Well, I love to write about shoes on here, so we should talk about how to keep them organized. What’s the best shoe rack that’s reasonably priced and well made? For many years, I used a simple white stacking shelf from Target as my shoe rack because at $13.99, the price was right.
However, this shelf was not ideal. First, it requires some effort to assemble. The stacking mechanism isn’t great with a flimsy connection at best. And because it’s made out of composite wood, it’s heavy. Moving several of these is a pain. Another annoyance: white plastic caps try to mask the screws on the sides but they’re always falling off.
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My Shoe Rack Search
I wanted to upgrade to something sturdier, easier to put together, and more attractive. But getting something like the shoe rack below from West Elm is laughable. Though it’s lovely (and pricey), it’s not practical at all — unless you own only three pairs of shoes. That definitely is not me.
So I went in search of a new shoe rack. My requirements:
- easy to assemble
- strong yet lightweight
- stackable
- sturdy
- moderately priced
- not ugly
The Winner: Seville Classics 3-Tier Utility Shoe Rack
After researching many options, here’s what I ended up with — tada! Here’s the best shoe organizer for your money.
Seville Classics Shoe Rack – $29.99. Update: In 2024, they are now 49.99 or 79.99 for two.
This is the Seville Classics 3-Tier Resin Slat Utility Shoe Rack and it met all my requirements. It has an iron frame, which means it’s strong. I wouldn’t say it’s lightweight, but it’s not heavy. I can pick up the whole thing with nine pairs of shoes on it no problem.
The shoe rack arrives flat and assembles easily. No tools required! Just unfold the frame, and then snap the shelves in place. (This means that it will also be easy to move because you can transport it flat).
The shelves are roomy — there’s 5 3/4″ between each shelf. I could fit 3-inch heels on them (but I have a small shoe size: 6.5-7). If you need more space, such as for boots, you can leave out a shelf like this:
The shelves of the Seville Classic shoe rack are removable so that you can configure them how you like.
It comes with connector pins if you want to stack them. I stacked three of them vertically and they’re not wobbly at all. You can also adjust the feet, as they are screwed on, to level the shelf.
Three of the Seville Classic shoe racks stacked together.
Aesthetics & Durability
Is it the most attractive shoe rack in the world? No. But it’s handsome enough. It has a clean, neutral style, which means that it can fit in with a lot of decor. There’s also a mesh shelf version, but I think the slatted shelves are more attractive (and easier to dust).
Each three-shelf unit is $29.99. You can get it from Seville Classics, Amazon, and other retailers. I added a hook to the side to hang a shoe horn. (Both are from Daiso, the Japanese dollar store. The hook attaches via an adjustable gripper and I have no idea what it’s called or where you can get one too, but you can also use a magnet hook.)
So far, I’m very pleased with this shoe rack. It’s well made and sturdy. Plus, I love that you can configure it in different ways. That means it can adapt to different spaces. I also put two of these in my closet for clothes storage. I stack my jeans on them. I’ve recommended this shoe rack to friends, and now I recommend it to you!
UPDATE 3/30/24 – I just want to mention that I moved across the country with these racks, and as I surmised, they were easy to move. I took all the shelves out and folded up the frames. The movers taped the sets of shelves together, which meant I had to clean off sticky tape residue. But that aside, they survived just fine and I was able to reassemble them into configurations that work for my new space.
