How to choose shelving: what to consider

Shelves carry weight, and a shelf that bends or a unit that tips is more than a nuisance. These are the things worth settling before you choose some. The numbers are common rules of thumb, not fixed rules.

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Load and span

Books are heavy, commonly around 20-25 kg per metre of shelf. Check the load the maker states for a shelf, and for the whole unit.
A long span between supports bends over time, especially in thin boards. A shelf around 80 cm or shorter is stiffer; for a longer span, check the thickness and any reinforcement.
Heavy things go on lower shelves.

Fixing to the wall

Tall or freestanding shelving can tip if a child climbs it or the load is uneven. Fix it to the wall with fittings that suit your wall.
Wall-mounted shelves need fixings rated for the load and the wall: concrete, brick, studs and plasterboard each need different ones. Check what is included, and whether it suits your wall.
A rail or track system adds adjustment; check how it is fixed and how much weight it carries.

Depth and spacing

A depth of about 25-30 cm suits books; about 35-40 cm suits storage boxes and larger objects. Deeper shelves are harder to reach into.
Adjustable shelves let you change the layout later; check how they are held in place.

Open or closed

Open shelving shows everything, which suits objects and books, and collects dust. Doors or boxes hide the rest.

Materials and care

Solid wood can be refinished; veneer resists warping better but allows less refinishing. Metal and glass suit different looks; glass shelves should be toughened or laminated safety glass.
Check the edges and the finish where things will be put on and taken off.

Modular and growing systems

Modular systems let you add to a unit over time. Check that parts are still being made, and that new ones will match.

Questions worth asking the maker

What load does each shelf take, and the whole unit? How is it fixed to the wall, and what fixings are included? Are the shelves adjustable? Can I add parts later? What are the delivery and return terms?

Sources and further reading

A label covers one aspect of a product, such as where the wood came from or which chemicals are in a textile, not its whole footprint. These pages explain what each covers; they are not endorsements, and Formground does not rate products.

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