Between rakes that slip, a shovel wedged behind the car, and a broom that falls at the slightest movement, long-handled garden tools quickly turn the garage into a battleground. Storing them against a wall remains precarious, plastic tool racks sag, and sturdy models come with a steep price.
A tip showcased by House Digest and the DIY YouTuber Dad Life changes the game: stacking simple hollow concrete blocks to create a heavy, stable support where handles can slide. By optionally adding a wooden plank, the same setup can also hold gloves, pruners, or small tools. It’s enough to make you want to give it a try.
Why garden tool storage with concrete blocks works so well
This type of garden tool storage relies first on the weight of the cinder blocks. Three hollow concrete blocks stacked with the cavities facing upward provide a base that’s hard to topple, far more stable than most plastic organizers. Each hole guides a handle and keeps it from spreading, reducing falls and the risk of tripping.
In its tutorial published on October 25, 2026, House Digest leans on the demonstration by DIY Dad Life: he stacks three identical hollow blocks, available for example at Lowe’s in a 15 × 20 × 40 cm size (the equivalent of the 6 × 8 × 16 inches cited). At $2.98 per block, about €2.80, three blocks come in at under $9 in total, around €8.40.
Materials and dimensions for a garden tool storage with concrete blocks
To reproduce this storage in a garage, the shopping list remains fairly limited, especially if you already have a few hollow blocks or scraps of wood lying around. You just need standard hollow blocks and a board wide enough for the module if you want a shelf.
- 2 or 3 hollow concrete blocks, cavities wide enough to accommodate the handles of shovels, rakes and brooms;
- a sturdy wooden board (pine, cypress, or red cedar) if you add a level for small tools;
- a bubble level, a few thin shims, and, optionally, construction adhesive;
- a concrete primer and an acrylic-latex paint, for example from the Valspar range, if you want to color the blocks.
The budget stays modest: Maison et Travaux notes a current price of $2 to $3 per block, i.e., around €2 to €3. A simple pine board does the job in a dry garage. In a more humid area, a board of cypress or red cedar holds up better over time, for roughly double the budget.
Steps to install this concrete-block garden tool storage in the garage
Begin by choosing a location out of the way, ideally near the door that opens to the garden. Check the slab for level, as Maison et Travaux recommends for any garage shelf. If there is a slight slope, place a few shims under the first block so the stack stays perfectly vertical and does not slide.
Place this first hollow block against the wall, cavities facing upward, then stack the second, and perhaps a third if you want a height of about 60 cm. The holes create as many compartments for inserting shovels, rakes and brooms. You can add a bead of construction adhesive between the blocks, then glue a board on top to form a shelf. A concrete primer followed by an acrylic-latex paint unifies the whole and enables you to replicate these small modules along the wall.
Sources
- Maison & Travaux
“If your garage is overflowing, here is the ultra-solid shelf built from these two construction-site materials to copy this weekend”
