The Best Ways to Organize Multiple Bikes in a Garage

Park your cars in the garage in their usual space in the garage. Assess the space you have left. Check out both the overhead space between the ceiling and the car roof and the space in front of and on the sides of the cars.

Measure your bikes. Compare the dimensions of the bikes to the area between you car roof and the ceiling if you plan to hang the bikes. Hanging bikes from the ceiling keeps them out of the way. If you use your bikes frequently, a rack that holds several bikes keeps the bikes more accessible, if you have the floor space. If you have room between your car and the wall of the garage, hanging bikes on the wall also keeps them out of the way.

Search for the best area in your garage for bike storage, based on available space and convenience. If you have floor space, a freestanding rack that holds four bikes makes it easiest to get the bikes down. Hanging bikes low on the walls make it simpler for kids to get their own bikes down, as long as you still have room to open your car doors without hitting the bikes. Bikes hung from the ceiling are most convenient if you use them only occasionally. You can also purchase a pulley system that lets you lower the bikes down to the floor easily and then pull them back up again.

Buy the materials you need to set up your bike storage system. You may decide to purchase a freestanding rack or to buy heavy duty hooks to hang on the walls or ceiling. To raise and lower hanging bikes easily, buy a system that sells all the parts you need. Buy large screws coated with vinyl to avoid damaging the bike's paint if you're hanging your bike. Your bike store may carry screws specifically made for bike hanging, but any large S- or J-shaped screw that the bicycle frame can hang from will work.

Assemble freestanding racks following the manufacturer's instructions. If you're hanging bikes, first find a stud in the ceiling or wall using a stud finder. Drywall isn't strong enough to hold the screws. Measure the distance between the two hanging points and mark the ceiling or wall for hook placement. Predrill the holes for the screws into the middle of the stud. Screw the hooks into the holes.