Whether you are looking for an extra storage space to supplement your garage shelves or an all-new set that will serve as your main storage point, garage cabinets will provide enough space for most of your commonly used equipment.
Manufactured Home Garage Cabinets: Eight Shopping Factors
In a market filled with an array of models from many brands, you need guidance to choose the right product. If you are planning to buy a set, consider these factors:
- Size
- Type
- Depth and Load Capacity
- Material
- Features
- Standards and Certifications
- Brand
- Cost vs. Budget
1. Size
The size of the cabinet is different from its capacity. The product’s size can be used to determine if the available space in your garage is enough to accommodate it. Capacity, on another hand, can be used to determine if the product will accommodate all your essential tools.
When choosing the best cabinets for your garage, you could easily overlook the size of the product until you learn too late it can’t fit in the space you reserved for it.
Unfortunately, buying any storage space, not just cabinets, means giving up some significant floor space, so you will need to understand exactly how much floor or wall space is available for new cabinets and how much you are willing to sacrifice.
Therefore, before even ordering your cabinets, try measuring and marking out clear spots on the floor of your garage in places you plan to put the units.
Use your masking tape and measuring tape to map out the specific space your new cabinet will occupy in 3-D. Remember to use the desired length, width, and height.
Of course, your objective isn’t to prepare a three-dimension model, but to measure the height, width, and length on your floor as well as how far the units will stand off the wall.
2. Type
There are four types of garage cabinets with each designed to meet the specific needs of users.
For example, if the floor area of your garage is always crowded or you don’t like the conditions of the floor, you might want to go for overhead/wall-hanging cabinets.
Let’s take a glance at each type:
Freestanding Cabinets
These are the most basic and common type of cabinets.
They come in a simple rectangular design often standing 5” to 6” feet tall. They usually feature shelves that can adjust to a range of levels to help you organize your tools.
The best thing is that you must not fasten them to walls or attach them to other cabinet units for them to work for you. In most cases, they don’t feature wheels; a solid base or sturdy set of metallic legs provides support.
Modular & Customizable Cabinets
Both customizable and modular cabinets are designed to be part of a larger storage system.
You can easily arrange them into one customized storage solution in consideration of your needs and space.
They give you total control over the minute configuration of your storage space and cabinetry.
Rolling Cabinets
These cabinets somewhat resemble freestanding cabinets except that they are entirely wheeled.
As such, they are the most mobile of all garage cabinets – you can shift them in spaces depending on where you have free space or where you need to work.
They are also flexible, allowing you to make them part of your larger modular set.
In most cases, however, users prefer to install them separately with other garage cabinets and storage systems.
Wall-Mounted & Overhead Cabinets
These two are designed to be fastened to ceilings or walls of your garage, giving you additional storage space without occupying extra floor space.
As such, they are used as supplementary storage spaces to complement other storage systems that may not provide enough storage space at some point.
They are ideal for small garages or cramped spaces that require you make use of the walls and ceilings as storage spaces.
Overhead cabinets may come with built-in lights to offer the much-needed garage lighting and storage at the same time.
2. Depth and Load Capacity
The job of the garage cabinet will be to store all your tools and equipment in clean and spacious conditions, so the first thing on your list should be the capacity.
Ask yourself: how is your tools “arsenal” like? What size of storage space do you need to store them?
Depth
The capacity of garage cabinets, just like any other kind of cabinet, is measured in depths (unofficially).
Typical depths for today’s garage cabinets are 16” and 24” deep – with 24” being the costliest although that’s not the farthest you could go. Normally a garage professional or expert will recommend just two very tall cabinets for that comes with a maximum height, often 36″ wide, and 26” deep.
Whatever type of cabinet you prefer, choose a product that offers enough storage for all your tools.
Choose a set capable of meeting your weight needs. If you plan to store some of your heaviest equipment in these cabinets, go for a product designed to support slightly larger weights than what you plan.
Weight
The weight capacity of a garage cabinet can depend on a few factors including the material of construction (wires and metals always come with the highest weight capacities) and how the shelves were engineered for a certain weight.
Typically, wire shelving is designed to hold a maximum of about 80 lbs.
However, those made of steel can be tough and dependable, holding up to 200 lbs. (and that’s without securing them to studs in a 1/2” drywall).
Some heavy-duty cabinets can handle slightly more—an incredible 250 lbs.
Make sure you don’t overload garage cabinets.
When choosing new garage cabinets
- look for load labels or ratings
- and load capacities for both the cabinet box and shelving.
Yes, these two are different – shelf capacity is what a single shelf can hold; box capacity is The weight the whole box can sustain.
The two can give you a clue of what the subsystem can support.
3. Material
Unlike kitchen or bathroom cabinets which don’t require you to be too particular with material of construction, garage cabinets need to be made from the strongest materials possible.
That’s because garage cabinets are often tasked with holding heavier items than the regular bathroom or kitchen appliances.
The choice of material will determine two things:
- the size of weight the cabinet can hold,
- and how long the cabinet will hold that weight during its existence.
Here are the most commonly used materials in garage cabinets:
Steel
If you are looking for cabinets with an incredible shelving capacity, don’t look beyond steel. Some steel models can hold as much as 300 lbs. distributed across their shelves.
While steel is famed for strength, it is prone to rusting as steel with increased durability.
Luckily, you can stray them regularly with rust prevention aerosols or solutions to reduce or prevent this problem.
Steel cabinets also lack style and finish variety – most of their models look the same.
Most steel cabinets come finished in silver or simply black, with more emphasis put on the function side of it than style.
Wood
Unlike plastic and steel, has several “natural enemies” all over your garage namely, temperature and humidity fluctuations. Wood can be highly vulnerable to these elements given the manner it is normally prepared.
Wood panels are often prepared from MDF or plywood, which are then coated with veneers for looks.
Manufactured wood cabinets come with better aesthetics than both steel and plastic cabinets.
Manufactured wood is normally finished with hardwood veneers, natural wood grains, or simple gray, white, and black tones.
Plastic
If you are looking for sturdier garage cabinets then you should probably choose plastic. Contrary to what you may assume about plastic, many modern plastic cabinet models are equipped with a shelf weight capacity of slightly over 100 lbs.
Even better, they come in a variety of styles to meet your tastes.
Plastic has the extra benefit of being resistant to moisture and can withstand significant temperature fluctuations.
Low-quality plastic can become a bit brittle in cold conditions, so you will have to be watchful to choose the highest quality plastic cabinets from a reputable manufacturer.
You can also use the search function in the eCommerce site to sift through online products and reviews that can help you double-check for plastic quality.
4. Features
You want a product that’s easier to use, safe for anyone who may not be familiar with it.
You also want a product with additional security features besides the standard lock systems to protect your equipment.
Of course, you are not going to find all your favorite features in one product – you most likely will be compelled to prioritize the most essential ones.
Customizable shelving
Very few users are satisfied with default shelving in some cabinets.
Having too much storage space for some equipment and insufficient space for other things is not a problem you should deal with.
That’s why you should purchase a cabinet equipped with customizable shelving that lets you create the ideal space for your circumstances.
Wheels
Simple things like wheels can make a huge difference in how you work in your garage and move things around.
If you have ever spent some time working with any power tools, you probably. know the frustration that comes walking back and forth to your workstations and cabinet, dragging heavy tools the entire way there.
As such, having wheels on a freestanding cabinet the best and simplest solution for this problem.
Locking & child security options
Perhaps the worst experience you could have in your garage is having your valuable equipment stolen.
But that’s an unlikely danger in your home compared to keeping small children away from the most dangerous power tools and saws in the garage.
So, if you have a few curious kids at home, buying a cabinet with childproofing mechanisms or simple built-in locks can be an easy method to keep them away from harm.
Tipover restraint device
Depending on how flat the floor is or how overloaded the cabinet is, the unit may easily tip over with all your equipment and even cause serious damages.
That’s why you should choose a garage cabinet with a tip-over restraint device. This device is also called furniture anchor and is specifically designed to keep the unit upright to prevent falls.
If you have ever had a fully loaded garage cabinet, you know how heavy these storage spaces can get.
Most freestanding models are designed to balance perfectly, but it is not entirely uncommon to misjudge how full the top drawers or slots can be, which may easily cause a fall.
5. Standards and Certifications
There is more to cabinets than storage. The safety, ease of use, and even the ability of the unit to protect your equipment from fire and water encroachment need to be put into consideration.
Fortunately, there are standards and certification bodies that test these areas and rate the product accordingly.
So, all you need to do is to look for the labels that showcase ratings based on a specific attribute, then choose a product that fits your expectations.
Mastercraft certified (KCMA Certification) products, for example, are put through thirteen rigorous tests including loads applicable per square foot (15 lbs.), the ability of the finish to withstand great temperatures (120 degrees Fahrenheit), and 24-hr water and soap test.
Specifically, choose an ANSI/KCMA A161.1 garage cabinet if you are looking for a product that meets the latest safety and strength standards.
There are many other standards you could consider, including CARB 2 Compliance (if you live in California).
6. Brand
Just like any other product, garage cabinets are just as good as the brand.
If you haven’t made up your mind about the brand yet, take a glance at the various reviews on the internet and get to hear what users have to say about different brand’s products.
Favorably reviewed products are often a reflection of quality and functionality. Not all reviews are genuine though, so you will need to be choosey with your sources.
Here are some of the renowned and well-rated garage cabinet makers out there:
Gladiator
They are known for their ready-to-assemble freestanding garage cabinets. If you are looking for a decent and affordable steel product, check out their collection at Lowes.
NewAge Products
Their Bold Series of garage cabinets is one of the popular cabinet sets in the market.
CRAFTSMAN
Their 200 Series of freestanding garage cabinets is ideal for small garages..
Edsal
Edsal offers some of the best fireproof garage cabinets out there, including this freestanding steel product.
7. Cost vs. Budget
Lastly and most importantly, make up your mind on the amount of money you are willing to spend on garage cabinets of your liking.
Cabinets don’t come cheap, so you need to have the budget figured out before setting for out for the store.
The costs involved in the acquisition of garage cabinets are some of the hardest to state explicitly because of the wide range of factors involves.
The choice of materials, for example, will determine the amount of money you will pay for a set.
Some established brands like IKEA tend to price their products quite highly compared to your local manufacturer.
Another thing is the lack of a standardized way to make cabinets – some brands will sell to you a 3-piece set that costs slightly more than a 2-piece set of the same type from another brand.
For a typical 2-car garage with multiple tall cabinets, lower cabinets, upper cabinets, lower cabinets, and shelving: 70 – 80 percent of homeowners expect a price somewhere between $2000 – $5000 for usual white fronts, aluminum pulls, and aluminum shelving.
Conclusion
In a market filled with an array of models from many brands, you need guidance to choose the right product. The size of the cabinet is different from its capacity.
The size of the product can be used to determine if the available space in your garage is enough to accommodate it.
Capacity, on another hand, can be used to determine if the product will accommodate all your essential tools.
The job of the garage cabinet will be to store all your tools and equipment in clean and spacious conditions, so the first thing on your list should be the capacity.
Ask yourself: how is your tools “arsenal” like? What size of storage space do you need to store them?
The capacity of garage cabinets, just like any other kind of cabinet, is measured in depths.
Unlike kitchen or bathroom cabinets which don’t require you to be too particular with material of construction, garage cabinets need to be made from the strongest materials possible.
That’s because garage cabinets are often tasked with holding heavier items than the regular bathroom or kitchen appliances
There are four types of garage cabinets with each designed to meet the specific needs of users.
For example, if the floor area of your garage is always crowded or you don’t like the conditions of the floor, you might want to go for overhead/wall-hanging cabinets.
