Shoes are an integral component of your daily wardrobe but they tend to take up a lot of space – which is why finding the right storage solution is so vital. Whether you opt for a rack, cabinet, or cubby, this guide is here to help you understand the sizes of shoe storage to choose from and help you find the one to best match your collection.

Step 1. Measure Your Desired Space

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Before choosing shoe storage, it’s important that you measure the space where you’ll be placing it. Use a tape measure to gather the height, width, and depth of the available space and record the measurements to make shopping easy. Make sure to account for doors and walkways so that your shoe storage doesn’t get in the way.

If you have a small entryway, you might want to look for a narrow design that takes up little floor space or a taller silhouette that makes the most of vertical space.

Step 2. Choose the Right Shoe Storage Design

Shoes can easily cause unwanted clutter, but the good news is there are plenty of shoe storage options to help you corral your collection. Below is our range of shoe storage options as well as their measurements to give you a better idea of how much space they would take up in your home.

Shoe Cabinets: These typically feature shelves with doors and/or drawers to neatly stash your collection out of sight. Shoe storage boxes are similar, though they often have clear doors and individual compartments for each shoe. Make sure to consider the width and depth when the doors or drawers are fully open.
Depth: Shoe cabinets have a standard depth of between 12 to 15 inches. The slim profile makes them a great size for foyers or hallways.
Width: Usually between 24 to 48 inches.
Height: Ranging from 30 to 60 inches depending on the style.

Shoe Storage Benches: These dual-purpose options are long and feature a flat surface, usually covered with a pillow or upholstery for seating. They are most often used in entryways but can also be placed at the foot of a bed. Shoe storage benches typically comprise individual cubbies for each shoe but can also be made from one or more rows of shelves.
Depth: Usually about 14 inches.
Width: Around 37 inches.
Height: About 19 inches.

Shoe Racks: These are typically smaller than the rest of the storage options and are often placed inside of closets. Shoe racks are commonly tiered and can have as little as one or two shelves, though some designs go up much higher.
Depth: Around 12 to 18 inches.
Width: Between 24 to 36 inches which can hold multiple pairs next to one another.
Height: Depending on the number of tiers, two would be around 17 inches, while three could be up to 33 inches.

Shoe Cubbies: These are similar to storage benches in that they often have open cubby storage with individual compartments. This means you have two different standard measurements – one for the exterior furniture item and another for the individual boxes.
Depth: About 8 inches per compartment and 13 inches overall.
Width: Around 12 inches per compartment and 27 inches overall.
Height: Approximately 5 inches per compartment and 32 inches overall.

Tip!

Consider the number of shoes you need to store – is it a large collection or do you need something small for just a few pairs? A standard shelf of 12 inches deep, 24 inches wide, and 36 inches high can hold about 18 to 20 pairs of adult shoes.

Step 3. Consider the Size of Your Shoes

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When choosing your shoe storage, you should look at the types of shoes you own. You also need to account for the extra height, depth, and width your footwear may have. Bulkier items, such as heels, boots, and specialty shoes, will need the shelves to fit them correctly. Measuring your shoes can help you get a better idea of what dimensions you will need.
It may also help you organize your shoes by type and size for the best use of space.

Shelf Depth: The most important measurement, standard shoe shelves have a depth of between 12 to 15 inches. For a large majority of adult shoe sizes, this is suitable for regular shoes like flats, sneakers, and sandals, while 18 inches is better for bulkier footwear and larger than standard.

Shelf Height: For regular shoes, you'll need around 18 inches in height, while taller boots and stilettos will fit better in 24-inch high storage.

Shelf Width: If you are storing individual shoes, you'll only need around 8 to 10 inches per pair. For three pairs side-by-side (the most standard design), you'll need around 24 to 30 inches. Shelves of 48 inches are great for larger shoe collections. You should also account for spacing your pairs of shoes at least one inch apart to avoid any odors and make the shoes easier to access.

Tip!

If you have a mix of shoes that require different shelf heights, you can reconsider how you store them. You can try to keep heels and boots separate since they need more vertical space. Or if you have a large boot collection that you’d like to keep organized, it’s also possible to find storage designed just for boots.

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