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Sawdust Girl®

Sawdust Girl®

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Building Garage Shelves – Cantilevered Shelf Brackets

All Posts, Garage, Projects and Plans, Workshop, Workshop Storage and Organization

There is a ton of extra room on the side of this garage that has been accumulating piles of crap since we moved into this house.  To better utilize the space and organize the crap so things can be found when needed, I decided to spend a few days building garage shelves.

Building Garage Shelves with Cantilevered Shelf Brackets
Building Garage Shelves to utilize storage space

Supplies needed for Shelf Brackets

These shelf brackets are really strong because of the cantilever design.  I used all scraps and supplies that I had on hand.

  • 2×2 wall cleat (length will depend on how many shelves you want and the spacing you want in between them. Mine are about 36″ long.)
  • 3/4″ plywood (8×22)
  • 2×6 (about 26″ long)

Cutting angled matching sides

Each 2×6 board and 3×4″ plywood board will be into two equal, angled sections (as shown in the photo below).

Cantilevered shelf bracket materials and cutting diagram to build garage shelves

Plywood:

To make two sides out of the one 8×22″ piece of plywood, measure 1 1/2″ up from the bottom right, and 1 1/2″ down from the top left. Then use a saw (I used my track saw) to cut along that diagonal line.

measuring and marking to create two equal, angled shelving bracket sides out of one piece of plywood
Using track saw to make an angled cut for shelving brackets

2×6:

Use one of the plywood pieces to traced the diagonal line onto a 2×6 and then cut it.

Tracing diagonal lines onto  cantilevered shelf brackets pieces
making diagonal cuts on a 2x6 with a track saw

Building Cantilevered Shelf Brackets

To put the brackets together, I used scrap wood and a small scrap of 2×2 as backer to keep the sides even and move the center forward exactly 1 1/2″.

  • The top of the shelf is flat and all three pieces are even on the top.  (The brackets are upside down while being built.)
  • generously spread glue on sides of plywood and press them against the 2×6
  • nail everything together so things stay put and then let the glue set.
Building Cantilevered Shelf Brackets

Using plenty of 16 or 18 gauge nails would probably be sufficient but I like to add clamps or screws to make sure the surfaces are contacting really well while the glue sets. I didn’t have enough clamps to hold 19 brackets together so I used plenty of 2 1/2″ screws.

Attaching sides to 2x6 center when building garage shelves

Here is an up-close look at how the bracket will attach to the the wall cleat.

How the shelf bracket will hug the wall cleat  when it is installed.

Use a miter saw to trim off any pointy ends on the 2×6, after the brackets are built.

trimming shelf brackets so the ends are even

Attaching 2×2 cleats to the wall

I secured my 2×2 cleats to the studs with lag screws. The stud spacing in my basement is 24″ and I attached a wall cleat to each of those studs. With my 10′ tall basement ceilings, I have plenty of height for three rows of shelves.  I installed the cleats 24″ down from the ceiling.

Installing wall cleats to hold garage shelves

Installing shelf brackets

Press the brackets over the wall cleat so they are snug to the wall, then secure them to the cleat. Drive 3″ lag screws through both sides of the plywood sides of the bracket into the 2×2 wall cleat.  I used 2-3 screws on both sides.  

Installing shelving brackets

Adding shelving to the tops of brackets

I had 3 sheets of OSB taking up space in the garage so I used that, though I would prefer plywood. This wall is 12′ long so I had to have a seam in the shelve. This isn’t a problem, if you make sure the seam is on a bracket. The length of each shelf piece will be determined by spacing of your wall cleats. I made my shelves the same depth as my brackets.

I secured the shelves to the brackets with 1 1/2″ screws, adding shelving top to each row of brackets as I moved down the wall.

Building Garage Shelves - Cantilevered Shelf Brackets

The top shelf was flush against the wall but each subsequent row had to be notched out around the wall cleats.

I installed the brackets and then placed my shelving material in place to mark the location of the cleats, used a jigsaw to cut out the notches and then installed the shelf.

Notching shelving material around wall cleats.

You can configure your shelving to best meet your needs. I left room for my ladders and theres still room on the floor for tool carts, bikes and a lot of other stuff.

Building Garage Shelves

It took me two days to build these garage shelves and wish I would have done it 6 years ago.

Building Garage Shelves

September 12, 2021 · 48 Comments

« How to Build a Storage Bench – Kristy’s Queen Platform Bed Extension
How to Make a Storage Bench and Cabinets for Your Side Entry »

Comments

  1. Darlene says

    September 12, 2017 at 7:07 pm

    Yes, I need this! Thanks so much. I love where you keep your ear protection when it’s not in use! I’ll have to remember that!

    Reply
    • Sandra says

      September 13, 2017 at 12:47 pm

      Thanks Darlene. I often store my ear protection on my waist or leg. LOL

      Reply
  2. Steve says

    September 13, 2017 at 12:14 pm

    I love your folding table-legs that you brought out 3:20 into the video to use your jigsaw. Where can I pick one up?

    And congrats on finishing another project. I hope to say the same one day soon.

    Reply
    • Sandra says

      September 13, 2017 at 12:46 pm

      Thanks Steve. That is the Centipede Sawhorse: http://bit.ly/2vU6uoR

      Reply
  3. G says

    September 13, 2017 at 2:20 pm

    Hope it works out better than that toilet issue you did.

    Reply
    • Sandra says

      September 16, 2017 at 11:04 pm

      I assume you’re talking about my recent “sewer saga”? The plumbing that was done by the builder and now I’m having to fix it?

      Reply
  4. Carlos Domenech says

    September 13, 2017 at 6:25 pm

    Awesome. I will be building these. I’m also tired of looking at mess. Thanks for sharing with us.

    Reply
    • Sandra says

      September 16, 2017 at 11:05 pm

      Sometimes you just have to manage those messes. 😀

      Reply
  5. Joe says

    September 16, 2017 at 1:18 pm

    Hi. What size lag screws did you use to secure the cleats to the wall and how many per cleat? Thanks.

    Reply
    • Sandra says

      September 16, 2017 at 11:09 pm

      I would use the longest ones you can. I used three 3″ lag screws (but I would have used 4 1/2″ lags if my walls were actually 2×4 like normal walls. My basement walls are 2×2’s.)

      Reply
  6. Jimmy says

    August 26, 2018 at 12:46 pm

    What board are you cutting into on your workbench, when you cut the brackets? (..with the circular saw.)
    That’s a good idea. You get some marks on it, but if it lasts for a bit, the work goes much faster.

    Reply
    • Sandra says

      August 26, 2018 at 8:58 pm

      I top my workbench with MDF. When it gets too many marks, I replace it.

      Reply
  7. justin livengood says

    January 22, 2019 at 1:57 pm

    do you have to use such a long cleat on the wall? will just using a 6′ cleat work?
    thanks!

    Reply
    • Sandra says

      January 22, 2019 at 6:37 pm

      You can use whatever size cleat you want. It would depend on the number of shelf brackets you want and how much space between them.

      Reply
  8. Eric Moulton says

    February 19, 2019 at 2:50 pm

    Will the cleats/brackets combo span 48″ or would it be better to attach to every stud @ 16″ trying to plan this for my garage. We have 13 ft ceilings in the garage and trying to plan for 4 shelves 8′ x 2′ using 3/4″ plywood and similar plans you have. great plan and execution btw

    Reply
    • Sandra says

      February 20, 2019 at 2:39 pm

      You’ll have to decide on spacing depending on the weight you’ll be putting ON the shelves. I think my garage studs are 24″ OC so I used one on each.

      Reply
  9. Shariq says

    March 21, 2019 at 3:25 pm

    Bracket size you made 22″, I want to make 12″, what is the best calculation for cutting the wood?

    Thanks,

    Reply
    • Sandra says

      March 21, 2019 at 5:45 pm

      You can use the diagram that I shared, which shows the height and depth of the board I used to cut two triangles. Just make your depth 12″ instead of 22″

      Reply
  10. Ruben Martinez says

    April 26, 2019 at 6:35 am

    Def. Going to make these.

    What lag screws did u use to seccure bracket to the cleat?

    Reply
    • Sandra says

      April 29, 2019 at 8:55 am

      SPAX

      Reply
    • Andy Turrett says

      April 23, 2020 at 9:22 am

      I like these shelves a lot. What are the actual dimensions of the cleat? Did you just rip a 2×4? Or are they 1.5″ x 1.5″? Thanks, Andy

      Reply
  11. Scott Bakker says

    May 20, 2019 at 4:42 pm

    Love the idea of these shelves. I’m just about to mount my cleats to the wall and I’m curious as to the spacing of your cleats. The studs are 16″ inches on center in my garage. Did you skip a stud in between?

    Reply
    • Sandra says

      May 21, 2019 at 8:46 am

      Yes I did every other stud.

      Reply
  12. Dennis R Dening says

    May 21, 2019 at 12:33 pm

    Very helpful video! I would like to make and install these in an unfinished garage. Would I need to extend the sides of the brackets to be as deep as the exposed studs?

    Reply
    • Sandra says

      May 21, 2019 at 9:37 pm

      Nice. Having exposed studs saves you a step. You could definitely extend the brackets to be a bit deeper. You don’t have insulation in the way?

      Reply
  13. Dennis R says

    May 23, 2019 at 6:50 pm

    Currently there are no plans to insulate. All I see from the inside are the studs and the wall sheathing.

    Reply
  14. Joey says

    June 9, 2019 at 10:24 am

    Really great write up, I’m glad I came across your blog. I’m planning on making an “L” shelf in our garage. One of walls is hollow block and one side is finished drywall. Would you still use a 2×2 brace to support the cantilevers on the hollow blocks?

    Thanks in advance for any help you can provide.

    Reply
    • Sandra says

      June 9, 2019 at 9:18 pm

      I doubt I would.

      Reply
  15. Randall W Saunders says

    September 22, 2019 at 1:10 pm

    More of a question than a comment.

    Just want to confirm that the cleats were centred on existing studs correct?

    Found the video to be great and gave me some storage idea for my garage/workshop.

    Reply
    • Sandra says

      September 22, 2019 at 5:09 pm

      That is correct.

      Reply
  16. p0n2000 says

    December 18, 2019 at 7:06 pm

    What size & brand of screws did you use to screw the 2×2 into your studs ??

    For mounting the cantilever into your wall cleats, I see that you used 3in lag screws…

    Reply
    • Sandra says

      December 20, 2019 at 4:49 pm

      It’s been a while but I believe I used 6″ lag screws.

      Reply
  17. Brian says

    April 24, 2020 at 12:56 am

    Would using 2×4 studs and 1/4 ” osb in the construction of the cantilever still provide enough support?

    Reply
  18. Andrew says

    June 14, 2020 at 6:59 am

    Hi. I’m just making this project at the moment and wondered if you glued the brackets to the vertical boards or just screwed them. I was thinking of bolting them right through in case I ever want to change the shelf height / spacing but this mightn’t be as secure as gluing the entire surface if that’s what you did? Thanks for the write up and video!

    Reply
    • Sandra says

      June 14, 2020 at 11:35 am

      No I didn’t glue them to the vertical support. Just using lag bolts (or lag screws) will allow you to relocate the brackets in the future.

      Reply
  19. Andrew says

    July 5, 2020 at 10:01 pm

    Thanks. I finished the project on the weekend and am very happy with it. I added beefy floor supports so it is more or less free standing. I did use bolts although realised afterwards that the holes I drilled won’t be straight enough to replicate if I want to change the height of the brackets, so hopefully I won’t need to do that :). Thanks for your help!

    Reply
    • Sandra says

      July 10, 2020 at 11:59 am

      I’ve drilled holes that didn’t end up working out for shelf supports before too. 🙂 We learn from every project we tackle.

      Reply
  20. MattM says

    July 17, 2020 at 7:17 pm

    Great idea! I may try this, but I have a question.
    Why such a long cleat? Why not 6″ 2×2 cleats? It seems this would have also saved some trouble as you would not have had to cut the lower shelves around the cleat and just mounted it the same way you did the top shelf.

    The main reason I ask is because I likely only need a top shelf the entire border of my garage which is finished in white peg board, so finding the studs is easy.

    Reply
    • Sandra says

      July 19, 2020 at 8:45 am

      You could certainly use a shorter cleat if you’re only doing one shelf. I wanted multiple shelves and so used the long cleat so the weight would disperse over a larger area.

      Reply
  21. Rejean Perrault says

    September 27, 2020 at 2:00 am

    Is there a reason (calculations, load bearing, etc) that you went with 8″ x 22″ dimensions for the shelf supports? 8″ x 24″ would make for less wood waste with almost all of the construction material and would give approx 2″ more depth on the shelves

    Reply
    • Sandra says

      September 28, 2020 at 7:30 pm

      It’s been a few years since that project so I don’t remember what factors went in to my choice for shelf width. Possibly the scrap plywood (OSB or whatever I used for the shelves) I had laying around.

      Reply
  22. Michelle says

    November 8, 2020 at 10:16 am

    Thanks for these plans! I recently used them to build shelves for my garage, adjusting to 24″ depth. I needed shelves that were supported without going to the floor. These are great since the brackets aren’t in the way as much as the basic 2×4 triangle designs. I’m more of a beginner and this was all totally doable once I got comfortable with how I was going to cut the diagonals without a track saw nor a table saw! (Used the Kreg guide with a circular saw)

    Reply
  23. Steven says

    November 30, 2020 at 9:41 am

    Great post, thank you for the idea! It’s exactly the solution I’ve been looking for. I’m currently batching out 96 brackets for a 24’ wall. A table saw and jigs for the bracket pieces made everything a breeze as laying out and cutting each piece with a track saw would have taken me days.

    Reply
    • Sandra says

      December 1, 2020 at 8:36 am

      Wow 96 brackets! Sounds like creating jigs was a good choice!

      Reply
  24. Chris says

    February 7, 2021 at 12:54 pm

    This is such a great project, and your design details, measurements, materials, and photo’s made it so easy to follow. Great design, great ideas, and such a helpful post. Thanks so much!

    Reply
  25. Jimmy says

    March 11, 2021 at 7:51 pm

    Very helpful post, thank you for making this!

    Reply
  26. Carl says

    May 17, 2022 at 3:36 pm

    Thank you so much for this guide! Im a beginner interested in getting into wood working, and this made a early terrific project, particularly coupled with the extensive pictures, and completely detailed written directions. Managed this job with only a circular saw, and while i can see how more tools would make it significantly more precise, the design of this build seems tolerate, rather than punish some imprecision. Appreciate it!

    Reply
    • Sandra says

      May 24, 2022 at 10:01 am

      Carl I started out with only a circular saw and a drill/driver too. Almost everything can be done with basic tools though it does get easier and faster (and easier to get precise cuts) with more advanced tools. Some projects don’t require precision. I’m totally good with “good enough” with most things.

      Reply

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