Record shelves
A record shelf lets you store a lot of records on a small footprint. Square cubes, narrow columns or multi-tier metal shelving: the collection grows upwards and stays easy to read at a glance.
Before choosing, check the depth of the compartments, which must take sleeves of around 31.5 cm, and the load capacity where it’s given.
Choosing a shelf for your records
Records get heavy once they’re together. The right shelf takes into account the weight, the depth of the sleeves and the stability of the whole unit.
Depth comes first
A standard bookcase is often too shallow for LPs. You need at least 32 cm so that the sleeves, around 31.5 cm, don’t stick out. The square cubes of Clichy, 36.5 cm deep, meet that need in a width of 44.5 cm.
Weight and load
A shelf full of records quickly weighs several kilos. When a maximum load is given, stick to it and spread the records across the different tiers. The 3-tier Gobelins metal shelf, for example, has a maximum load of 25 kg.
Stability
The taller the shelf, the more stable it needs to be. Put the heaviest records at the bottom, check it’s level during assembly and, where the manufacturer provides for it, fix the unit to the wall with screws and plugs suited to your wall.
Cubes or column?
- Square cubes separate records by genre or era and stop them from toppling over.
- A column fits into a corner or a strip of wall. Raspail, 36 cm wide and 95.5 cm high, adds an angled bin at the top.
- Open metal shelving keeps a light silhouette.
Fill without squeezing
Allow roughly 1 cm of width for 3 to 4 records, depending on their weight. Records should stand upright without being packed so tightly that they rub when you pull them out. Keep a little free space for future purchases.
One wall, several uses
A record shelf can also hold a few sleeves face out, a display stand or music books. Keep the eye-level tiers for the records you play most, and the lower tiers for those you pull out less often.
Pairing a shelf with a record player stand
A shelf works well alongside a low record player stand: the turntable and current records on the console, the rest of the collection next to it. For other options, browse our vinyl record storage range or the wall holders to display a few sleeves.