Target Garage Storage: What You Can Actually Find and When It Makes Sense
Target sells some useful garage storage products, but the selection is narrower than what you'd find at Home Depot, Lowe's, or even Amazon. You won't find heavy-duty steel shelving or mounted wall cabinet systems there. What Target does carry well is plastic storage bins, small shelving units, tool organizers, and Rubbermaid or Sterilite containers that work in a garage context. If you're looking to organize your garage on a tight budget or need supplies quickly without making a separate hardware store trip, Target is a reasonable option for the right items.
This guide covers what Target carries for garage storage, what's worth buying there, and where you're better off shopping elsewhere.
What Target Actually Stocks for Garage Storage
Target's garage-related storage products live in their Home and Storage sections, not a dedicated garage department. That means you're shopping next to closet organizers and pantry containers, not welded steel shelving. Here's what you'll typically find:
Plastic Storage Bins and Totes
This is Target's strongest category for garage storage. Sterilite, Rubbermaid, and Up & Up (Target's own brand) bins come in a huge range of sizes, from small 6-quart bins for small parts to 65+ quart totes for bulky seasonal items.
Prices are competitive. A 64-quart Sterilite tote runs about $12 to $16 at Target, which is in line with Amazon and often better than Home Depot's pricing on the same item. During back-to-school and seasonal clearance sales, these get even cheaper.
These bins are genuinely useful in garages when you put them on proper shelving. The bins themselves are good; what Target doesn't sell is the metal shelving to put them on.
Small Plastic Shelving Units
Target carries a few freestanding plastic shelving units, typically 4 or 5 shelf designs in the 60-inch height range from brands like Seville Classics, Honey-Can-Do, or their private label. These run from about $50 to $150.
For a light-duty garage setup, these work fine. Holiday decorations, sports gear, extra household supplies, they handle that without issue. Anything heavy, car parts, tools, equipment, will flex these shelves noticeably.
Tool Storage and Organizers
Target carries a rotating selection of small tool organizers: toolboxes, rolling carts (occasionally), peg board hooks, and desktop organizers. The selection here is inconsistent and tends toward consumer rather than professional grade. Craftsman and Husky appear sometimes, but don't count on specific brands being in stock.
Utility Carts
Target typically stocks a few utility cart options, often the Seville Classics or Honey-Can-Do 3-tier utility carts that run on wheels. These are genuinely useful for a garage workshop as a mobile storage station. Prices run $60 to $120 for a decent metal or heavy plastic cart.
For a full view of what's available for a comprehensive garage setup, the best garage storage guide covers heavier-duty options that Target doesn't carry.
Where Target Competes Well on Price
A few specific items where Target's pricing is legitimately competitive:
Sterilite storage bins (any size): Target frequently matches or beats Amazon pricing, and you avoid shipping. For bins you're buying 6 to 12 at a time, the savings add up.
Bungee cords and tie-down straps: Target carries these in their automotive section and usually at fair prices.
Wall hooks and Command strips: Target's selection of 3M Command hooks and general wall hooks is broad and well-priced.
Basic tool organizers: Small parts organizers, magnetic tool strips, and similar items are priced reasonably.
Shelving mats and liner: Target carries non-slip shelf liners that work well in garage shelving to keep bins from sliding.
Where Target Falls Short for Garage Storage
The limitations are significant if you're trying to do a serious garage organization project:
No heavy-duty metal shelving. The welded steel or boltless metal shelving that forms the backbone of most garage storage setups isn't available at Target. You'll need Home Depot, Lowe's, Costco, or Amazon for those.
No mounted wall cabinet systems. Gladiator, Husky, or similar modular wall cabinet systems aren't Target products. If you want lockable, wall-mounted cabinets, look elsewhere.
No overhead ceiling racks. SafeRacks, Fleximounts, and similar ceiling storage systems are not in Target's product mix.
Limited weight capacity. Most shelving at Target is rated for 50 to 150 pounds per shelf. For a garage where you're storing anything substantial, those ratings are limiting.
Small power tool accessories. Target stocks basic hardware but doesn't go deep on tool-specific storage like drill bit organizers, socket rail sets, or similar.
For ceiling storage options that Target doesn't carry, the best garage top storage guide is worth a look.
How to Use Target Effectively in a Garage Storage Project
The smart approach is using Target for what it does well and supplementing from specialized stores.
Buy bins and containers at Target. This is where you get good value for the money. Buy uniformly sized bins so they stack cleanly. 32-quart and 64-quart Sterilite totes are the most versatile sizes.
Buy shelving somewhere else. Get the steel shelving from Home Depot, Lowe's, Costco, or online. Then use the bins from Target on those shelves.
Check Target Circle deals. Target's loyalty program frequently offers 15 to 20% off storage products, especially in January during "New Year, New Home" promotions and in late summer. Stacking a Target Circle discount with a sale price on bins can make Target the cheapest option by a meaningful margin.
Use Target's app to check local inventory. Target's inventory system is actually pretty accurate through the app. Before driving to the store for a specific bin or organizer, check availability at your local store.
Setting Up a Garage with Target Supplies: A Realistic Example
Here's how I'd approach a basic garage organization project using Target for what it does well:
Get a freestanding plastic shelving unit from Target in the $80 to $120 range for a section of the garage where you're storing lighter items. Pair it with 8 to 10 matching 32-quart Sterilite bins with lids, labeled for specific categories. Sports gear, camping, holiday decorations, cleaning supplies, auto maintenance, and so on.
For the heavier storage, buy a steel boltless shelving unit from Home Depot or online. That handles tools, equipment, and anything with real weight.
The combination works well, costs less than buying everything from a premium garage storage brand, and uses Target for what it genuinely does well.
FAQ
Does Target carry Gladiator or Husky garage cabinets? No. Target does not carry Gladiator, Husky, or similar metal garage cabinet systems. Those brands are distributed through Home Depot (Husky), Lowe's (Gladiator), and their respective manufacturer websites.
Can I order garage storage online from Target for in-store pickup? Yes. Target's same-day delivery and store pickup options work for storage bins and shelving. Larger items like shelving units may only be available for ship-to-home.
Is Target's Up & Up storage brand any good? Up & Up storage containers (bins, totes, organizers) are generally good quality for the price. They're manufactured by the same suppliers that make name-brand containers in many cases. For garage use, the lids tend to fit securely and the plastic is durable enough for indoor storage.
What's the best time of year to buy storage at Target? January is consistently the best month. Target runs major storage sales in early January, with 20 to 30% off bins, organizers, and shelving. Late summer is the second-best time as back-to-school promotions often include general storage products.
The Bottom Line
Target is a good supporting store for a garage storage project, not the lead. Use it for bins, totes, and light organizers where the pricing is competitive and the selection is decent. For the structural elements, the shelving, the wall cabinets, the ceiling racks, go to a store that specializes in those products. That combination gets you a well-organized garage without overpaying for either the heavy-duty or the light-duty components.