Vinyl record storage
Good vinyl record storage keeps your records upright, out of direct light, and lets you flip through them easily. Record-shop-style crates, cube units, boxes or shelves: our storage suits a first selection as well as a growing collection.
Each product page gives the dimensions and, where known, the record capacity. You can combine several storage pieces with the same record player stand.
Storing your records properly
A record is best kept upright, without excessive pressure, away from heat sources. The choice of storage follows from those three rules, then from the space available and the way you listen.
Always upright, never stacked
Stacked flat, the records at the bottom bear the weight of the others and can warp. Stored upright, they should be snug enough not to lean, without being squeezed. A divider or a compartment of the right size helps you strike that balance.
The right dimensions
A 12-inch LP sleeve measures around 31.5 × 31.5 cm. Aim for a compartment at least 32 cm high and deep. For width, allow roughly 1 cm for 3 to 4 records, depending on their weight: a 180 g record in a gatefold sleeve takes up more room than a standard pressing.
Choosing the format
- The crate: you flip through the records from the top, as in a record shop. Mouffetard takes this idea onto hairpin legs. More designs in our vinyl record crates range.
- The cube unit: a compact box to stand on the floor or on a cabinet, like Barbès, 42 cm wide.
- The shelf: ideal when the collection grows upwards. See our record shelves.
- The metal rack: Rambuteau holds up to 100 records in a light silhouette.
Protecting your records
Avoid direct sunlight, radiators and damp rooms. An inner sleeve protects the surface of the record; a clear outer sleeve protects the cardboard sleeve. Put each record back in its place after listening.
Planning ahead
A collection always grows faster than you expect. Keep at least a quarter of your storage free: records stay easy to pull out, and new purchases find a home without reorganising everything. Modular storage, added to crate by crate, saves you from replacing it all.
Organising your collection
Alphabetical order, by genre, by year or by mood: it doesn’t matter, as long as you can find your records. Keep the records of the moment within reach, near the turntable, and the rest in larger-capacity storage. To display the sleeve that’s playing, see our now playing record stands.