How to Organize Sports Equipment in a Garage

If there’s one thing that the entire family agrees on, it’s that sports are fun! However, the biggest problem is that there are many different sports types and they’re all fun. Each one comes with equipment that fills up your garage! Bats and balls and racquets, oh my! If you’ve got a big family and everyone likes a different sport, your garage is likely full of sports equipment that needs a good storage system.

We’ve got tips, advice, and recommendations for getting all that equipment organized and out of your way. So take a break from running, jumping, and swinging and do a little light reading! Enjoy!

Ever wonder why all that sports stuff gets stuffed into the garage? The fact is, the garage is the perfect place for all of it. The reasons why include;

Lots of extra space, including wall space, to hang things like bats, racquets, etc.
It’s centralized. All your sports stuff is in one place.
It’s the last part of the house you’re in before driving off to play and compete. That makes it easier to remember everything.
Dirt, dust, oil, and grease won’t cause a big garage problem like they can in the house.

Get Rid Of Unused or Broken Sports Equipment

It’s tough to get organized when you have a mountain of sports equipment you don’t use. Old baseball gloves that don’t fit. Broken bicycles, cracked bats, and sneakers that have seen better days.

The thing is, the less old, unusable stuff you have, the more space you’ll have to organize everything else. Here are the best ways to pare down your sports equipment and open up more garage space:

Donate sports equipment that still works to your fave charity. (Goodwill can come and pick it up!)
Give away old sports equipment to friends, family, and neighbors who can use it.
Toss anything that no longer has any value or use
Have a garage sale and sell any gear that still works.

Hang Bikes On The Wall or Ceiling in Your Garage

Bicycles take up an excessive amount of room, no doubt. They’re big, bulky, and usually a bit dirty and greasy (we’re looking at you, bike chain). Sure, leaving them on the floor of the garage propped up by a wall works. It also, however, takes up the most space.

Better to get some large, rubberized hooks and hang the bikes on the wall. You can also hang them from exposed joists in the garage. We’ve seen some folks use a bike rack in the garage too, which is a great organizing idea. Put all your extra gear, like pumps, water bottles, tools, and so forth nearby in a large, clear storage bin.

Consider Purchasing a Slatwall System

Have you ever heard of Slatwall? It’s a type of building material that comes with grooves, or slats, built-in. Into these horizontal slats, you can hang all sorts of other things: bins, shelves, hooks, baskets, and more.

The beauty of a Slatwall system is that it’s infinitely adjustable. You can hang sports equipment in one place and, if your sporting situation changes, move them around easily and quickly. Here are a few other reasons Slatwall is excellent for how to organize sports equipment in a garage;

The Slatwall is super durable.
We think it’s very attractive.
It’s relatively affordable.
It’s incredibly versatile.
Once in place, it’s very user-friendly.

There are several different types and materials used in Slatwall. We recommend talking to an expert at your local big-box home improvement store for advice before purchasing. That way, you get the Slatwall that fits your budget, and your family, best. By the way, if you’re on a budget, check out our blog on how to organize your garage on a budget. It can help you get organized without spending a bundle!

Use Large Garbage Cans For Balls in Your Garage

If you’re like the typical American family, you’ve got balls galore in your garage! Baseballs, basketballs, footballs, tennis balls, kickballs, and squash balls, to name just a few. All those balls can get in the way, roll under fixtures and create accident risks too. That’s why, if you have a lot of them, an extra-large (clean) plastic garbage can is excellent. (The 50+ gallon size!) That way, you can put all your sports balls in one, easy-to-find place!

Put in a Wall of Cabinets in Your Garage

If you have space, and the budget, a wall of cabinets in the garage works very well for storing sports equipment. Like in your kitchen, all that extra space will help you keep everything well organized. Also, it looks cleaner and neater too! If you can’t afford an entire wall of cabinets, consider a few of them instead. The drawers, doors, and extra space will help you keep your garage looking great!

How To Organize Sports Equipment In a Garage

Rent a Storage Unit If You Can’t Fit All of It

Here’s the thing; sometimes, you simply have more sports equipment than your garage can hold. (That’s especially true if you have a large family and they all like different sports.) If you have too much equipment for your garage to handle, a storage unit makes the perfect solution. They’re big, safe, clean, and secure. You can also get in and out very quickly and easily.

If you love water sports, you can get a storage unit near the lake or the beach. (Some folks store their boats at a self-storage facility for that very reason.) You can organize a storage unit too, with shelves and plastic bins, so that finding your gear is always easy. If you’ve got more sports equipment that your garage can fit, a storage unit might be the perfect solution.

Use Overhead Storage for Organizing Your Sports Equipment in a Garage

Many homeowners forget that, above their heads, all sorts of extra space exists in the garage. If you’ve finished your garage, you can hang hooks, straps, and pulleys from the ceiling. If it’s unfinished, it’s even easier because you can see the joists (beams). You can also put shelves between the joists and store all sorts of sports equipment up there!