How To Build A Wall-Mounted Bike Rack With Storage
Updated: Feb. 01, 2023This two-hour project for a wall-mounted bike rack is a simple yet inventive way to get your bike off of the floor, out of the way of everyday life, and safely out of the reach of bike thieves. Get the full wooden bike rack plans here.
Time A few hours
ComplexityBeginner
Cost$20-50
Introduction
If you’re a serious biker and live in an apartment like me, you need to get creative with your storage. This 2-Hour Project for a DIY wall bike rack is a simple, yet inventive, way to get that bike off the floor, out-of-the-way of everyday life, and most importantly, safely out of the reach of bike thieves. There is also a small built-in accessory drawer for tools, gloves and other small extras. Plus, when you move, you can take it with you and since there’s only two tiny screw holes to fill you won’t have to worry about losing your damage deposit! This is a great starter project so make sure to enjoy the process and be creative.Tools Required
- Clamps
- Drill
- Jigsaw
- Miter saw
- Table saw
Materials Required
- 2" trim-head screws
- 2x6 lumber
- 4'x4' 3/4" plywood
- Wood glue
Pick The Best Spot to Build a Rack
Before you start building, make sure you have the wall space to accommodate a bike hanging on the wall. Think through where you want to mount the rack. Set the bike on the ground, test different heights for the optimal setting away from any door swings or windows. Or if it is in a traffic area, will it pose walk-by bruises from time to time? Also measure your bike to make sure that the 12-in. width of the rack will fit your bike frame. This is a fairly standard size but some kid’s and women’s bikes may have frame configurations that call for modifications.
Buying The Materials
In terms of materials, you will need to buy a 3/4-in. thick sheet of 4-ft. x 4-ft. plywood and a 2×6 board at least 10-1/2-in. long, so buy the shortest one available. Most home centers have a scrap pile with short boards they sell super-cheap. It takes a pick-up, van or full-size SUV to get 4-ft. wide plywood home. If you have a small car, have the home center rip the sheet to 18-in. wide with the grain. You will be able to get both sections home in the smallest of cars. I used Baltic birch plywood because its smooth surface is ideal for painting but any veneered plywood or others labeled “BC” will also be fine if you want a pretty rack. If you just want an unfinished bike rack for the garage, just buy CDX plywood and screw it to the edge of a stud. There will be a fair amount of waste from the plywood but you will surely need it for other DIY projects.
Cutting The Parts
A table and miter saw are the two keys to a nicely finished project because they’ll give you clean, accurate cuts. You can pull this project off with a circular or jigsaw if you must but it won’t be a polished project in the end. So if you don’t own big power tools and want it perfect, call up Uncle Bernie and ask for help in his shop. Cutting the parts won’t take more than an hour. After that, you can take the parts home and build and finish it on your dining room table.
Finishing
You can finish your homemade bike rack any way you wish, painted to match walls, customizing like I did, or even blowing off the finish completely. I went a little nuts when I finished my rack. I started with a base of white enamel and then used plastic laminate, which I cut with an x-acto knife, and used contact cement to apply the laminate. If you want to paint, I’d recommend priming first then using acrylic paints you can find at any craft store and finishing it with a water-based polyurethane to make it shine and smooth to the touch.
Cutting List
Wooden Bike Rack Plans
Project step-by-step (9)
Measure the Hole Location
With all of your boards cut out via the Cutting List, mark 3 in. from the top and edge of the side pieces (Part B). Center a soda can or caulk tube on the cross hairs and draw a circle. Draw a line from the top of the circle to a mark 2 in. from the top of the board, draw a parallel line from the bottom of the circle.
Cut the Top Tube Slots
Follow the lines you made in the previous step with the jigsaw to create the tube slot.
Cut the Drawer Front
Cut one of the sides (Part B) on the miter saw to form the drawer front along and side pieces. Make sure to cut on the outside of the drawer front in order to make sure that the front matches with the rest of the drawer’s dimensions.
Glue and Screw the Sides in Place
Glue, clamp and screw the non-drawer side (Side 2) onto the bottom of the rack. Then glue and screw the Side 1 top tube slot piece and small back piece to the base.
Glue and Screw the Divider into the Assembly
Use a square to set the Divider (Part C) flush with the side pieces. Clamp the assembly and glue and screw the drawer guide into the box.
Attach the Top (Part A) to the Box
Flip the assembly over so you can make sure it is flush and screw on the top of the box.
Assemble the Drawer
Assemble the drawer box by clamping, gluing, and screwing. Rest the box onto a scrap piece of 3/4 in. plywood to use as a spacer and attach the drawer front (Part B).
Screw the 2×6 Cleat to the Wall
A beautiful part of this project is that it only needs one stud so if you are in an apartment, you can keep that security deposit safe. Mark the stud with masking tape. Screw the top screw into the cleat (Part G) with a 3 in. construction screw. Fine tune the board to make sure it is level before adding the second screw.
Attach the Rack to the Cleat
Hold the rack tight against the wall and screw four 2-in. screws (two on the top, two on the bottom) to attach the rack to the 2×6 cleat.
