How do I install a closet organizer system?

A wire or track-and-bracket closet system goes up in an afternoon with a drill, a level and a stud finder. The part that decides whether it lasts is the fastening: find the studs, screw the hang track or wall clips into them, and use the right anchor only where no stud is available.

ClosetMaid's ShelfTrack tips say stud installation is recommended whenever possible for the strongest installation.^[3] This guide follows that kind of system, which is what most big-box kits are. Always follow the sheet in your own kit if it differs.

Plan before you drill

Empty the closet and sketch the wall to scale. Decide where the hanging rod goes, how many shelves you need and what each zone holds: long hanging, double hanging, shoes, folded clothes. Put the heaviest items, such as shoes and stacked sweaters, on the lowest shelves and nearest the studs.

Next, find the studs. Studs are usually 16 inches apart,^[4] but in older houses and around corners the spacing wanders, so mark each one with a pencil rather than trusting the number. Check with a magnet or a second pass of the stud finder before you commit.

Where the hardware goes

For a track system, ClosetMaid recommends mounting the hang track flush to the ceiling and screwing it into the wood header behind the wallboard.^[3] The vertical standards then hang from the track. Standards should be spaced no more than 24 inches apart and no more than 4 inches from the end of the shelf.^[3] Closer standards give a stronger installation.^[3]

Each standard is secured to the wall with one screw at the hole closest to its center.^[3] Brackets then snap in at the shelf heights you chose. Match the bracket size to the shelf depth. When 16 inch shelving is used to hang clothes, use 12 inch support brackets so hangers can slide unobstructed.^[3]

Choosing the right fastener

The kit's instruction sheet sets the fastener by wall type:

• Studs: the sheet calls for #12 x 2 inch pan head screws at stud locations.^[3]
• Drywall with no stud: drill 1/2 inch holes and secure with toggle bolts.^[3]
• Concrete: drill 1/4 inch holes, insert #12 wall anchors and use the same screws.^[3]

For the fixed-mount style, with wall clips and support brackets, the same sheet says to use ClosetMaid hardware with the attached anchor only in drywall that is 5/8 inch thick or less, to drill a 1/4 inch hole, and to push the pin in.^[3] It warns that punching the holes or drilling oversized holes weakens the installation.^[3]

Weight matters more than most people expect. Anchor makers list the ultimate load an anchor held in a laboratory, and industry safety standards recommend about a quarter of an anchor's tested ultimate load as a reasonably safe working load.^[5] A rod full of winter coats is a heavy, concentrated load, so put a screw into a stud wherever you can.

Cutting and finishing

Wire shelving can be cut with a bolt cutter or hacksaw, and closet rods with a pipe cutter or hacksaw.^[3] Measure twice, because a short shelf cannot be fixed. Where two shelves meet in a corner, use a corner support, and a corner rod lets clothes slide around the turn.^[3]

Finish by adding end caps to every exposed wire on both ends of each shelf and to the ends of closet rods.^[3] They protect your clothes and your hands.

Permits

Virginia's building code lists the installation or replacement of cabinetry or trim among the work for which no permit application or related inspection is required.^[6] Moving walls, adding a light or changing the closet door opening is a different job, and your local building department can tell you whether your plan needs a permit. Ask before you start.

Stop and call a pro if

• The closet has a light or switch you want to move or add. Virginia requires an individual who does electrical work for the general public for compensation to hold a tradesman licence.^[1][2]
• Your plan involves cutting into the wall, moving a stud or changing framing to fit the layout.
• The wall is damp, moldy, soft or cracked where the track will go.
• The closet also holds a water heater, furnace or attic access panel that the system could block.
• You want a full custom built-in with doors and drawers. That is a carpentry job worth quoting; read how much a custom closet system costs in Virginia.

Next steps

If you are deciding between a kit and a custom build, read whether a custom closet system is worth the money. Browse more interiors answers or the interiors directory.

If you would rather have someone else do the install, describe your closet and local businesses can quote it.