The 10 Best Garage Bike Racks

Anyone who has ever owned a bike knows how hard and cumbersome it can be to find a nice, secure spot to store the bike inside the house or garage. This is especially true for those who have limited space to work with, and require smart solutions for bicycle storage. 

And then there are garage bike racks- the perfect indoor bike storage solution. These racks, which can either be a suspended system, shelf, or stand, are incredibly secure and help maintain your bicycle’s show-ready condition. They are easy and convenient to use, and can be placed in your garage or your home.

We’ve reviewed the best garage bike racks below, so be sure to check them out!

Advantages of Garage Bike Racks

Riding your bike outdoors is fun. Storing it outside? Not so much.

It gets exposed to so many harsh elements, leading to a myriad of issues such as rusting of chains and other metal parts from excessive humidity, fading and breaking down of paints and plastic parts from too much heat, and seizing from extreme colds.

Using the right garage bicycle storage offers plenty of benefits, such as keeping your bike safe, extending its longevity and minimizing the need for repairs and replacement, and so on. This is because, one, you’re not leaving your bike outside and exposed to the elements, and two, with proper storage, the bike isn’t a safety hazard around the garage for kids and adults alike.

Pros:

• Garage bike racks keep your bicycle safe, not only from the elements, but also from thieves and other security concerns.
• Indoor bike storage options also extend your bike’s longevity since your ride is shielded against various weather conditions.
• There is a wide variety of garage bike storage solutions, so you won’t have any trouble finding one that perfectly suits your specific needs and requirements.

Cons:

• The wide availability of bicycle storage systems also makes it quite overwhelming to narrow down your options and pick the right product.
• Some types of bicycle racks can be terribly expensive so you might need to shell out more than what you were expecting. (they are often worth it though!)

Top 10 Garage Bike Racks

We’ve scoured the market for bike storage ideas and evaluated each item’s performance to determine which ones are worth buying. Below is a review of the best garage bicycle racks we found. Each of these products have received high ratings on Amazon and are sure to fit your bike storage needs.

Ready? Let’s get started.

Types of Garage Bike Racks

Choosing the right bike storage system means understanding your space, then selecting the perfect type of garage bicycle rack that would work well for this space.

We’re talking about what kind of space you’re working with, how big or small it is, whether you’re limited to the wall (and if you’re allowed to drill some holes) or you can work with a bit of floor space, whether it’s possible to hang bikes on the ceiling, how many bicycles require storage solutions, and how accessible you need your bikes to be.

Floor Stand

Floor bike stands are the easiest to use since you only need to roll your bike to its spot on the stand. These bike holders are also usually portable, easy to move around, and can hold several bikes. The only catch is, they take up precious real estate, so they won’t work for cramped spaces like tiny apartments and dorm rooms.

Freestanding

Freestanding bike racks, also called gravity bike stands, are largely similar to floor stands- in fact, these two terms are often interchanged. However, one difference is that floor stands are low-lying whereas freestanding racks are taller, often allowing you to “stack” bikes. Like floor stands, these can be placed anywhere, but they take up relatively less floor space.

Tension Mount

Meanwhile, tension mount bike holders extend from the floor to the ceiling. These are single poles that stay standing due to tension. These take up even less space than freestanding racks, and also allow for mounting multiple bikes with the lowest bike a good few inches off the floor.

Wall Mount

There are also wall mounted bicycle racks, which are screwed into a wall using strong metal bolts and screws. A typical bike rack for garage wall will be able to hold a single bike, and if you have more than one bike, you can install several wall mounts, making sure to allot enough space between each one. 

Ceiling Hoist

Your garage wall may be covered with cabinets, shelves, and what-have-you. Or perhaps there’s drywall preventing you from achieving secure wall studs. Whatever the case, you can simply change tactics and take advantage of your ceiling by installing ceiling hoist bike lifts and rails. These make use of pulley systems to let you conveniently hoist and store your bike.

Bike Shed

Now, if you have limited storage space inside the house or garage but have plenty of outdoor space, say, in the front lawn or backyard, you can opt for a bicycle shed instead- buy one or go the DIY route. This will allow you to still have a safe and secure bike storage system and keep your bike safe from thieves and weather conditions without sacrificing your real estate.

Bike Locker

If you like the idea of bicycle sheds but would prefer something more secure and versatile, consider bike lockers. These can be easily purchased online or in bike shops , are easy to assemble (and can even arrive at your door already assembled if you want), and come in various configurations with horizontal, vertical, and diagonally shaped models to choose from.

Do make sure to keep an eye out for must-have features such as multipoint locking systems for dependable protection, durable constructions and weatherproofed designs, built-in hooks for your cycling gear (helmets, cycling shoes, etc), and enough space to fit multiple bikes if that’s what you need.

How To Find The Best Garage Bike Rack

When it comes to garage bicycle racks, there are plenty of options available on the market, so whether you own one or a gazillion bikes, and no matter how much storage space you have, with the right kind of bike rack and some organization skills, you are sure to get your mess of a garage in order in no time.

For instance, you’ve got straightforward floor stands, foldable freestanding racks, simple hook solutions, wall-mounted bike hooks for garage walls, and even ceiling mounted rail systems, or mini sheds that can house your bike outdoors. All these things come with their unique advantages and drawbacks.

That’s the thing, though. With all these different options available, choosing the right product can be quite tricky. There are so many things to consider, you’ll have to do lots of research, compare dozens of choices, and narrow down your options before settling on a model.

This buying guide will help you find the perfect garage bicycle rack in no time:

Storage Location: Indoors or Outdoors?

One of the first things you need to decide on is where you want to store your bike/s. Inside your home would probably be the most secure spot- and your only option if you live in a dorm or apartment complex- but if you hate rolling dirty wheels through the house, then either your garage or an outdoor shed/ bike locker would be your options.

What you have to consider here is how much space you have, what level of security you need, and whether there are other existing or potential concerns you need to be aware of. And, keep in mind that if it’s outdoors, you’ll need to account for adequate weatherproofing and protection against rust and corrosion.

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Mounting Option: Screws or No?

Indoor storage is good, but many bike racks, versatile and flexible as they are, tend to take up valuable floor space- at least, once the bikes are mounted on them. A good alternative would be to opt for wall or ceiling mounted solutions. These hanging bike racks won’t take up any real estate, as long as you’re willing (or allowed) to drill a couple of holes for mounting.

Otherwise, you can probably opt for tension mounts to get the feel of hanging racks without the drilling part, or even those tall freestanding racks that take up considerably less space than their shorter floor stand counterparts.

Aesthetics and Functionality

A garage bike rack should be, first and foremost, functional. For example, it’s great if it can be used for other purposes like storing ladders and tools, or if it can double as a home bike repair stand. But, if you’re installing it inside your home, you’re going to want to consider its aesthetics as well.

This means factoring in whether the bike rack looks good when it’s in use and when it’s not, whether it displays your bike/s in such a way that attracts attention or tucks it away neatly in some corner, and so on. Do remember that the more “in display” your bicycle is, the more strictly you have to commit to your bike cleaning and maintenance routine so that no one’s staring at a dirty, dingy bike.

Floor and Wall Protection

Whether you’re storing your bike in the garage or inside your house, you need to make sure that there’s adequate protection for your floor and wall against grease and dirt, as well as scratches and damage from the bike or the rack coming into contact with the floor or wall.

What will give you this protection are plastic housings for the bike wheels, wide plates designed to stay under the wheels, extending racks that keep your bike at a good distance from the wall, and rubber guards that either keep your bike in place or prevent contact with the rack and other surrounding structures.

Build Quality

After settling on a type of bicycle rack for garage storage based on your intended storing location, mounting option, and protective features, you should then consider the material and construction quality of the bike rack you’re eyeing. This is important since this is what ultimately determines the rack’s reliability, functionality, and longevity.

After all, you really don’t want your bike rack falling apart or breaking down, and worse, your bicycle falling off of it and sustaining serious damage. Not to mention, if your bike and/ or the bike rack falls off the wall or ceiling or topples on the floor, you risk surrounding things getting damaged, as well as people getting injured.

To prevent these things from happening, choose good quality materials that are durable, robust, and strong, such as stainless steel.

Finishing Type

It’s also a smart idea to consider the finishing of your garage bicycle storage, since this will help protect the bike rack against damage, wear and tear, rust, and corrosion, thereby ensuring a longer service life. There are various types of bike rack finishing and coating, with the more popular ones being:

• Cast-off plastic coat: a cast-off plastic coat is basically a plastic coating that is made primarily with recycled plastics to make it strong, durable, and environmentally friendly. One of the leading manufacturers for this finish is Polytek.
• Powder coat: dry powder coatings offer a sturdy skeletal protection for your bike racks against unpredictable weather changes. These are available in various colors and with high gloss facades.
• Stainless steel: like powder coats, stainless steel finishes are also glossy, but they come with the added bonuses of being hard-wearing materials, as well as offering decent protection against corrosion. Stainless steel is also easy to use and maintain, which is a must for garage bicycle racks. One of the leaders in stainless steel production is Aperam. Check them out here.
• Zinc coat: often referred to as galvanized coating, zinc coats offer an even better resistance against corrosion (often thanks to a process called anodizing) as compared to stainless steel. This material is also inexpensive, although unlike stainless steel and powder coat finishes, zinc coats provide a dull, matte-like appearance.

Stability

Perhaps one of the most important things when it comes to bike holders is that they have to be stable enough to securely and safely hold your bike. If you’re considering floor stands, for example, while lightweight bike racks are more portable, heavier models tend to be more stable and durable, especially if they have wide bases.

Or, if you want a wall or ceiling mounted option, make sure that you’re using strong metal screws and bolts and that the rack is made with solid and sturdy materials. It’s also important to make sure that there are systems in place to prevent the bike from rocking or swaying while it’s mounted on the rack.

Capacity

This one seems like a no-brainer, but you really have to consider the capacity of the bike rack, aka how many bikes it can hold, and how much weight it can handle. In terms of weight capacity, understand that MTBs and fat tire bikes are typically heavier than fixies, and electric bikes are even heavier- sometimes 4x the weight of a fixie.

As for bike capacity, if everyone in the household owns a bike, for instance, go for a bike rack that can accommodate multiple bikes, unless you want to, say, install several hanging bike racks on the wall, or have lots of floor bike stands scattered around the garage.

Size

Another thing to consider is size, which includes the size of your intended storage area, the size of the bike rack, and the size of your bike. All of these things must be taken into account to make sure that the bike rack fits in the garage/ wall/ floor/ etc, and that your bike/s fit in the rack.

If you’re dealing with limited space, especially if you need to store several bikes, consider wall mounted bike hooks, tension mounted bike poles, or ceiling hoist bike lifts.

Ease of Use

Another factor to take into account is the bike rack’s efficiency or ease of use- meaning, how easy it is to load or unload your bike onto the rack. For instance, will you have to do some heavy lifting and hoist your bike a foot or so off the floor? Do you need to turn your bike upwards to make it fit in a vertical rack?

Furthermore, is there a need to use pulley systems, ropes, latches, locks, and brakes? Or is it as simple as rolling your bike into the rack?

Security Features

You’ll also want to account for the bike rack’s security features, especially if you’ll be storing your bike outside the house, like in the garage or a bike shed. For instance, lockable storage systems are always a good idea, and even better are those that are bolted into the ground, wall, or ceiling (as long as the bike rack also locks in your bike).

Ease of Installation

It’s also great if the garage bicycle rack is easy to assemble and install or mount, so you don’t have to spend too much time and effort figuring out how to get it to work. Of course, this partly depends on the type of rack you choose. For instance, floor stands and tension mounts typically come fully assembled, while wall and ceiling mounted racks need some drilling and assembly.

One thing to keep in mind is how much security and maneuverability you want. Bike racks that are easier to assemble, such as floor stands, freestanding bike racks, and tension mounted poles are easier to move around if you want to change your bike storage spot, and many of them are even portable and can be used for other purposes like truck bed bike racks.

Meanwhile, wall and ceiling mounted racks may require more effort in terms of installation, but since they are designed to be more or less permanent fixtures, they offer better security.

How To Install Garage Bike Racks

Assembling and installing your garage bike rack correctly (especially any screws, bolts, or locking systems) is important so as to avoid untoward incidents and causing damage to the rack, your bike, and other items or structures around your bike storage.

In fact, even choosing a good location for your bike rack significantly affects installation. It’s a must to choose a safe spot that (1) is appropriate for the type of garage bicycle rack you want to install, and (2) doesn’t get a lot of foot traffic nor is surrounded by dangerous and easily breakable items.

Here’s the best way to go about your bike rack’s installation process:

1. Plan the space– carefully plan out where and how you want to install the bicycle rack. For example, if it’s wall-mounted, which wall will you mount it on? (make sure it’s not on drywall) how high do you want it to be? If you’ll be installing more than one hanging bike rack, how much space is recommended between each rack?
2. Declutter- it’s also important to take your surroundings into account. For starters, it should be free of clutter and debris. Not only does this free up additional space, it also lessens the risk of accidents leading to damage or injury.
3. Take your time- it may sound great to work with a product that promises easy installation or assembly, but even then, don’t rush things; rather, take your time and make sure that you’re doing everything correctly.

FAQs

Does hanging bikes by the wheels damage the bike?

No. The contact points between the bike wheels and the bike frame are strong and robust; otherwise, you risk the wheels coming off of the bike while you’re riding. Besides, there are plenty of protective features on bicycle racks designed to keep the bike in place and prevent damage, so it’s perfectly safe to hang your bicycle by its front or rear wheel.

Of course, if your bike has a quick-release wheel and you’re hanging the bike through that wheel, it’s important to make sure that the wheel is properly attached to the bike.

What type of rack is best for storing multiple bicycles?

It’s really up to your personal preference, but if you need to store more than two or three bikes, we do recommend staying away from freestanding bike racks and tension mount poles since these can take on a couple of bikes at most.

Instead, choose between wall or ceiling mounted bike racks- or if you have plenty of floor space, you can also consider the kinds of floor stands you see in public parking spaces. All these bike rack types will be able to accommodate multiple bikes, sometimes even up to 6 or so bikes.

How much weight can a garage bike rack hold?

Each garage bicycle rack comes with a specific weight capacity, so it’s always best to check with the manufacturer’s specifications. That said, if your bike is on the heavy side or you’re storing multiple bikes, it’s still safest to opt for floor stands and freestanding bike racks. This way, there’s no risk of bicycles falling on your head.

Final Thoughts

There may be thousands of options for garage bike racks on the market, but at the end of the day, the best one is still whichever offers the perfect storage and organization solution that matches your specific needs. This bike rack should be functional, practical, versatile, customizable, durable, and come with adequate protection and security features to keep your bike and the bike rack safe at all times.

• Category: Buying Guide