The best garden tool storage ideas get every tool off the floor: a stud-mounted rack or rail for long-handled tools on the garage wall, a pegboard for hand tools, a corner rack or rolling tower where the wall runs out, and a lockable vertical shed when there is no garage at all.
We sorted the ideas by where they go: the garage wall, the shed and workbench, a small corner, the yard with no shed, and the tools you carry from bed to bed. Each numbered idea is one product that does that job.
One thing up front: we sell one of these, the HangThis Up rack, on our site, and we make spades. The rest are other companies' products, chosen for the space they fit.
Disclosure: some links in this guide are affiliate links to Amazon. As an Amazon Associate, Spear Head Spade earns from qualifying purchases. This is at no extra cost to you, and it never changes our honest, use-based recommendations.
This page is about where tools live. For getting them clean, dry and oiled before they go up on the wall, see our guide on how to clean, sharpen and store garden tools.
Garden tool storage ideas at a glance
| Idea | Best for | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|
HangThis Up Garden Tool Organizer Rack (top pick) |
Seven long-handled tools on a garage or shed wall | Our site |
 Rubbermaid FastTrack rail and hook kit
|
A wall that holds more than garden tools | amazon |
 StoreYourBoard 36 in wall rack
|
Heavier yard tools and power tools | amazon |
 Wall Control 4 ft metal pegboard kit
|
Hand tools you want to see at a glance | amazon |
 Amazon Basics 3-shelf wire rack
|
Pots, bags and supplies off the floor | amazon |
|
Lovind corner garden tool organizer
|
Long tools in an unused corner | amazon |
 VEVOR 16-slot rolling tool tower
|
A big collection and no wall to spare | amazon |
 Suncast 22 cu ft vertical shed
|
Long tools outdoors, with no shed or garage | amazon |
 Liberty Garden 708 wall-mount hose reel
|
The hose, plus a shelf for nozzles | amazon |
 Fiskars 5 gallon bucket caddy
|
Carrying hand tools around the yard | amazon |
 WORKPRO garden tool bag
|
Carrying hand tools on your shoulder | amazon |
How do you store long-handled garden tools on a garage wall?
Long-handled tools are the ones that end up in a pile: shovels, rakes, hoes and brooms leaning in a corner with their heads on the concrete. Illinois Extension recommends hanging racks or tool holders for them, which help prevent damage to sharpened edges and keep the tools organized. These three go on the wall.
1. HangThis Up Garden Tool Organizer Rack: the long-handled wall rack we sell
If your long tools live in a heap by the door, start here. The HangThis Up Garden Tool Organizer Rack is a pair of stud-mounted boards that hang long-handled tools across the wall, off the floor of the shed or garage, and the 36 in size holds 7 long-handled tools. It is sold as a pair of boards in 36 in or 24 in, made from 7-layer cabinet-grade birch plywood, and it comes predrilled with the fasteners and the drive bit included, so the job is finding the studs and driving the screws.
It is made for long-handled tools like a spade. HangThis Up makes and ships the rack, and we sell it on our site. It also appears in our gifts for gardeners list, for the gardener whose tools live in a pile.
2. Rubbermaid FastTrack rail and hook kit: for a wall that holds more than tools
A rail is the flexible version of a rack: the hooks move, so the wall can change as the collection does. The Rubbermaid FastTrack kit comes with a 32 in rail, a multi-purpose hook, a scoop hook and two handle hooks. Rubbermaid rates its locking hooks at 50 lbs and its non-locking hooks at 25 lbs, and the hooks can be moved along the rail as your storage needs change.
Choose it over a fixed rack if the wall has to hold more than garden tools or the collection will grow: Rubbermaid builds FastTrack as a system of rails, hooks, shelves and cabinets.
3. StoreYourBoard 36 in wall rack: for heavier yard tools
Some of what lives in a garage weighs more than a rake. The StoreYourBoard garage tool organizer is a one-piece 36 inch steel rack with 4 PVC coated hooks, rated to 250 lb, and its listing names rakes, shovels, spades, hoes and forks alongside leaf blowers and hedge cutters. It arrives fully assembled, with mounting hardware for stud installation.
The powder-coated finish is listed as corrosion resistant and suitable for covered outdoor spots as well as garages, workshops and basements, so it also suits a carport wall or a covered porch.
How should you store hand tools in a shed or workshop?
Short tools go missing one at a time. UF/IFAS Extension suggests hanging racks for long-handled tools and pegboards for smaller ones, and notes that a pegboard helps you stay organized and notice when a tool is missing.
4. Wall Control 4 ft metal pegboard kit: for hand tools you want to see
The Wall Control 4 ft metal pegboard kit is a metal pegboard for a shed or garage wall. Wall Control says its metal board is more than 10 times stronger than conventional pegboard. It takes both standard 1/4 in pegboard pegs and Wall Control's own slotted accessories, and it mounts directly into studs or sheet rock with no framework.
Hang the trowel, the hand rake, the pruners and the gloves where you can see them, then do what Illinois Extension suggests: draw the outline of each tool on the board, so an empty outline tells you what did not come back in.
5. Amazon Basics 3-shelf wire rack: for pots, bags and supplies
Not everything hangs. Bags of potting mix, stacks of pots, a sprayer and a box of plant labels need a shelf that keeps them off the floor. The Amazon Basics 3-shelf wire rack measures 23.2 by 13.4 by 30 inches, each shelf holds up to 250 pounds evenly distributed, and the shelf height adjusts in 1-inch increments.
It assembles without tools, stands on 4 leveling feet, and at 30 inches tall fits under a shed window with the wall above it still free for the pegboard.
How do you store garden tools in a small space?
No free wall? Use the corner, or put the tools on wheels. Both of these stand on the floor and keep long tools together in one place.
6. Lovind corner garden tool organizer: for the unused corner
The Lovind corner organizer is a triangular steel rack built to fit into a corner, for shovels, rakes and brooms. It measures 17 by 12.5 by 24 inches, has adjustable feet for uneven floors, and comes with two mounting anchors to hold it in the corner.
The listing calls it resistant to rust and corrosion and fit for indoor and outdoor use, so it can live in a garage corner or on a covered porch.
7. VEVOR 16-slot rolling tool tower: for a big collection on wheels
For the gardener with more tools than wall, the VEVOR garden tool organizer stores over 16 tools in a steel tower on lockable swivel wheels, with fixed and movable hooks for the smaller things. Roll it to the door for a big job, then lock the wheels when it is back in place.
The frame is carbon steel with a powder-coat finish, the feet adjust for uneven ground, and the listing names both garden shovels and string trimmers, so the bulky yard tools can ride in it too.
How do you store garden tools outside without a shed?
Illinois Extension is plain about it: do not leave tools outside, where they can absorb moisture from wet grass and dew. With no shed or garage, the answer is a small building of their own, and a proper home for the hose.
8. Suncast 22 cu ft vertical shed: a locker for long-handled tools
The Suncast 22 cu ft vertical shed is a resin cabinet for smaller outdoor areas, listed for organizing garden tools and outdoor equipment and keeping them protected from the elements. The outside is 2 ft 8-1/4 in wide, 2 ft 1-1/2 in deep and 6 ft tall, the multi-wall resin panels are listed as water resistant with UV protection, and the double doors take a padlock (not included).
Our storage shed guide names this same Suncast its best locker for long-handled tools, gives Suncast's own interior height of 5 ft 9 in and a door opening 5 ft 8.5 in high, and covers bigger sheds if the collection has outgrown a cabinet. Measure your longest handle against the door opening, not the 6 ft outside height.
9. Liberty Garden 708 wall-mount hose reel: for the hose, with a shelf for nozzles
The hose lives outside by design, so give it a proper place. The Liberty Garden 708 is a steel wall-mount reel with a weather resistant powder coat finish that holds 125 feet of 5/8 inch hose, with brass hose fittings, 5 feet of leader hose, and a shelf for frequently used garden tools and nozzles.
It comes fully assembled, but the mounting hardware is not included, so buy screws or anchors to suit your wall. It is also the best overall pick in our hose reel guide, which compares wall, cart and retractable reels, and our garden winterizing checklist covers draining and storing the hose before the ground freezes.
How do you carry garden tools around the yard?
A caddy or a bag keeps the hand tools together between the shed and the bed. For the ones that still wander off, Illinois Extension suggests bright marking tape on the handles, so they are easier to spot outdoors.
10. Fiskars 5 gallon bucket caddy: turns a bucket into a tool carrier
If you already own a five-gallon bucket, the Fiskars bucket caddy is a canvas wrap that fits it and adds nine deep pockets and two pencil pockets. The pockets carry the small tools, which frees the inside of the bucket for weeds and yard waste. Tools and bucket are not included.
Fill the bucket with sand and light machine oil instead of weeds and it becomes the classic oiled-sand tool bucket, which our tool-care guide explains.
11. WORKPRO garden tool bag: for carrying tools on your shoulder
The WORKPRO garden tool bag is for the gardener who works several beds in one outing. It has 2 inside pockets, 8 exterior pockets and 4 elastic straps, a 13 by 10 by 12 inch interior, a wide mouth, and a padded handle plus a shoulder strap. Foam and steel wire in the body let it stand up on its own, with or without tools inside.
When the job is hauling soil or mulch rather than hand tools, a bag is the wrong answer; our garden cart guide covers that.
How to choose a garden tool organizer
Count long tools and short tools separately. Long-handled tools go on a rack, a rail or a tower; short tools go on a pegboard or into a caddy. That is the split Illinois and UF/IFAS Extension both recommend, and the count tells you how many places each side needs. If you are not sure what belongs in the count, our essential garden tools list is a good checklist.
Find the studs before you buy. The HangThis Up rack is stud-mounted, and the StoreYourBoard rack comes with hardware for stud installation. Wall Control's pegboard goes into studs or sheet rock. If the wall is block, siding or a rental you cannot drill, the corner rack, the rolling tower and the wire shelf stand on the floor.
Mind the height. Mount a wall rack high enough that your longest tool hangs with its head clear of the ground; the UC Master Gardeners of Sonoma County advise against letting tools touch the ground, where they can get wet and rust.
Decide whether the spot is wet or dry. Inside a garage or shed, any of the racks, boards and shelves here works. Under a carport or on a covered porch, pick hardware listed for it: the StoreYourBoard rack for covered outdoor spots, or the Lovind for indoor and outdoor use. Out in the open yard, only a closed cabinet like the Suncast keeps the rain off the tools.
What are some DIY garden tool storage ideas?
Not every good idea comes in a box. A Colorado State University Extension Master Gardener in Larimer County suggests a heavy-duty utility bin used like a giant pencil holder for long tools, handles down, and a bin or large pot of sand soaked with linseed oil for trowels and other small tools. Illinois Extension suggests drawing each tool's outline on a pegboard, so a gap shows what is missing. Our tool-care guide adds the simplest wall rack of all: a two by four with lag screw hooks.
Common garden tool storage mistakes
Each of these comes from an extension service's own advice on tool care.
Leaving tools outside. UF/IFAS Extension puts it simply: don't leave your tools outside, because moisture from rain, dew or wet grass can cause rust, and storing them indoors also protects them from being stolen. Our own care note for the Spear Head Hoe says the same about our hoe: "We added carbon to the stainless steel to increase durability, so it will develop a surface rust if exposed to rain or moisture for an extended period of time. To avoid this, simply store it in your shed or garage after use."
Leaning tools on a concrete floor. The same Colorado State University Extension Master Gardener says not to lean tools against a garage wall touching the floor, because pavement can dull blades and hold moisture that may promote rust. The UC Master Gardeners of Sonoma County give the same advice: avoid letting tools touch the ground.
Putting tools away dirty or wet. UF/IFAS notes that garden tools often get used hard and put away dirty or wet, which causes rust and damage, and Illinois Extension calls clean and dry before storing extremely important. Our tool cleaning and storage guide covers the how.
Leaving sharp edges unprotected. The UC Master Gardeners suggest hanging tools to protect the sharp blades, and Illinois Extension says hanging racks help prevent damage to sharpened edges.
Choosing a damp, airless spot. The same CSU Extension Master Gardener says larger tools are best hung in a dry, ventilated area, and the UC Master Gardeners describe ideal storage as a solid, roomy, dry shed or garage.
Frequently asked questions
What's the best way to store garden tools?
Store them clean and dry, off the floor and under a roof. Hang long-handled tools on a wall rack or rail and put hand tools on a pegboard, the split Illinois and UF/IFAS Extension both recommend. Keep the heads off concrete, which can hold moisture, and keep the whole collection in a garage, a shed or a closed cabinet rather than out in the dew.
What are some good options for small storage for garden tools?
Use a corner or go vertical. A triangular corner rack like the Lovind holds shovels, rakes and brooms in space that was doing nothing, a rolling tower like the VEVOR moves out of the way, and a single wall rack takes almost no floor at all. With no garage, a 6 ft vertical resin shed like the Suncast holds long tools in a small outdoor area.
How do you make a simple DIY garden tool rack?
Screw a two by four to the wall studs and drive lag screw hooks into it, the simplest wall rack our tool-care guide describes. Mount it high enough that each long tool hangs with its head off the ground, which the UC Master Gardeners of Sonoma County advise.
What are the common garden tool storage mistakes?
Leaving tools outside, where rain, dew and wet grass cause rust; leaning them on a concrete floor, which can hold moisture and dull blades; putting them away dirty or wet; and leaving sharp edges unprotected instead of hanging them. Extension services from Illinois to Colorado give the same fix: clean, dry, and hung off the ground.
The bottom line
Get the tools off the floor and under a roof. For most garages that means one rack for the long tools, like the HangThis Up rack we sell, and a pegboard for the short ones. Smaller spaces get a corner rack or a rolling tower, and a yard with no shed gets a vertical resin locker and a wall-mount hose reel.
Before anything goes up on the wall, run through our guide on how to clean, sharpen and store garden tools, and the fall list in how to winterize your garden.
