect your collection at the same time. There is also a side-view version for those who love to see even more shoes on display.” 

Prefer a rack that’s already made up of drop-front boxes? Priestly recommends this pick that she calls “easy to set up and take down, which is great if you move or change things often.” The rack can be set up in just five minutes and can be folded down compactly when you’re not using it for storage. With six two-tier boxes, the organizer can fit 12 pairs of shoes, and you can size up to eight or 10 tiers. 

“This shoe rack saves a lot of space because it fits under the bed,” Reynolds says. “While I usually don't condone anything under the bed because it is bad feng shui, sometimes it is necessary — especially when you live in a small space without a lot of closets.” Each rack in the set of two can hold up to six pairs of shoes, allowing you to stow a dozen under your bed, and the wheels make them easy to access.

A different take on a tiered shoe rack, this cubby organizer is one of Kessman’s picks, especially if you’re tight on space: “[It’s] compact and efficient; great for smaller spaces or storing frequently worn shoes.” The rack can be positioned vertically to be narrower with four tiers or on its side for a wider, three-tier size. And it’s stackable too.