How to Best Organize and Store Sports Equipment

Published on Mar. 20, 2025

Upgrade your sports equipment storage and take control of the chaos with these clever organization solutions.

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I’m an organized person who loves to tackle a messy closet with my label maker, but one area of my family’s life has so far been elusive to my organizing efforts: my kids’ sports equipment. No matter what storage system I put in place, it seems my house is still littered with balls, cleats, sports bags, and football flags.

But it’s time for a change! I’ve researched and gathered some genius sports equipment storage solutions to help you (and me!) finally get a handle on the equipment avalanche. I also spoke to two organizing experts, Cara Palmer and Amanda Wiss, to guide us through which sports equipment organization methods work best, how to implement them.

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How To Best Organize And Store Sports Equipment Custom Wall Panels Courtesy @sortthefort Instagram 1
COURTESY @SORTTHEFORT/INSTAGRAM

Custom Wall Panels

A custom garage system like the one used here from @sortthefort, is not exactly cheap, but you can’t argue with the results. These Gladiator brand wall panels allow you to snap baskets, hooks, and shelves into place; so you can design the entire wall to fit your specific sports equipment needs.

What We Like About It: “Invest in a sports equipment organizer to truly have a place for everything,” says Wiss, “With holds for baseball bats, racks for skates and cleats, hooks for accessories, and drawers or roped bins for larger equipment, these all-in-one solutions can keep all of your specialty gear in one place.”

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How To Best Organize And Store Sports Equipment Closet Under The Stairs Courtesy @visionandhammer Instagram
COURTESY @VISIONANDHAMMER/INSTAGRAM

Closet Under the Stairs

If you don’t have a garage, utilize a closet for sports equipment. Here, @visionandhammer outfits a closet under the stairs with a shelving rack and open bins. Each bin is labeled and holds balls, gloves, and more, while hooks on the wall store bags and helmets.

What We Like About It: “If you’re short on storage space, bins are an easy way to toss oddly-shaped equipment into your closet, while still being able to see everything at once,” says Wiss.

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How To Best Organize And Store Sports Equipment Broom Hanger Courtesy @getitdonebystephanie Instagram
COURTESY @GETITDONEBYSTEPHANIE/INSTAGRAM

Broom Hanger

Sometimes, traditional organization products can be repurposed for sports equipment. In this garage from @getitdonebyStephanie, she uses a broom hanging rack to organize tennis rackets and baseball bats. The equipment fits perfectly in the broom handle slots! A shelf for shoes and wall baskets for balls finish this sports zone area.

What We Like About It: “Sports zone” wall storage like this “maximizes wall space while keeping items visible and accessible,” says Palmer.

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How To Best Organize And Store Sports Equipment Track Shelving Courtesy @organized Nest Instagram
COURTESY @ORGANIZED_NEST/INSTAGRAM

Track Shelving

Adjustable track shelving, like the example here from @organized_nest, is easy to install and can be rearranged as your sports equipment needs change. Along with the shelves for bins and larger items, a long rack holds bats, lacrosse sticks, and baskets for balls.

What We Like About It: This garage area keeps everything visible so kids aren’t rooting through a pile of bats and helmets (and leaving behind a big mess!) to find what they need.

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How To Best Organize And Store Sports Equipment Narrow Bins Courtesy @homesort Instagram
COURTESY @HOMESORT/INSTAGRAM

Narrow Bins

My organization philosophy is: When in doubt, add labeled bins! You can see here the solution works great in this garage cabinet from @homesort. Using narrow bins allows you to fit more onto each shelf, and they’re the perfect fit for things like rackets, balls, and skates.

What We Like About It: “For smaller items like balls and protective gear, I advocate using clear bins with detailed labels, making it easy to grab exactly what you need for each activity,” says Palmer.

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How To Best Organize And Store Sports Equipment Drawer Units Courtesy @settledinsoundly Instagram
COURTESY @SETTLEDINSOUNDLY/INSTAGRAM

Drawer Units

Modular organization systems often come with drawer options, like the mesh drawers seen here from @settledinsoundly. Each drawer is labeled to hold different sports balls, keeping them contained and accessible. Unlike bins, drawers stay in place so you don’t have to worry about anyone wandering off with the golf ball bin.

What We Like About It: The drawers are low to the ground, making it easy for kids to get the balls they need and, more importantly, put them away.

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How To Best Organize And Store Sports Equipment Mudroom Lockers Courtesy @styleitwithjackie Instagram
COURTESY @STYLEITWITHJACKIE/INSTAGRAM

Mudroom Lockers

If you’re lucky enough to have a mudroom, installing mudroom lockers like these from @styleitwithjackie can make a world of difference. Assign a locker to each family member so they know exactly where to find all their gear, and nothing gets mixed together. Organization and sibling fight solution in one!

What We Like About It: “Giving each kid a cubby, bin, or locker for their particular gear is the best way to keep everyone organized,” says Wiss, “If you sort by sport, you run the risk of kids grabbing the wrong size or piece of equipment when in a rush.”

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A wooden rack holds various sports balls and helmets, organized behind elastic bands, against a neutral-colored wall, conveying a neat sports storage solution.
FAMILY HANDYMAN

Bungee Ball Holder

Sports balls can be difficult to store. They roll around and take up a lot of space. A DIY bungee cord holder like this one, will keep all the sports balls in one place and makes it easy for kids to toss in the balls when they’re done playing. Bins for smaller balls and hooks for helmets make this a complete sports storage unit.

What We Like About It: “The secret to getting kids to maintain organization is making it fun and foolproof,” says Palmer.

About the Expert

  • Cara Palmer is a professional home organization expert and decluttering specialist who understands the overwhelm of juggling multiple responsibilities. As the owner and founder of Organize Every Room, she helps families create functional storage solutions that simplify their daily lives. Palmer transforms chaotic spaces into well-organized systems that work for real families.
  • Amanda Wiss is the founder of Urban Clarity, a home organizing company awarded NY Magazine’s Best of NY 2023. She is also the founder of home staging studio Urban Staging, whose design-savvy team gets homes market ready, to intrigue brokers and buyers alike. Urban Staging transforms spaces to get top dollar using its contemporary staging inventory. With compassion and humor, the Urban Clarity team declutters and organizes homes. The two companies work in conjunction to do full move management, getting their clients completely unpacked and beautifully settled, while minimizing stress.