With this in mind, we scoured dozens of retailers and evaluated hundreds of highly-rated, top-selling products to assess weight, capacity, style, and overall value. Our number-one pick is the Floyd Shelving System, a customizable, modular storage unit with a high weight capacity. It’s both highly functional and attractive, plus provides ample storage you can customize to suit your needs. But if you’re still shopping around, these are the best bookshelves available today. There are a lot of great bookcases out there, as evidenced by this lengthy list of quality picks, but if we had to choose one, it would be the Floyd Shelving System. This customizable bookshelf is available in a range of sizes and configurations that you can tailor to suit your space and your storage needs. Choose from three tall options, three short and wide, a few short-tall combos, and even some specialized designs with angled shelves and cabinets on the bottom. And since it’s modular, you can always add to it or reconfigure it if your needs change. It’s well designed, too. No matter which shelving system you opt for, the units have an impressive weight capacity of nearly 400 pounds—or about 65 pounds per shelf. It also has scratch-resistant, powder-coated steel shelves that come in a range of shades, including white, black, or forest green. The shelves are complemented by a plywood frame in either a light ash or deep walnut veneer. If there’s any downside, it’s that it’s on the pricier side for a bookcase, plus you have to assemble it all on your own. Price at time of publish: From $575 It’s not made of solid wood, so it only supports about 10 pounds per shelf, but as long as you don’t need it for a ton of heavy books, you’ll be happy with its overall functionality. The whole thing has a minimalist-modern appeal to complement most decor schemes—perfect for stashing a few books and other decorative trinkets without breaking the bank. Price at time of publish: $44 Unlike some other bookshelves, this one comes fully assembled for convenience. Plus, you can order complementary pieces to complete an entire room, like a home office. Options are vast, including a desk, media console, filing cabinet, and more. Some of the pieces are even available in a more muted mango wood and cane. Price at time of publish: $2,799 The looks skews industrial-modern, thanks to a powder-coated metal frame and particle board shelves with a walnut finish. Still, it’s transitional enough for most spaces. It’s also finished on all sides, so you can place it however you’d like—tuck it into a corner to preserve floor space, or float it next to a couch. Though we wish the Nova was made of solid wood, the manufacturer’s five-year warranty will give you confidence in your purchase. Price at time of publish: $153 It’s just as beautiful, too. The solid kiln-dried wood, which is spruced from responsibly managed forests, is hand-finished with a multi-step process. Choose from two shades—light desert or matte charcoal—then wait for your purchase to arrive via a white glove delivery service. Read: No assembly required. Price at time of publish: $1,099 This combination of shelves and base cabinet is a huge bonus, since this affords you the opportunity to put some of your belongings on display and stash the ones you don’t want out. The only downside: Given the price, you’d expect the upper shelves to be adjustable. Instead, you’ll have to work within the framework of what’s already there. Still, the combination of the French art deco-inspired design and durable engineering makes this piece of furniture a great choice overall. Price at time of publish: $999 The whole thing is unique in the way that it leans up against the wall for a clean, modern look. But it doesn’t lack the functionality of other bookcases—it can hold plenty of heavy books and whatever else you want to display. The different shelves have varying weight capacities—the smallest shelf has a 60-pound capacity, while the largest one can support up to 100 pounds. If there’s any downside, it’s that full assembly is required. Plus, you should consider mounting the unit to your wall to prevent tipping, particularly if you have kids and pets. Price at time of publish: $540 The unit weighs almost 250 pounds, so keep in mind it’s a very hefty piece of furniture. As such, you’ll pay a hefty shipping fee to get it. The good news: It arrives fully assembled with white-glove delivery. They’ll set it up exactly where you want it to go. Price at time of publish: $2,500 There’s a lot to love about the style overall. Since the bookshelf is made of real wood, it has natural variations in the texture that make each piece unique. It also has soft edges and varying cubby sizes that add to the minimalist appeal. That said, it is one of the more expensive options on this list, and the flat rate shipping is rather expensive. On the upside, the shelf arrives via a white-glove delivery service to minimize any work you have to do in assembly or placement. Price at time of publish: $1,298 And while this particular piece is the perfect medium size for a living room, hallway, or entryway, the company also manufactures a larger size that measures 66 x 30 x 18 inches. Either way, it’s worth noting that assembly is required, but it’s hard to complain about the simple process when the Alana comes at such a reasonable price point. Price at time of publish: $349 And while it’s not a very large unit overall, there’s plenty to suit the smaller members of your family. The unit has two shelves and two storage bins beneath—perfect for stashing books and toys, especially since these areas are easily accessible to younger kids, like toddlers. The unit is also nice and safe, since it comes with an anti-tip kit and mounting hardware. You have choices when it comes to assembly, too. Do it yourself or opt for white-glove service to let Pottery Barn set it up for you in the room of your choice. Price at time of publish: $449 Still, the unit is a great choice for smaller spaces, like apartment living rooms or home offices. It’s easy to tuck against a wall or into a corner, plus sits on a single square pedestal, so it hardly takes up any room at all. Price at time of publish: $345 Still, it’s nice and slim, so you can tuck it right up against the wall wherever you decide to display it. The mid-century style suits any number of rooms, from the dining room or the kitchen to the living room or a home office. Assembly is required, but it’s a simple process that won’t leave you frustrated. Plus, shipping is always free with Article—a big cost-saver when it comes to furniture. Price at time of publish: $599 It has a very traditionally stylish look, too. The five shelves have just a bit of molding at the top to elevate the piece, but this detail is subtle, not over-the-top ornate. Plus, you can choose from six different finishes to suit your space: white, black, espresso brown, rustic, gray, and walnut brown. Like a lot of other bookcases, if there’s any downside, it’s that you’ll have to assemble the unit yourself. Price at time of publish: $180 Just be aware: Though you’ll be ordering a piece of furniture meant to last, you’ll have to pay a hefty fee to get it shipped to you in the first place. Shipping may be as expensive as $350. On the bright side: Everything arrives fully assembled. Price at time of publish: $2,307 They’re highly customizable, too. There are four size options—the largest is 42 inches wide, while the smallest is just 15 inches wide. They also pair well together, so you can line a whole wall with eye-catching bookcases if you want to. What’s more, the bookcases come in an impressive 17 colors, from your standard black or white to vibrant hues like orange or scarlett. Just note: Because the units are made from natural steel, there is inherent variation in the material. To some, this may look unnecessarily distressed. Price at time of publish: $599 What’s also nice is that this wall-mounted bookcase is designed to be modular, so you can buy multiple and line them up one after the other for even more of a wow-moment in your living room or home office. There’s not much to complain about, except assembly—the manufacturer says it takes about 40 minutes to get the job done. Price at time of publish: From $190
Size
When comparing bookcases, look at their dimensions to ensure they’ll fit comfortably in your home. (You may also want to measure to ensure they’ll fit through doorways or tight staircases.) Other sizing considerations include how tall the shelves are, as well as if they can be adjusted. This is especially important if you’re planning to display tall books or oversized pieces of décor.
Weight Capacity
Books can be quite heavy. A one-foot row of average-sized books typically weighs around 20 pounds, so you should always check the weight capacity of bookcase shelves before purchasing. If you’re planning to display a full shelf of books, each shelf should be able to hold 50 pounds or more (depending on its width).
Why Trust The Spruce?
This article was written by Brigitt Earley, a freelance writer with nearly 15 years of experience writing about consumer products, including furniture like bookcases. To curate this list, Brigitt scoured the most popular retailers to find the best, most highly-rated options. Then, she vetted each, reading all of the specs and hundreds of reviews. To make her top picks, Brigitt considered key attributes like style, construction, durability, size, and overall value. Theresa Holland, a commerce writer specializing in home improvement, interior decor, and lifestyle, contributed additional research and reporting. She spoke with interior designer Maria DeLucia for insight on what to look for in a bookcase and the many functions that bookcases can serve.
