As someone who grew up in a house full of bikes, I know the pain of trying to find somewhere to fit them all. Many people hang their bikes up in the garage as a way to save space and keep their bikes up and out of the way. This can be a great option but the number of ways to do this can be a bit daunting. To make things easier for you, I’ve gone through all the main options and summarised which one might be best for you! So, how do you hang a bike in a garage?
You can hang a bike in your garage by one of two main methods, either from the ceiling or from the wall. Ceiling hanging mechanisms are good at saving more space, however, they only work when you have a tall enough garage. Wall hooks on the other hand are less space effective, but easier to install and use.
So, now we know there are a few different ways to hang a bike in your garage, but which one should you pick? I take a look into the options, as well as checking if your garage is suitable to store a bike in the rest of the article.
What are the different ways to hang a bike in a garage?
Wall mounted racks
Wall-mounted racks attach to the wall of your garage, they either store the bike horizontally or vertically and either hang your bike by the frame or the front wheel.
Ceiling mounted racks
Ceiling-mounted bike racks come in 2 main forms, bike hoist systems that use pulleys to lift your bike up to the top of your garage, or bike ceiling hooks that hang onto one or two of your bike’s wheels.
Freestanding racks
Freestanding bike racks are the most basic form of bike storage, they allow you to park your bike in your garage and save space.
What are the different types of wall-mounted bike racks?
Horizontal Frame Wall Hooks
What are horizontal frame wall hooks?
Horizontal frame wall hooks are the most common method of hanging a bike in your garage. These sit against your garage wall and hold the bike horizontally against the wall.
What are the garage requirements for a horizontal frame wall hook?
Due to the wall space this option will take up, your garage will need a large amount of free wall space that can be used to store each bike. As well as this, you will want to ensure that the location where you have this free wall space is one that will not interfere with your garage door, and is easily accessible by whoever will be lifting the bike into the storage rack.
The material your walls are made from is also important, you will not be able to install this type of wall mount into plasterboard and so you will need to ensure that you have some joists (wooden beams behind the plasterboard) in the location you will be installing the bike rack.
What tools do you require to install a horizontal frame wall hook?
The tools required to install this method of hanging your bike are minimal but will depend on the type of material your garage is made from. The main step in installing this wall bracket will be drilling a pilot hole into your garage wall, and so you will need a drill that is able to drill into the material of your wall (brick/wood etc).
If you have joists in your garage, then you may also need a stud finder (used to find the wooden joists in your walls), to ensure that you do not install the hook into the drywall.
What are the physical requirements of using a horizontal frame wall hook?
This method requires you to lift your bike onto the hooks, so heavier bikes can be an issue. Make sure that you can raise your bike up to the planned height of your bike hook before you install this option.
What types of bike work with a horizontal frame wall hook?
| Category | Estimated Limit (Exact specification depends on individual model) |
|---|---|
| Weight limits | 30kg |
| Wheel size | 12″ and above |
| Bike capacity | 1 bike |
How much do horizontal frame wall hooks cost?
Horizontal frame wall hooks are one of the cheapest methods of hanging bikes in a garage. Prices will vary from £10 to £30 depending on the model you choose and the weight limit on the product.
What are the benefits of a horizontal frame wall hook?
This option is a good all-rounder if you have a garage suitable for it. It is cheap, easy to install and fairly easy to use once it has been set up. They are also an effective way of utilising wall space which is often underused in a garage.
What are the negatives of a horizontal frame wall hook?
The main negative of this type of bike hanging system is that it can be harder to use with heavy bikes. Lifting a 30kg electric bike onto a horizontal wall stand can be a challenge for anyone.
Apart from this, the design of these racks means that you are only able to store 1 bike at a time, otherwise, you will end up having to remove all the bikes on the stand to access the one at the back.
The final negative of these stands is that while they do save a lot of floor space, the bikes themselves can stick out quite far from the wall (you need them to sit far enough out that the handlebars can fit up against the wall). This means that in smaller garages they might not work as well.
If you think a Horizontal Frame Wall Hook is right for you, check out my suggested model on amazon.
Vertical Front-Wheel Wall Hooks
What are vertical front-wheel wall hooks?
Vertical front-wheel wall hooks attach to the wall of your garage, allowing you to store your bike vertically on the wall, looping the front wheel of your bike into the hook.
What are the garage requirements for a vertical front-wheel wall hook?
This option takes up less wall space than horizontal frame wall hooks, however, it will take up more of the internal space of your garage. Remember that when the bikes are hung in the rack, they will point out as far as the saddle of the bike seat goes. You also need to account for enough room to be able to remove the bikes from the rack.
As with horizontal frame wall hooks, the material your walls are made from is also important, you will need to install these hooks into joists or brick for them to be stable.
What tools do you require to install a vertical front-wheel wall hook?
To install a vertical front-wheel wall hook, you will require a drill that is able to drill into the material of your wall (brick/wood etc).
If you have joists in your garage, then you may also need a stud finder (used to find the wooden joists in your walls), to ensure that you do not install the hook into the drywall.
What are the physical requirements of using a vertical front-wheel wall hook?
If you place this type of bike rack at the correct height, you will not have to lift your bike off of the ground in order to hook the bike into the rack. If you measure this correctly you can adjust it so that you can simply roll the bike onto its back wheel, and then hook the front wheel onto the hook.
What types of bike work with a vertical front-wheel wall hook?
| Category | Estimated Limit (Exact specification depends on individual model) |
|---|---|
| Weight limits | 30kg (per bike) |
| Wheel size | 12″ and above |
| Bike capacity | Up to 5 bikes depending on the model |
Bikes with hydraulic brakes may be less suitable for storing vertically, as when you store the bike vertically the air bubbles within the hydraulic brakes rise up to the brake levers. This can cause the brakes to feel spongy when you first take the bike down from the wall.
How much do vertical front-wheel wall hooks cost?
The price of a vertical front-wheel wall hook will depend on how many bikes it can store. Simple wall hooks that can hold one bike will cost between £10 and £30, however larger versions that can store multiple bikes can cost as much as £150.
What are the benefits of a vertical front-wheel wall hook?
The main benefit of these types of bike racks is the ease of use. It is very easy to rack the bike if it is set to the correct height, and this means it can be used by children more easily. Also, it is easy to remove any of the stored bikes without having to remove all of them together.
What are the negatives of a vertical front-wheel wall hook?
While these bike racks make a very accessible option, they trade this for the amount of space they take up in your garage. As the bike is sat vertically it can stick out quite far, taking up more room than a horizontal frame wall hook and this may cause them to block necessary areas such as your garage door.
As we’ve already established, this method is also less effective at storing bikes with hydraulic disk brakes.
If you think a Vertical Front-Wheel Wall Hook is right for you, check out my suggested model on amazon.
What are the different types of ceiling-mounted bike racks?
Bicycle rope and pulley system (bike hoist)
What are bicycle rope and pulley systems?
Bicycle rope and pulley systems (also called bike hoists) use a winch and pulley system to lift your bike up and into the ceiling of your garage, where it is able to remain hanging out of the way.
What are the garage requirements for a bicycle rope and pulley system?
As you might expect, this method of hanging your bike will require a tall garage that allows you to lift a bike above head height and out of the way. You will also need to ensure that you have strong joists in the ceiling or a brick ceiling in your garage that allow for the pulley system to be installed.
Garages with a traditional style “up-and-over” door may not work with any ceiling-mounted bike hanging method. This is because the pulley system may need to be installed in a place where the garage door passes over as it opens.
What tools do you require to install a bicycle rope and pulley system?
As well as the drill and stud finder required for the previous two methods of hanging your bike, you will also require a ladder or scaffolding in order to reach your ceiling and install the pulley system.
What are the physical requirements of using a bicycle rope and pulley system?
This method of storing a bike is much less dependent on being able to lift your bike, which can be good for those with less upper body strength. This is because the pulley system works to reduce the weight of the bike you need to lift by about 2/3rds using a range of gears and wheels.
What types of bike work with a bicycle rope and pulley system?
| Category | Estimated Limit (Exact specification depends on individual model) |
|---|---|
| Weight limits | 30k depending on model |
| Wheel size | 12″ and above |
| Bike capacity | 1 bike |
For this method of garage bike storage, you will need to ensure that your bike saddle has a large enough area for the hook to fit underneath it. Some saddles are smaller and so do not give the hook a good enough grip, or are shaped in such a way that they are flat and cannot have the hook clipped on.
How much do bicycle rope and pulley systems cost?
Bicycle rope and pulley systems are surprisingly cheap (provided you are installing them yourself). They can range from between £10 and £30.
What are the benefits of a bicycle rope and pulley system?
Bicycle rope and pulley systems are perhaps the cleanest way of storing your bikes (provided you can hang them high enough). They take up the least floor and wall space and use ceiling space that is often completely underutilized in garages.
What are the negatives of a bicycle rope and pulley system?
On the other hand, bike hoists are perhaps the hardest of any method to install, requiring the use of a ladder or scaffolding, as well as some trial and error to set up (for example if one side of your bike is heavier than the other then the bike can be unbalanced when hoisted). On top of this, they also do not work to their best in the majority of garages where the ceiling is not tall enough.
Another negative of these types of bike racks is the risk of accidents through improper installation or use. Installing a bike hoist into the wrong part of your garage ceiling may cause it to drop the bike. As well as this, when raising or lowering the bike you need to be careful that you properly lock the mechanism and do not give yourself a rope burn, meaning it is less suitable for young children to operate.
Bicycle rope and pulley systems are also less versatile for different-sized bikes than other options. You have to install the pulleys a certain distance apart, and this means you can’t use the same pulley system for an adult and child’s bike.
The final issue with these types of bike hanging methods is that they do not work as well with all types of bikes. Not only does your saddle have to have enough area for the hook to attach the top, but bikes that have a significant difference in weight between the front and the back can hang unevenly.
If you think a Bicycle Rope and Pulley System is right for you, check out my suggested model on amazon.
Vertical Ceiling Wheel Hooks
What are vertical ceiling wheel hooks?
Vertical ceiling wheel hooks attach to the ceiling and hold onto your bike via the front or the back wheel. This allows the bike to hang down from the ceiling without the need to lift both wheels to the same height.
What are the garage requirements for a vertical ceiling wheel hook?
Garages with a traditional style “up-and-over” door may not work with any ceiling-mounted bike hanging method. This is because the hook system may need to be installed in a place where the garage door passes over as it opens.
Your garage ceiling needs to be at a certain height where the bike can hang without touching the floor, but also at low enough that you can lift the bike and slide the front wheel into the hook.
What tools do you require to install a vertical ceiling wheel hook?
In order to install a vertical ceiling wheel hook, you will require a drill that is suitable for the material of your garage wall and a stud finder if your garage has wooden joists. As well as this you will need a ladder in order to reach your garage ceiling.
What are the physical requirements of using a vertical ceiling wheel hook?
While this method requires you to lift your bike up to the ceiling of your garage, only having to lift a single wheel of your bike to this height means it is easier than horizontal ceiling wheel hooks. However, you still need to be able to lift the front wheel of your bike to the height of your garage ceiling.
What types of bike work with a vertical ceiling wheel hook?
| Category | Estimated Limit (Exact specification depends on individual model) |
|---|---|
| Weight limits | 20-60kg depending on model |
| Wheel size | 12″ and above, Often have a maximum tire width of 5cm |
| Bike capacity | 1 bike |
As with vertical wall wheel hooks, bikes with hydraulic brakes may be less suitable for storing vertically on these hooks.
How much do vertical ceiling wheel hooks cost?
Vertical ceiling wheel hooks are one of the cheapest methods of hanging your bike in a garage. Hooks can cost between £5 and £15 depending on brand and model. I would suggest looking for one with rubber grips that will avoid scratching your wheel rims.
What are the benefits of a vertical ceiling wheel hook?
Vertical ceiling wheel hooks can make a decent option to hang your bike, they allow you to adjust the number of hooks you install to the number of bikes you have, and they can be easily adjusted if you change the position of your bikes in the future.
What are the negatives of a vertical ceiling wheel hook?
Given you have to raise the front wheel of your bike to the ceiling of your garage to store your bike, this method can be less good for storing heavy (or front-heavy) bikes. This process will get easier once you can master the technique of lifting the bike and hooking the front wheel at the same time, however, this can still be tricky, especially in the case of young children.
This same height challenge also makes installing a vertical ceiling wheel hook harder than other wall hook options.
If you think a vertical ceiling wheel hook is right for you, check out my suggested model on amazon.
Horizontal Ceiling Wheel Hooks
What are horizontal ceiling wheel hooks?
Horizontal ceiling wheel hooks work similarly to vertical ceiling wheel hooks, however, these models require you to hook both wheels into a hook or device on the ceiling.
What are the garage requirements for a horizontal ceiling wheel hook?
Your garage ceiling needs to be at a certain height where the bike can hang without touching the floor, but also at a height low enough that you can lift the bike and slide the front wheel into the hook.
As with all ceiling-based methods of hanging a bike in your garage, these do not work with garages that use a traditional style “up-and-over” door because the hook system may need to be installed in a place where the garage door passes over as it opens.
What tools do you require to install a horizontal ceiling wheel hook?
Installing a horizontal ceiling wheel hook requires a drill, stud finder and ladder in order to reach your garage ceiling. Some people will advise using scaffolding in place of a ladder if you are installing a larger system as this will give you more stability.
What are the physical requirements of using a horizontal ceiling wheel hook?
This method of storing your bikes is one of the hardest to put bikes away. Not only do you have to lift the bike’s front wheel up into a hook or clasp, but you then need to lift the second wheel up the same height. This can also be challenging when taking the bike down as you have to hold the entire weight of your bike above your head.
What types of bike work with a horizontal ceiling wheel hook?
| Category | Estimated Limit (Exact specification depends on individual model) |
|---|---|
| Weight limits | 30kg (per bike) |
| Wheel size | 12″ and above |
| Bike capacity | Up to 5 bikes depending on the model |
While models of horizontal ceiling wheel hooks advertise a maximum weight of up to 30kg per bike, you need to ensure that your ceiling can hold this amount of weight (including the bike hook itself), and that you are able to lift the weight of your bike above your head.
How much do horizontal ceiling wheel hooks cost?
Prices for horizontal ceiling wheel hooks can vary dramatically depending on whether you purchase 2 single hooks that attach to your ceiling or a bike ceiling storage system. Singular hooks cost between £5 and £15 each whereas storage systems can cost up to £200.
What are the benefits of a horizontal ceiling wheel hook?
In my opinion, this style of bike hanging system is the worst choice. The main advantage is that you can access each bike without removing the others, however, this benefit is not exclusive to this type of storage system.
What are the negatives of a horizontal ceiling wheel hook?
The main issue with this system is the challenge of storing your bike in the hangar. Lifting the entire weight of your bike up and into both hooks can be a real challenge, even for lightweight road bikes.
If you think a Horizontal Ceiling Wheel Hook is right for you, check out my suggested model on amazon.
What are the different types of free-standing bike racks?
Floor Bike Parking Stand
What are free-standing bike racks?
A floor bike parking stand is a copy of the traditional bike stands you see around town centres or at schools. These are designed for you to park your front wheel into the rack, using this to hold the bike up.
What are the garage requirements for a free-standing bike rack?
This method of storing your bike in your garage does not actually hang your bike, as such it requires much more floor room than the other options.
What tools do you require to install a free-standing bike rack?
No tools are required to install the stand.
What are the physical requirements of using a free-standing bike rack?
No physical requirements are required to rack a bike into the stand.
What types of bike work with a free-standing bike rack?
| Category | Estimated Limit (Exact specification depends on individual model) |
|---|---|
| Weight limits | NA |
| Wheel size | 12″ and above, Up to 5cm wide tires |
| Bike capacity | Up to 5 bikes depending on the model |
How much do free-standing bike racks cost?
Freestanding floor bike parking stands can vary in price from £10 for a simple single bike stand up to £100 for multi-bike stands that come with extra areas for storage.
What are the benefits of a free-standing bike rack?
While these bike stands take up the most room on the floor of your garage, they are by far the easiest to install, use and adjust.
What are the negatives of a free-standing bike rack?
The main disadvantage of this method of bike storage is the garage floor space that the stand will take up. As well as this, bikes with larger tires may not fit into the stand and bikes with very narrow tires may lean to one side when put into the stand.
If you think a Floor Bike Parking Stand is right for you, check out my suggested model on amazon.
Can you store a bike in your garage?
Before you go and purchase your new bike rack, you should first review whether or not your garage is suitable for storing a bike. There are 4 main factors that will impact this answer.
Is your garage dry?
While most bikes are made from rust-free materials, wet conditions can result in some of your bike’s components rusting (for example the chain or pedals). Not only this but dry conditions are better for certain parts of your bike such as tires which can wear down more quickly in poor conditions.
Is your garage at a stable temperature?
Keeping your bike at a stable temperature is important for the longevity of your bike and its components. At particularly high temperatures, the chemical reactions caused by ozone and UV light are both accelerated and thus certain parts of your bike can break down more quickly.
On the other hand, at lower temperatures, you risk damage to the tires from freezing water droplets or water vapour. This can cause cracks to the sidewalls of the tires where they have not been designed to be as durable.
Is your garage protected from direct sunlight?
UV light is found in sunlight. Over time, this UV light can wear away at objects, causing them to degrade and break down. This is particularly true for certain materials such as the rubber that makes bike tires, which will wear down over time when exposed to sunlight.
Is your garage safe?
Bikes can be very expensive, with some professional bikes costing as much as £10,000. Before you store your bike in your garage you will want to ensure that your garage is secure, can be locked and won’t be an easy target for thieves.
Overall
As you can see, hanging bikes in your garage can be a great way to free up space, and keep your bikes out of the way.
