18+ Different Bike Storage Ideas (Outdoor & Indoor + Vehicle)

To help you overcome your space puzzle, we’ve put together this guide to the different storage ideas, where to use them, and the pros and cons of each to make choosing the perfect one easy.

Any cyclist with a tight living space knows bicycles take up a lot of room (folding bikes are popular for this reason).

To add to the problem, as you ride more, you may begin wanting (needing) bikes for different things like commuting, mountain biking, and road biking.

Bike Racks Storage & Transport Solutions:

Vehicle – Hitch / Boot / Roof / Spare Tire

Outdoor – Ground / Shed / Tent

Indoor – Floor / Wall / Ceiling / Free Standing

How to Choose

What to look for in bike storage:

The good news is, there are many different bike storage solutions, each of which will appeal to different riders and their specific situations. The most important things about any idea for storing bikes are:

• Saves space
• Easy and convenient to use
• Secure
• Doesn’t damage your wall/ceiling/floor

Some nice-to-have bike storage features are affordability, a tidy/stylish look, and compatibility with various bikes.

How to decide which one is right for me?

With the above characteristics identified, consider your situation:

• Number of bikes (most solutions are for 1-6)
• Layout and size of the space you have (garage, apartment?)
• The frequency you use the bike(s)
• Security (if outside)
• Do kids need to use it?
• Budget

Although you can use some products anywhere in the home, we’ve categorized the bike storage ideas as either apartment, garage, or outdoor.

So first, let’s look at indoor bike storage ideas.

Bike Storage in Apartments

Freestanding / Wall Stand / Vertical / Horizontal Hanging

Many cyclists don’t have the luxury of a garage or secure outdoor area to store their bikes and require a creative apartment bike rack to get the most out of their space.

You can use four of the five indoor bike rack options in this article in an apartment, and which one you choose will depend on your situation, as described in the previous section.

For us, the best apartment bike storage is practical, nice to look at, minimally intrusive, and clean.

Freestanding & Supported Stands

Supported stands and freestanding racks are excellent for apartments. They require little to no interference with the walls (great for renters) and often maximize the space by stacking two bikes on top of each other. They are also affordable and widely available.

Freestanding Racks

These work like coat racks, by using a large base to support the weight. They can be placed anywhere in the home to hang two bikes, one over the other, without requiring anything to lean on.

PROS

• No installation required
• Moveable
• Use in the garage or apartment
• Compact

CONS

• Max 2 bikes
• Mostly for adults bikes
• Challenging to lift bikes onto the higher rack
• Not kid-friendly
• Lower weight capacity

Supported Stands

These include pole bike racks and wall stands which function like freestanding racks, only using a wall or the floor and ceiling for support. They don’t need much installation or any permanent changes to the walls and are relatively easy to move.

Horizontal Racks

Bike storage hooks and other horizontal racks are excellent for apartments as they are compact,  diverse, affordable, and most of the products require minimal installation.

Horizontal wall bike racks allow you to stack two bikes over each other to maximize vertical wall space in a small apartment. Additionally, you can use them in garages by stacking the same way or side by side along the wall.

Most of these products hold a single bike, making them ideal for people with just one bicycle in the house, especially if they want to show it off.

PROS

• Wide variety to choose from
• Great for small apartments
• No floor space required
• Minimal installation
• Great for displaying a bike
• Can be installed anywhere

CONS

• Hard to lift a second bike
• Drilling is required
• May require brick or concrete walls
• Lots of wall space
• Wide handlebars may not fit
• Ineffective for more than two bikes
• Incompatible with some frame shapes

Vertical Racks

Vertical bike storage is one of the most efficient ways to utilize space when you need to store three or more bikes, as horizontal storage would take up too much wall space. However, there must be enough space outwards from the wall to mount and unmount the bikes, limiting their use for smaller apartments.

The best vertical wall racks are effortless to use and allow you to swivel the bikes and push them closer to the wall, minimizing the distance they protrude, as seen in the video below.

PROS

• Most efficient use of space for 3+ bikes
• Broad compatibility
• Wide variety and price range available
• Broad compatibility with wheel sizes
• Easy to mount/unmount the bikes
• Can go anywhere in the home

CONS

Read Our Full Guide

Bike Racks for Garage

Ceiling / Floor

How to hang bikes in a garage

The apartment racks described above also function as garage bike storage ideas. However, a couple of solutions work best in garages. These include ceiling racks (with or without a pulley system) and floor bike holders.

These products require lots of floor space or high ceilings, which are uncommon in most homes and typical in garages. Generally, ceiling racks are for any house with overhead space but limited floor or wall space.

Ceiling Racks for Bikes

How to hang bikes in a garage with high ceilings? The correct answer is with ceiling hoists. 

Ceiling bike hangers come in two different styles, with or without a pulley system. Although most ceiling systems are for single bikes, you can also find multiple-bike ceiling racks.

If you want to hang a bike from the ceiling without a pulley, the bicycle must be lightweight, and you must be tall enough to reach the hooks. These racks hold your bike upside down with individual hooks holding each wheel.

Ceiling bike storage with a pulley system usually hangs the bike by the handlebars and saddle. The pulleys allow you to effortlessly lift heavy bikes high overhead using the pulleys, a great solution for kids or adults with heavier bikes.

PROS

• Best use of space
• No wall or floor space needed
• Works with almost any adults bike frame or wheel size

CONS

• Expensive
• Pulleys can be time-consuming to use
• Requires high ceilings
• Pulley systems usually only fit one bike
• Difficult to install

Floor Racks

Bike storage stands or floor racks are an efficient way of organizing bicycles for easy access and tidiness. However, their appeal is limited because they require lots of floor space, which most storage solutions avoid.

They generally work by placing the front wheel into a slot that keeps the bike upright. This design results in various limitations discussed below.

As depicted above, freestanding bike racks for the floor come in various styles. Some are multifunctional racks for bikes and equipment, while others replicate outdoor bike racks seen around the city and in front of stores.

PROS

• Easiest and quickest access to bikes
• No installation required
• Moveable
• May include extra storage
• Inexpensive
• Can hold many bikes

CONS

• Inefficient use of space
• Incompatible with some kids’ wheel sizes
• May not fit fat tires or disc brakes
• Cheap/light models can be unstable

Best Garage Bike Racks

OUTDOOR Bicycle Storage – Bike Sheds, Covers, & Tents

If you don’t have enough space inside but have a secure area outside, consider an outdoor bike storage solution such as a bike shed, tent, or heavy-duty cover. Additionally, you can use floor racks outdoors for temporary storage, such as in a walled garden.

Your bike’s security is the most important thing if you plan to leave it outside. However, if this isn’t an issue and you’re confident it won’t be stolen, these ideas can help you maintain a clean and tidy bike-free home.

The issue with any outdoor storage is the collection of moisture and the exposure to temperature extremes in many areas. This exposure can increase the rate of wear of the bikes.

PROS

• Free up indoor space
• Bikes are already outside when you need to use them
• No installation
• Portable

CONS

• Not very secure
• Bikes are subject to varying levels of exposure
• Sheds can be expensive
• Sheds and tents are time-consuming to set up

Bike storage sheds – These are the most secure option and are difficult to break into, making them ideal for residential areas. They are available in metal or wood, each with pros and cons.

Tents and covers – Both tents and covers are very similar. They cover the bike(s) in a weatherproof shell, stopping direct exposure to the elements. They are not secure but have the advantage of being easy to move and collapsible.

Note, a tent or shed that stores bikes side by side is ideal if you use your bikes regularly but takes up more space. Otherwise, you can place the bikes one in front of the other with the most frequently used bike at the front.

Read Our Full Guide

Tips

Choosing the best bicycle storage solution for your bikes and home is crucial, but there are a few small things to do and avoid once you’ve chosen.

Most importantly, perform basic maintenance tasks regularly and keep a clean bike with a quick wash every few weeks. Completing these tasks helps your bike run smoothly and keeps dirt and debris out of the home.

Other storage considerations include:

• Use good security practices and a strong bike lock if storing outside
• Don’t lean the derailleur side on anything
• Avoid prolonged outdoor exposure and moisture (place absorbent material under the wheels if keeping bikes outside)
• Maintain some air pressure in the tires year-round

Read Next

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A Guide to Bike Racks

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