How to Install Wire Closet Shelves in 9 Simple Steps

Bring your closeted shelving ideas to life

Closet with organized wire shelving units
Photo: Bryan Chavez / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images
Closet with organized wire shelving units
Photo: Bryan Chavez / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images
SKILL LEVEL
Simple
COMPLETION TIME
4 hours
COST
$80–$500
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What you'll need:
TOOLS
  • Safety glasses
  • Stud finder
  • Sanding block (optional)
  • Putty knife
  • Bubble level
SUPPLIES
  • Wire shelving system
  • Drywall anchors (optional)
  • Drywall compound (optional)
  • Paint (optional)

Learning how to install wire closet shelves has never been easier. Today's modern designs look great, install easily, and are available, well, right off the shelf. The best way to start is to make a detailed plan and purchase the components you need. After that, it's just a matter of following these installation steps.

  1. Prepare the Space

    Storage space for clothes
    Photo: maruco / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images

    If you're installing wire shelving in an existing closet space, removing the old shelves is necessary. Doing so will leave behind plenty of holes and probably some scratches in the wall. Use drywall compound or spackle and a putty knife to fill in the gaps and sand it smooth after it dries. Choose your favorite closet paint color and give the space a fresh coat. 

  2. Plan Your Installation

    Use closet design ideas right from the shelving manufacturer, or create your own. While shelving units are available in design packages, you can also purchase single units to customize your installation.

    While learning how to design a closet takes some practice, the shelving kits can help make your job easier. In any case, measure the area and draw out your installation plans, adding as much detail as possible.

  3. Mark the Studs

    Woman using a tape measure to mark a spot
    Photo: Alex Ratson / Moment / Getty Images

    Your closet wall will have studs behind the drywall spaced at 16 or 24 inches apart. Use a stud finder to locate a couple of them, then use your tape measure to identify where the rest are. Mark the locations with a small pencil mark that the shelving hardware will conceal.

  4. Hang the Track

    Depending on the height of the wire shelf system you have, you can hang the upper track into the top plate of the wall near the ceiling, or into the wall studs below. Use a bubble level to mark a horizontal line where the track will be. The top plate consists of a horizontal stud at the top of the wall within 1.5 inches of the ceiling junction.

    To install the track, put on your safety glasses, place it on the horizontal line, and install the first screw (of the ones that came with your shelves) into the first stud on one end of it. Confirm it's level and install the remainder of the screws, using one per stud, or every 16 to 24 inches if putting it into the wall's top plate.

  5. Install the System Support

    Install your shelf system supports, or standards, by clicking them into the hanging track and lowering them into place. Space them no more than 24 inches apart and install them directly over your stud markings where possible. Affix them to the wall using the provided screws, spacing them every 16 to 24 inches. Use toggle bolt drywall anchors to secure the supports where they don't line up with a wall stud.

  6. Place the Shelf Brackets

    Where you place your individual shelves will determine where you install the shelf support brackets. To place them, simply click the pieces into the wall standards and lower them into position.

    Place one near each shelf end and one on each standard where the shelf intersects. Remember to leave room for any accessories, such as shoe racks, pre-fab drawers, or additions, like custom-built drawers.

  7. Cut and Prep Shelves

    Empty wire shelving storage
    Photo: ucpage / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images

    If the size of your reach-in closet is narrower than the shelves are long, or if the predetermined kit layout doesn't fit your needs, you'll have to cut one or more shelves. You can use a hacksaw or a bolt cutter to make any necessary cuts, leaving stubs on the ends to install the kit-provided plastic end caps. 

  8. Hang the Shelves

    Place the shelves, one at a time, onto the shelf brackets. Angle the front of each shelf into the clip or indent at the end of the bracket, and lower the shelf into place. When complete, install the plastic end caps on all of the shelf ends.

  9. Install Accessories

    Walk in wardrobe shelves
    Photo: denizunlusu / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images

    Depending on the shelving system and accessories you have, follow the included instructions for hanging closet rods, drawers, shoe racks, or any other add-ons you choose.

DIY vs. Hiring a Pro 

While installing a DIY custom closet is straightforward on a small scale, full-on, walk-in closet design and installation can get pretty complex. Installing wire shelving as a DIY project can be an effective way to save money over professional installation, which can cost over $1,000.

However, making a workable closet out of an empty space is challenging from a design standpoint. Many homeowners simply choose to hire a local closet maker to ensure the space becomes as useful and efficient as it can be. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Fortunately, there are no hard and fast rules or regulations regarding the height of closet shelving. However, the typical height for a single closet shelf with a hanging bar is 70 inches from the floor. For a double-hanging system, use 84 to 85 inches from the floor for the top one and 42 inches for the lower.

If you have a bathroom closet with movable shelves, you can place them at virtually any spacing that works for you. Useful measurements between shelves in the working, or middle, section can be 10 to 16 inches for towels or linens. Lower or higher shelving could be up to 24 inches between shelves to store lesser-used or bulky items or boxes. 

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