Project Cost - Install Wall Shelves

Installing wall shelves is a good way to put a blank wall to use. In a utility room, a single shelf over a clothes washer and dryer might be all that's needed to store detergents and cleaning supplies; in a home office, a wall of shelves can take the place of a bulky storage cabinet; and in a garage, shelves help bring order to chaos.

Among the many shelving systems available, we've always preferred vertical standards with brackets because they are easy to install and a good looking addition to a room. The standards are long, slotted metal strips with grooves that are fastened with wall anchors; the metal brackets fit into the grooves at the appropriate height. At home centers and hardware stores you'll find standards sold in various lengths and finishes with brackets with a small lip on the end that holds a shelf firmly in place.

The trick of installing a wall shelf is finding wall studs on which to fasten the standards, which bear the weight of the system. An electronic stud finder is a nice tool to locate the studs. Other tools you'll need are a measuring tape, electric drill and carpenter's level.

The project involves drilling mounting holes for the wall anchors and then using them to fasten the standards to the wall. When a standard doesn't line up with a stud, use a toggle bolt instead of a wall anchor to give it holding power. Install the brackets on the standards, adjusting them when needed, and then secure the shelving onto the brackets.

A carpenter will charge about $219 to install 8 feet of shelves, brackets, standards and mounting hardware. You can buy the shelving components and install it yourself for $130 and save 41 percent.