So you’re putting in shelves and are wondering how much weight it can hold. Or you know the weight load, but don’t know the shelf length needed. Harkraft can help! We have some great closet shelving ideas and organization ideas to help you with your storage needs.
Depending on whether you want your shelves free standing on the wall, up against one wall, or in between two walls, the load capacity will differ. There are solutions for every situation, and we’re going to discuss the key factors you should be aware of when looking for new shelving.
Adding additional shelving to your home can be a process. One of the key questions you need to consider is how much weight the shelves will be supporting. This is especially important if you’re installing storage shelves in your garage, cabinets, or closet.
The last thing you want is storage shelves that can’t support the weight of the items you’re trying to store. There are several factors to consider when deciding how effective shelving will be in weight support and how much stuff you can safely store on top.
These factors include wood type, how the selves are constructed, bracket types used, and how the shelves are installed. Here is a brief look at each.
Different woods have different bending strengths. This measurement measures how much pressure wood can take before it bends or breaks.
Normally this is measured in terms of pounds per square inch. If your garage shelving is going to be supporting heavy tools a stronger wood may be required. Here is a brief psi strength list of popular and common woods.
As you can see there is a range of strengths and support capabilities across various wood types. If you’re shelving is being used to support heavy equipment in a garage, for example, you’ll want a wood type that won’t bend or buckle.
In practice, this means that cherry wood would be great for holding lighter knickknacks in your living room or bedroom, but wouldn’t be the most effective in your garage. A stronger wood such as yellow birch or hickory would make a better choice.
Of course, you’re not limited to wood shelving either. Wire shelving makes an excellent option, and can hold 80lbs on average. Depending on what things you need stored, you might want to compare wood and wire shelving options.
How shelving is made also affects its strength and how effectively it can support the weight. When installing a shelving unit its overall weight has to be taken into consideration.
Remember brackets have to support both the weight of the items on the shelves and the shelves themselves. Also, you have to consider more mundane aspects of shelf construction such as the wood used, types of screws, overall support built into the structure, and thickness of the wood.
Simply put if you need heavy storage a lightweight shelf, even with proper support may not be enough. Having an understanding of how your shelves were constructed will help you determine what they can safely hold.
Brackets are rated for the amount of weight they can safely support. When installing support brackets you’ll need to consider what the brackets can safely support and how they are installed.
Bracket strength can greatly vary and can support weight from 10 lbs up to several hundred. Always consider what you’re storing and its overall weight before installing brackets.
Also, be sure to install the correct number of brackets. A heavy-duty bracket may be able to support the weight but if only one bracket is attached to one point it can fail. Brackets need to be spread out evenly to support the overall weight of the shelving.
How shelves are installed can greatly affect how much weight they can support. A shelving unit attached to a central stud is far stronger than one simply attached to drywall.
How your brackets are installed can also affect overall support. L-brackets with heavy screws attached to a stud offer a great deal of support versus a freestanding unit.
So before installing shelving take stock of what options are available for installation and how much support you need.
| Shelf Length | Total Weight* | Per Lineal Ft* |
|---|---|---|
| 1 ft. | 75 | 75 |
| 2 ft. | 130 | 65 |
| 3 ft. | 135 | 45 |
| 4 ft. | 160 | 40 |
| 5 ft. | 175 | 35 |
| 6 ft. + | 180 | 30 |
| Shelf Length | Total Weight* | Per Lineal Ft* |
|---|---|---|
| 1 ft. | 90 | 90 |
| 2 ft. | 140 | 70 |
| 3 ft. | 150 | 50 |
| 4 ft. | 180 | 45 |
| 5 ft. | 200 | 40 |
| 6 ft. + | 210 | 35 |
| Shelf Length | Total Weight* | Per Lineal Ft* |
|---|---|---|
| 1 ft. | 105 | 105 |
| 2 ft. | 150 | 75 |
| 3 ft. | 180 | 60 |
| 4 ft. | 220 | 55 |
| 5 ft. | 250 | 50 |
| 6 ft. + | 252 | 42 |
* Based on recommended installation methods. Load capacity will vary depending on specific applications.
Having a professional install your shelves for you is the best way to ensure they’re secure and able to hold the load you need. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you with your latest shelving and storage project.
