GuideStorage Solutions
Make a Wall-Mounted Rack for Long-Handled Garden Tools
Long-handled tools leaning in a corner always fall over when you need the one at the back. A peg rack on the shed or garage wall keeps every tool visible, off the damp floor and within reach, and it takes an afternoon to make.
What you will build
The rack is a sturdy board fixed to the wall, with pairs of hardwood pegs angled slightly upward so tools cannot slide off. A tool hangs head-down between two pegs, or by its handle hole on a single peg.
Plan the layout around your actual tools: lay them on the floor in a row with a little space between them, and measure. Most heads need a gap of about 1¼ to 1½ in (30–40 mm) between a pair of pegs, but check your own tools.
Real-world examples
Photos of similar builds by other people, shared under open licenses. They show the idea in practice; the details differ from this guide.
Materials
- 1 board about 1 × 6 in (20 × 145 mm), as long as the rack
- Hardwood dowel about ¾ to 1 in (20–25 mm) thick, cut into 6 in (15 cm) pegs
- Exterior wood glue
- Screws long enough to go well into studs, or the correct wall plugs for masonry
- Sandpaper and exterior oil or paint
Tools
- Tape measure, square and pencil
- Saw
- Drill with a spade or Forstner bit the size of the dowel
- Drill/driver
- Stud finder
- Spirit level
- Mallet
- Safety glasses
Step by step
1Plan the layout
Lay your tools in a row on the floor and decide the order. Mark the centre of each tool on the board, then the positions of the two pegs for each one, spaced to fit the tool's neck. Leave enough space between tools that their heads do not clash.
2Cut and prepare the pegs
Cut the dowel into pegs about 6 in (15 cm) long. Round over the outer end of each peg with sandpaper so tools slide on and off easily and nobody catches a sleeve on a sharp edge.
3Drill the peg holes at an angle
Drill the holes about two-thirds of the way through the board, tilted upward by roughly 10 to 15 degrees. A scrap block cut to the angle and clamped beside the drill helps keep them all the same. Do not drill right through the board.
4Glue in the pegs
Put glue in each hole and tap the pegs in with a mallet. Wipe off any glue that squeezes out, and leave the board flat until the glue has set.
5Finish the rack
Sand the board and pegs and apply oil or paint. Finishing before mounting is easier, and it protects the wood in a damp shed.
6Mount it on the wall
Find the studs or check the wall material. Hold the rack level at a height where the longest tool clears the floor, and screw it firmly into at least two studs or into solid masonry with suitable plugs. Hang the tools and check that the rack does not move.
7Add a shelf or hooks for small things
If there is room above the pegs, screw a narrow shelf to the top edge of the board for gloves, twine and plant labels, or add a few screw-in hooks along the bottom for hand tools like trowels and secateurs. Keeping small tools next to the big ones means everything has one place.
Tips for a better result
- Hang the most-used tools nearest the door.
- Draw the outline of each tool on the wall or board so everyone puts it back in the right place.
- Leave room for one or two more tools; collections grow.
- Clean soil off tools before hanging them, and they will rust much less.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Drilling the peg holes level or angled downward, so tools slide off.
- Fixing a rack full of heavy tools with small plugs into plasterboard alone.
- Hanging it so low that the tool heads rest on the floor.
- Spacing the pegs for one tool and finding the others do not fit.
Safety
- Check walls for hidden cables and pipes before drilling.
- Hang sharp tools like edging irons and saws with the blade toward the wall, out of the way of heads and hands.
- Wear safety glasses when drilling and cutting.
General guidance only. Follow the instructions for your tools and materials and your local rules, and use a qualified professional for electrical, gas and structural work.
Finishing up
A tool rack is one of those small projects you appreciate every single time you go to the shed. Once it is up, the same peg method works for brooms, extension cords, hoses and bikes.
About this guide: written by the DIY Outdoor Builds editors from general, widely used building and gardening practice. Text and illustration © DIY Outdoor Builds. Photos are by the people credited under each one, used under their licenses. Found an error? Let us know.
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