The best board game storage solutions to organise your games

If your tabletop game collection needs a really good tidy up, these are our top board game storage solutions to help you get organised.

Board games storage a stack of board games on a shelf

What are the best board game storage solutions? You’ll have to face the problem eventually; picking up shiny new games is wonderful, but soon enough you’ll have a big old stack of boxes with nowhere to keep them that’s tidy, safe, or convenient. This guide lists our top board game storage options to get your tabletop terror under control.

 

Some of the most popular board game storage solutions are regular shelving units that just so happen to be of the perfect dimensions for tabletop boxes.

Others are bespoke items, specifically designed to snugly hold the best board games and best card games on the market today, with not a single centimeter wasted. This guide tracks our favorite options for different use cases.

The best board game storage solutions are:

  1. Kallax
  2. Storage bench
  3. Storage coffee table
  4. Shoe organiser
  5. Wire shelving unit
  6. BoxThrone

Whether you have an expansive collection that’s already overflowing into the corridors of your home, or just a handful of games that need their own space, there’s plenty of clever methods to organise your collection. 

Board game storage - a set of white IKEA Kallax shelves

Kallax

Ikea’s infamous Kallax is the gold standard of board game storage. Ask any tabletop enthusiast what they use to keep their games away from harm, and there’s a good chance they’ll direct you to this classic Ikea unit.

The Kallax’s dimensions are perfect, with each compartment deep enough to fit the biggest games, and store multiple smaller products together. The compartments also allow you to neatly organise your collection by type, and visually categorise them.

When filling up each cube, there’s little wasted space, and the option to add drawers and cupboard doors lets you customise the unit to your liking. Available in a variety of dimensions – from massive five by five grids to single column shelving units – you’re likely to find one model that’s suitable to the size of your collection, and can be squeezed into your home.

There are a couple of other popular Ikea shelving units. Billy is the cheapest option, but its shallow depth will leave your bigger boxes jutting out, while Bestå is a more expensive alternative, featuring wider and deeper shelf spaces. For an affordable all-rounder, stick with the Kallax.

Board game storage a bench with an open storage door

Storage bench

Storage benches are a convenient means of piling all your board games in one place without sacrificing usable furniture space. When choosing one, pick an option that has plenty of space inside, and a rigid, strong construction (it would be a shame if all your weighty games fell through the bottom).

They do have the problem of access, however. You can’t easily locate each game, and might have to dig through the entire pile if you’re after something that’s sitting at the very bottom of the barrel.

But if you’re keen to lump your games in one place, while preserving the utility of your floor space, test one out. You might even find it perfect for those games you rarely get to the tabletop, but can’t pull yourself to part with.

We reckon this storage bench is a good pick. There’s enough space inside for a modest collection, and it can sit in a living room or bedroom. Plus, its neutral colour should match any paint scheme.

Board games storage a coffee table with removable top

Storage coffee table

If you’ve room for a coffee table, consider one that doubles as a hidden board game storage area. Any table with a removable top will do, and will usually have enough space to contain a few of your favourite games.

They’re unlikely to house your entire collection (trust us, whatever nascent collection you’re currently rearing will quickly expand), but are fantastically useful for keeping your favourite games right where you need them.

You can also store any other related accoutrements beside them: pens, paper, dice, or a dunce hat for the regular loser of your gaming group.

Board games storage over-the-door shoe organisers

Shoe organizer

If you have plenty of smaller board game boxes that need packing away, but won’t be amassing any hefty titles, consider an over-the-door shoe organiser.

Sticking your board games next to your loafers doesn’t sound immediately sensible, but the size comparison is surprisingly spot on. Keeping games on the back of a door also avoids the problem of space consumption; they can be kept out of the way until you need them.

Make sure you buy a shoe organiser with sturdy pockets that are robustly stitched to the base material. This is a grand example, with plenty of space for your games. And if you don’t fill every pocket, use the others for other tabletop accessories.

Board game storage a metal wireframe shelving unit

Wire shelving unit

While Kallax’s are often praised for their snug dimensions and affordability, their bulking frames and square compartments aren’t for everyone.

If you’re after a cheaper option, and aren’t too concerned with aesthetic pleasantries, consider a wire shelving unit. They’re deep and have a large width, so can comfortably fit your biggest games. Usually designed to store kitchenware, they should also be sturdy enough to take the weight of anything you plan on giving it.

This metal shelving unit is a typical pick. Cheap and cheerful, it’s not much to look at, but can happily take any game you throw its way. It’s sturdy, too, so won’t be rattling around every time you move towards it. Adjustable shelf height is also handy for peculiarly tall boxes.

Board game storage a BoxThrone shelving unit

BoxThrone

If price is no issue, check out BoxThrone’s shelving units. Designed specifically to house board games, they offer everything you could want for this very particular storage issue. Each shelf holds one game, preventing the need to stack boxes.

Aside from avoiding potential damage, it means you can easily pick whatever you fancy without struggling to lift the pile of board games sitting on top of it. Each shelf can also be moved, letting you fit games of any height inside, and the option to adjoin extra-wide shelves between models caters to bigger boxes.

The idea behind BoxThrone is to mitigate all wasted space, and make it as easy as possible to grab each game. Their modular design also lets you string separate units together into great murals of board game boxes, if you’re so inclined.

It’ll cost you a pretty penny, though. The smallest model, BoxDuke goes for $330 / £238, while the largest BoxLegend is a whopping $827 / £696.

Board game storage cards and tokens from Love Letter

Board game storage FAQ and tips

If you’ve picked out the right storage solution for your home and collection, you’re well on your way – but we’ll also list some helpful tips to keep in mind when you’re wrangling your many boxes into some kind of order.

1. Combine boxes

You don’t need to spend money to whittle down your board game storage space. Instead of finding a new home for your games, try to combine their boxes to reduce your collection’s total footprint.

It’s no small secret that plenty of tabletop games contain vast amounts of empty space in their large boxes – prime real estate for a storage-savvy gamer.

If you have multiple expansion packs for one game, try cramming the add-ons into the base game’s box. Or, if you’re willing, bin the packaging for the expansions, and store their game pieces together.

Similarly, small card games can often be bundled into the boxes of heftier titles. Just remember where you put them and label your combined boxes clearly; no one would think to look for Love Letter in Star Wars: Rebellion’s box.

Board game storage a collection of boxes

2. Cut down your collection

We hate to say it, and nobody likes to hear it, but do you really need all those board games?

It’s a bitter pill to swallow, but having not played a game for several years might be an indication that you won’t play it again. A good clear-out not only frees up space, it can also focus your gaming, reigniting an interest in an old title you hadn’t considered.

Plus, after selling your spare games, you’ll have some extra change to buy new board games. If that be the case, do have a riffle through our guides to the best cooperative board games, the best strategy board games, and the best board games for couples – hopefully something there will tickle your fancy!