Best Floating Shelves 2024 - Forbes Vetted

Whereas traditional kitchen cabinets typically rest on the ground, floating shelves offer a space-saving solution that adds visual appeal to your walls. The best floating shelves blend durability with elegance while supporting books, dinnerware, artwork and more. Our top pick overall, the Urbandi Floating Shelves, are chic, practical and affordable—but this list includes several other options to suit various décor preferences and budgets.

The best floating shelves offer a space-saving solution that adds visual impact to your walls.

If your walls are looking a little bare, "floating shelves help add dimension and depth to any space," says Jodi Berger, principal designer of JLA Designs. Interior designer Tova Kook, founder of TK Design, adds that they can even serve as artwork on their own. "You can use them on an empty wall in a hallway or breakfast area nook, and display framed family photos and curated accessories," she says.

When shopping for floating shelves, you want to consider what you plan to put on them, how much wall space you have available and whether you want your shelves to blend in or stand out. From metal options with an edgy feel to wooden versions that can warm up your space, here are the best floating shelves to enhance your walls.

Amazon

Urbandi's floating shelves are crafted from wood and pine, offering a warm touch to your wall without veering into rustic farmhouse territory. With a thickness of nearly two inches and available in a wide range of lengths from 12 to 60 inches, these shelves can fit into nearly any available space. You can choose from brown, dark brown, gray and provincial finishes (a slightly distressed finish) to match your decor. Not only do they look great, but they can also support up to 40 pounds of weight per stud, making them a reliable choice for dishes, books and other heavy items. Sold in sets, these shelves come with brackets, screws and anchors for easy installation.

Amazon

Priced at just over $11 each, the highly-rated Sorbus floating shelves are significantly cheaper compared to competitors. While their 22-pound capacity isn’t as high as that of more expensive models, they are an excellent choice for displaying photos, small books and plants. The 16-inch shelves are made from polyvinyl chloride, which may show wear and tear more easily than wood and metal options. However, if you’re seeking a shelf you won’t frequently use, it should hold up just fine. Choose from five shades, including black, white and maple. The set includes mounting hardware and offers your choice of a pack of two or three shelves.

West Elm

If you’re looking for a smaller accent shelf to showcase plants or cherished trinkets, consider this oiled wooden shelf from Formr. Measuring just 6.5 inches wide and 7.5 inches deep, it features a curved front for a welcoming touch. Though weight specifications are not provided, the shelf itself weighs only half a pound, making it ideal for displaying small trinkets or potted plants. Choose between brown or natural shades, or mix and match them on your wall. It's worth noting that this purchase supports a company that employs formerly incarcerated individuals and uses construction debris for sustainability.

Pottery Barn

The Pottery Barn Benchwright Floating Shelf spans an impressive 66 inches in length, standing at six inches in height with a depth of 10 inches, making it an excellent choice for kitchens. With a weight capacity of up to 70 pounds, it can hold dishes, pans and other heavy items—you shouldn’t have to worry about it tumbling down. Crafted from sustainably sourced mango wood from trees that no longer bear fruit, the Benchwright is assembled in a Fair Trade Certified factory. Keep in mind that this shelf weighs 38 pounds, so you may require an extra hand during installation. Additionally, it's available in a 48-inch width for those who prefer a smaller option.

Rejuvenation

For a more edgy aesthetic, consider this metal shelf from Rejuvenation. Crafted from steel for durability, it features a raised edge to prevent your items from sliding off. The shelving ledge is available in dark oil-rubbed bronze or aged brass finishes. (If you're uncertain about a finish, Rejuvenation offers sample chips for a small fee.) It comes in two lengths—24 and 36 inches—and can support up to 25 pounds, making it ideal for displaying artwork and select books. Mounting hardware is included for easy setup.

West Elm

These floating shelves from West Elm also serve as standalone artworks. Crafted from natural, reclaimed teak wood, they add tons of visual interest to a wall. The shelves come in four sizes, ranging from the 11.8-inch wide extra-small to the nearly 24-inch wide large, offering flexibility for mixing and matching pieces. While West Elm doesn’t specify the weight capacity of these shelves, they are recommended for books, photos and accessories. Mounting hardware is included for quick installation.

Amazon

A corner shelf is the optimal solution for maximizing every inch of wall space. This popular option from Amazon measures seven inches wide and offers a 30 pound weight capacity. (If you require more space, wider options are also available.) Available in walnut, oak and white finishes, these shelves are constructed from solid wood for lasting durability. While versatile enough to accommodate various items, it's worth noting the cut-out notch in the back allows room for cords if you intend to display electronics. The shelf includes mounting hardware and instructions, ensuring quick installation in just minutes.

The Forbes Vetted editorial team dedicates countless hours to researching, testing and writing about home products, including storage solutions. We meticulously track and analyze developments in the home space to ensure we're abreast of the latest products on the market. In compiling this list, we leveraged our industry expertise and consulted with interior design experts to ensure that our recommendations were among the best available. For additional storage solutions, explore our lists of the best storage bins, small kitchen organizing essentials and food storage containers.

This article was researched and written by Korin Miller, a health and commerce writer with over a decade of experience. Sholeen Damarwala, a home and kitchen editor on the team, edited this piece.

Floating shelves can serve as a focal point in a room or enhance existing decor, making it important to choose wisely. To pick the best floating shelves, we consulted with three interior design experts for their insights into the most critical elements to consider in these pieces. Subsequently, we scoured the market, evaluating the most popular floating shelves and evaluated each option for factors such as size, durability, strength, style and value.

Recognizing the importance of user feedback, we looked at reviews from customers to gauge how well these shelves performed over time. Only shelves with an average review rating of four stars or higher earned a spot on our final list.

When shopping for floating shelves online, it's essential to consider factors such as size, material and capacity to ensure you find exactly what you need. Here are some key factors to keep in mind.

Floating shelves come in a wide range of sizes, from tiny shelves suitable for petite plants to behemoths that can function as kitchen cabinets. Measuring your wall space in advance will ensure you find the perfect fit for your home. If space is limited, floating shelves can be a beneficial solution, according to Lindsay Biondo, owner and founder of Houz of Rebel. "They occupy less space than traditional cabinets or storage units, making them ideal for tight areas such as small bathrooms, kitchens, living rooms, and even bedrooms," she explains.

Floating shelves are typically constructed from wood, MDF wood or metal, providing a variety of materials to choose from. While there is no definitive "best" material, each adds a distinct vibe. Wood shelving exudes a cozy and approachable feel, whereas metal offers a more modern aesthetic. Natural wood and metal options often come at a higher price point compared to MDF wood, but they generally offer greater durability.

Each floating shelf has a specific weight capacity before it may buckle, although not all brands explicitly state this. If you intend to use your floating shelf for heavier items such as dishes and pans, ensure that the shelving you're considering is capable of handling the load. However, most floating shelves are well-suited for lighter items like plants, artwork, knick-knacks and a book or two.