Hide Skateboard in Closet (Vertical Wall Mounts)
To store a skateboard vertically inside a closet, measure the board and available wall space, then choose a mount rated for the wall material and vertical use. Fasten it to verified framing, not drywall alone. Check the board’s wheels, trucks, and mount against the door and nearby shelves, then test that the board stays secure and lifts off cleanly.
A closet can keep a skateboard out of sight, but a tight fit can make it awkward to reach or cause it to catch on the door, shelves, or stored clothes. The board’s wheels and trucks also project from the wall, so measuring only its length and width is not enough.
I plan this kind of storage by treating the board, mount, wall, and door as one system. There is no dedicated IRC or IBC rule for storing a skateboard. The safe approach is to follow the mount maker’s instructions, verify the wall and fasteners, and follow applicable local building and electrical codes.
Plan the Board and Closet
Planning means measuring your actual skateboard and the closet before choosing a mount location. A typical skateboard is about 28–33 inches long and 7.5–8.5 inches wide, but these ranges are only a starting point. Board shape, wheels, trucks, and mounting hardware vary, so base the layout on your own equipment.
Measure the board from end to end and across its widest point. Then measure the closet wall’s usable height and width, along with its depth from the wall to the closed door or nearest stored item. Leave clear wall height equal to the board’s length plus at least 2 inches. This gives you room to place and remove it, but the mount’s design may require more.
A truck is the metal assembly that holds the wheels to the deck. Measure how far the wheels and trucks extend from the deck, since that projection can determine whether the door closes. Also note whether the board has attached accessories that change its shape or weight.
Before shopping, check the mount’s instructions for its intended board orientation, compatible wall material, fasteners, and published load rating. The rating must exceed the skateboard’s measured weight, and the mount must be approved for the way you plan to use it. Do not assume a product rated for one direction or wall type is suitable for another.
| Check | What to measure or confirm | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Board height | Actual end-to-end length | Sets the minimum clear wall height |
| Board width | Widest deck point | Helps avoid side contact |
| Projection | Distance from deck to outer wheel or truck edge | Determines door and shelf clearance |
| Board weight | Weigh the board as stored | Lets you compare it with the mount’s rating |
| Closet depth | Wall to closed door or nearest item | Confirms the board will fit when hung |
| Mount requirements | Rating, orientation, wall type, and fasteners | Confirms the system suits the installation |
There is no special airflow or venting requirement for ordinary closet storage of a skateboard. The practical concerns are fit, safe support, and access. Keep the board away from a spot where it blocks clothing, a closet light, or items you need to reach.
Check Door, Wheel, and Access Clearances
Clearance is the open space the board needs so it can hang without hitting the door, shelves, clothes, or other stored items. Check the full shape of the board, not just the deck. Wheel and truck projection, mount depth, and the door’s swing all affect whether vertical wall storage will work.
Close and open the closet door while checking the proposed location. If it is a hinged door, account for its swing; if it slides, check the area the door covers. Hold the board in the intended position or mark its outline on the wall with removable tape. Include the outermost point of the wheels and the mount.
Also check how you will take the board down. A mount may hold the board securely yet leave too little room to lift or pull it free. Follow the maker’s instructions for how the board engages with the mount, and preserve the movement space that method requires.
I use a simple test before drilling: mark the board’s outline, then mimic the removal motion with the board in place. If you have to twist it sharply, push clothes aside, or force it past a shelf, move the layout or change the mount. A convenient hidden storage spot should not make the board difficult to retrieve.
| Closet condition | Likely issue | Practical check |
|---|---|---|
| Low ceiling or top shelf | Board may not have enough lift space | Confirm the board’s length plus at least 2 inches of clear height, then check the mount’s removal motion |
| Deep wheels or trucks | Board may hit the door or stored items | Measure projection from deck to the outermost wheel or truck |
| Hinged closet door | Door may strike the board | Test the full door swing with the board outline in place |
| Sliding closet door | Door may cover or contact the mount area | Check the door’s travel and the board’s position |
| Clothes on a nearby rod | Fabric may snag on wheels or trucks | Test access with the closet arranged as it will be used |
If the closet cannot provide the needed height, depth, or removal space, do not force the fit. Choose another wall location or storage method. The key takeaway is to confirm the board’s whole profile and handling path before making holes.
Locate Framing and Install the Mount
Framing is the wood or metal structure behind a finished wall; it provides a solid place to attach a mount when the mount is designed for that substrate. Drywall is a finish surface, not structural support. Find and confirm the wall material, then use only the fasteners and placement specified by the mount maker.
Studs are often spaced 16 inches on center, meaning the distance from the middle of one stud to the middle of the next is 16 inches. That spacing is common, not guaranteed. A stud finder can help locate framing, but it can miss or misidentify it, and it cannot reliably confirm that a drilling path is clear of wiring or plumbing.
Use these steps before and during installation:
- Survey the wall. Check whether it is drywall over wood framing, drywall over metal framing, masonry, or another material. Do not assume the wall type from its appearance.
- Mark the layout. Place the board outline and mount locations on the wall. Confirm the mount sits where its instructions require and that the board remains clear of doors and contents.
- Locate and verify framing. Use an appropriate method to confirm the mounting point and substrate. A stud finder result alone does not prove that the exact drill path is free of concealed services.
- Check the drilling path. Consider likely wiring and plumbing routes. Do not drill blindly. If you cannot confirm a safe path, stop and get qualified help.
- Install to the instructions. Use the specified fastener type, number, placement, and embedment depth. Embedment is the length of the fastener that enters the supporting material, not the part that passes through the mount or wall finish.
- Check the installation. Look for movement, damaged wall material, or loose fasteners before hanging the board.
Do not use adhesive strips, drywall-only screws, or unrated hooks for vertical retention. Drywall anchors are not a substitute for framing when a mount’s stated rating depends on attachment to a stud. An anchor may be appropriate only if the mount is specifically rated for the verified wall construction and the exact installation follows its instructions.
If the mount’s holes do not align with suitable framing, do not change the fasteners or drill extra holes without checking the mount maker’s guidance. Select a compatible mount or another location. The load rating is meaningful only when the mount is installed in the substrate and with the fasteners for which it is rated.
Verify Retention and Finished Clearances
Retention means the way a mount holds the skateboard in place and keeps it from slipping or falling. Once installation is complete, check the fasteners and the board’s fit before treating the closet as finished. The board should be secure in its intended position and removable without snagging or scraping nearby surfaces.
Start by checking that the mount is firmly attached and shows no visible movement. Follow any inspection or testing steps in the manufacturer’s instructions. Hang the skateboard gently, rather than dropping or forcing it into place. Confirm that it engages as intended and remains held when you release it.
Then check the closet again with the board installed:
- Close and open the door fully.
- Confirm the wheels and trucks do not touch the door, shelves, or stored items.
- Remove and replace the board using its normal handling motion.
- Check that clothes, bags, and other items do not snag on the board.
- Recheck the mount and fasteners if the board shifts, the wall surface changes, or the mount becomes loose.
A board that fits only when the closet is empty may not fit in daily use. Test it with the usual shelves, clothing, and stored gear in place. If you find contact or snagging, change the arrangement rather than relying on the board to sit at an angle or pressing it into the available space.
Installation scenarios to learn from
These are planning examples, not reports of specific client installations. They show how the same checks apply to different closet layouts.
Narrow closet with a hinged door: The board outline fits on the side wall, but the wheel projection sits in the door’s swing path. The fix is to test the closed-door clearance before drilling and move the board to a position outside that path.
Closet with a top shelf: The board fits beneath the shelf when held upright, but there is no room to lift it off the mount. The layout needs enough height for the board plus the mount’s required removal motion; otherwise, the wall position or storage method must change.
Wall with uncertain framing: A stud finder suggests a mounting point, but the wall material and drilling path are not confirmed. The safe next step is to verify the substrate and check for concealed services before drilling, rather than treating the first reading as proof.
In each case, the useful lesson is the same: solve the clearance and wall questions before installation. A concealed location is only practical if the board is both securely supported and easy to retrieve.
Conclusion and FAQ
A vertical closet mount can clear floor space and keep a skateboard out of sight, but a reliable result depends on accurate measurements and the right wall attachment. Measure the board, wheels, and closet; test the door and removal path; verify framing and the drilling route; then install and inspect the mount as instructed. If a key condition is uncertain, pause rather than guess.
Can I hang a skateboard vertically inside a closet?
Yes, if the closet has enough height and depth, and the mount is rated for vertical use and the verified wall material.
How much height do I need?
Allow the board’s actual length plus at least 2 inches of clear wall height. Check the mount’s instructions for any added space needed to remove the board.
How much space do skateboard wheels need from the door?
Measure from the deck to the outer edge of the wheels or trucks, then check the board against the closed door and its full swing or travel.
Can I mount a skateboard hanger to drywall?
Do not rely on drywall alone unless the mount is specifically rated for the verified wall construction and installed exactly as directed.
Are drywall anchors enough?
Not when the mount’s rating depends on attachment to framing. Use anchors only if the mount maker approves them for that wall and installation.
Can a stud finder confirm the wall is safe to drill?
No. A stud finder can help locate framing, but it cannot reliably confirm that a drilling path is free of wiring or plumbing.
Are skateboard mounts rated for every wall and direction?
No. Check the published rating, intended orientation, compatible substrate, and required fasteners for the specific mount.
Does a skateboard need ventilation in a closet?
Ordinary closet storage does not require special airflow or venting. Make sure the board does not block access or interfere with closet use.
What if the mount holes do not line up with a stud?
Do not substitute fasteners or add holes without approval. Choose a compatible mount or a different location that meets the instructions.
How do I know the board is secure after installation?
Check the fasteners and mount, hang the board gently, and confirm it stays retained and can be removed without snagging. Follow the maker’s testing and inspection guidance.
(This article was written by one of our staff writers, Robert Kensington. Visit our Meet the Team page.)
