We selected the mDesign Decorative Metal Farmhouse Magazine Rack as the best magazine rack you can buy today. This magazine rack created a multifunctional storage solution that could easily transition between holding magazines and serving as a stylish bathroom caddy. It was also pre-assembled and featured a classic look that works in a range of home decor settings.
To determine the best magazine rack we looked at the following core features: location, type, design, materials, size, and capacity. We know that residential and commercial design needs can be very different, and that available floor space can also impact the type of rack you select. So, we focused on a variety of options that were versatile in terms of location and space compatibility, while also offering adequate storage capacity. Keep reading to learn more about our selections. But before that, check other quality office tools available for purchase.
Top 7 Best Magazine Racks
#1 mDesign Decorative Metal Farmhouse Magazine Rack
Award: TOP PICK
WHY WE LIKE IT: A sleek floor magazine rack that works with almost any type of home decor, requires no assembly and is perfect for small spaces.
- Minimalist upscale design that works with most decor schemes
- Ideal for small spaces
- Can also double as a bathroom towel or toilet paper holder
- Limited capacity may not be ideal for some households
Even if you don’t get a magazine to your home every other day, that doesn’t mean that it’s a bad idea to invest in having a magazine rack in the house. This Top Pick floor magazine rack from mDesign is a beautiful wireframe option that’s perfect for almost any home decor style. We like that this is a rack that doesn’t require assembly and is ready to use right out of the box.
Related: Take a closer look at the best loveseats out there.
More importantly, the small size that measures 12 inches long, six inches deep, and 8.5 inches tall makes it perfect for even the smallest studio apartment. ven if you’re not someone who reads print magazines, this magazine holder can pull double duty as a bathroom caddy to store fresh towels, washcloths, or extra rolls of toilet paper. Speaking of your bathroom, take a look at our guide on the best smart toilet if you’re looking for an upgrade.
#2 Spectrum Diversified Seville Magazine Rock
Award: HONORABLE MENTION
WHY WE LIKE IT: A modern magazine rack that’s affordable and perfect to sit beside your couch in a mid-century style home, with plenty of room for multiple magazines.
- Best on a budget
- Ideal for homes receiving a lot of publications
- Sleek modern design
- Smaller items may slip through slots
If you live for the mid-century design aesthetic, this option from Spectrum is the perfect solution for your form-meets-function needs. This wireframe modern magazine rack features a simple single-slot that can hold newspapers, magazines, or even vinyl records. So if your home gets a lot of magazines in the mail, this magazine rack is up to the challenge.
We liked that this is another solution that doesn’t require assembly — meaning that as soon as you take it out of the box, it’s ready to go. The matte black wire features a sleek finish that will look great in your living room or bedroom. But best of all, this magazine basket offers a fold-flat design that makes storage easy when it’s not in use. If you’re taking work home from the office, you may also want one of the best little desks for a personal office.
#3 iDesign Classico Steel Wire Wall Mount Magazine Rack
Award: BEST FOR SMALL SPACES
WHY WE LIKE IT: A space-saving wall-mounted literature rack that comes with the hardware and can be used in a wide array of settings.
- Easy installation with hardware included
- Great gender-neutral design
- Made from rust-resistant steel in a bronze finish
- Smaller capacity may not be ideal for some
When space is at a premium, a magazine rack that takes up floor space isn’t practical. Whether you’re working in a cubicle or living in a starter studio apartment, this small wall-mounted magazine rack from iDesign is perfect. This is a hanging basket design that measures 10.5 inches tall, 8.5 inches wide, and 3.5 inches deep.
While it’s not a solution for someone that collects a large number of magazines or newspapers, we think it’s also an awesome gender-neutral option because of the rust-resistant steel construction with a brushed bronze finish. Plus, this wall magazine rack comes with the necessary hardware for installation. You could also put this in your bathroom, and use it to store bathroom essentials.
#4 IRIS USA Magazine Rack
Award: BEST FOR CHILDREN
WHY WE LIKE IT: A child height large magazine stand with four rows of storage that’s ideal for preschools that need to store and organize books.
- Classic large wood design
- 4-row storage is ideal for a large volume of magazines
- Easy to assemble and hardware is included
- May be too large for some venues or homes
We feel like this wooden four-row magazine stand from IRIS USA has a bit of a nostalgic feel to it. That’s why we believe it’s best for preschools. It offers the most storage of any of the selections we’re featuring. In total, this rack can support up to 22.07 pounds with just over five pounds supported in each row.
This wooden magazine rack stand measures 22.62 inches long, 10.63 inches wide and 23.23 inches tall. At that height, this rack is perfect for smaller children to create a reading corner and encourage a love of reading at an early age. As is common for the larger magazine racks, this model requires assembly but it does come with all necessary hardware to complete the task. If you’re using this for bathroom storage, you may want to also check out the best plunger.
#5 Safco Products Onyx 10 Pocket Magazine Rack
Award: BEST FOR CO-WORKING SPACES
WHY WE LIKE IT: A hanging magazine file that’s perfect for first-time co-work space users to help them stay on top of industry publications without sacrificing floor space.
- Space-saving wall-mounted style to maximize floor space
- Large 10-pocket design with ¾” capacity per pocket
- Holds up to 5 pounds, comes with mounting hardware
- Only available in one color
We know this is a rather specific award. But as co-working spaces continue to gain popularity, people are learning to create their mini-offices and adjusting to maximizing the workable space. And depending on the layout of your dedicated desk space, you might have access to a wall such as in a cubicle. Instead of cluttering up your desk or the floor space around it, this hanging magazine file from Safco Products is a great space-saving solution.
As is common with literature holders such as this, this option comes with the mounting hardware so that you can quickly install it. The 10-pocket design can hold up to five pounds and is incredibly sturdy. Each pocket measures ¾” deep. Plus the low-profile black mesh design is compatible with a wide range of commercial design schemes.
#6 Displays2Go Portable Magazine Rack
Award: BEST QUALITY
WHY WE LIKE IT: A floor standing magazine rack that folds flat and is easy to assemble with no hardware required makes it a smart choice for event professionals who need to set up and break down quickly.
- Perfect for trade shows and events
- 10 tiered pockets
- Quick assembly with fold-flat design
- Base can be a bit wobbly
If you’re a frequent presenter at events such as pop-ups and trade shows, you know that being able to quickly set up or break down your display stand is critical to making life easier. Our Best Quality nomination goes to this magazine rack from Displays2Go. It’s one of two fold-flat options we’ve highlighted.
But what makes it break out is that it comes in three pieces that easily snap together. More importantly, this is a floor-length angled standing rack that comes with a carry bag to keep the finish protected between uses. We like that this is another 10-tiered solution. The overall dimensions measure 56 inches tall and 11 inches wide.
#7 AdirOffice Hanging Magazine Rack
Award: BEST FOR DOCTOR’S OFFICES
WHY WE LIKE IT: An unobtrusive three-tier acrylic plastic magazine rack that is perfect for doctor’s offices, salons, or even teen bedrooms.
- Medium capacity for commercial or residential use
- Comes with wall-mounting hardware
- Clear acrylic style is unobtrusive
- Installation can be tricky
Finding a magazine rack that matches your decor can be difficult for some. And for that reason, we included this acrylic option from AdirOffice. It’s the only completely see-through design that we nominated because we think it’s truly unobtrusive and can blend in with any design aesthetic.
While it’s ideal for doctor’s offices or salons, it’s also a great neutral choice for a teen bedroom. This acrylic magazine rack is another wall-mounted solution that comes with the necessary hardware. There are three tiers. Each tier measures 29 inches wide and the overall rack measures 35 inches tall. Each tier is also two inches deep. This could be used to store anything from makeup to the best shower caddy.
How We Decided
Even though pop culture will have you believe that print media is dying, the truth is that the magazine rack is still an essential item for both residential and commercial needs. To create our guide, we focused on the following features — location, type, design, materials, size, and capacity. For the type, we included three wall-mounted picks and four freestanding options.
We knew that where your magazine rack will be can dictate the style you select. So, we included a mix of options that are suitable for home and commercial use. Likewise, we also featured a variety of materials although metal-based options dominated our selections.
Next, we considered the size. While we did include one larger option, in general, we focused on space-saving designs that were either wall-mounted or didn’t take up much floor space. Understandably, capacity and size tend to go hand in hand. The smaller selections tended to offer less space whereas the larger options could hold more items.
And finally, we did consider the design. While there are countless options on the market and you can select a more niche style that best matches your aesthetic, in this article we focused our search on picks that offered more universal appeal and worked in a wider range of settings.
Best Magazine Rack Buyer’s Guide
The Most Important Factors to Consider
- Location
You can find magazine racks for the home or workplace. While a home magazine rack is usually smaller so that it can fit beside a couch or work as a conversation piece, racks for commercial or educational settings tend to be more utilitarian and larger. Consider where you’ll be using your magazine rack as you review your options. For example, if customers have to wait in line for a cash register or to use the best postal scale before shipping a package, a larger magazine rack by the line may entertain customers while they wait. - Type
Magazine racks come in a few common variations. These can include freestanding, wall-mounted, and rotating. Wall-mounted options are ideal if space is limited — regardless of whether you’re shopping for home use or a commercial or educational location. Rotating solutions are also ideal if you receive a large volume of publications but still need to maximize space. - Design
While the design might not be as important if you’re buying a larger magazine rack for a commercial or educational setting, it is when you’re buying a magazine rack for your home. For the most part, form rules over function when you’re buying a rack for your residence. You might prefer a single-slot option or something that blends in with the overall decor of your room. - Materials
Magazine racks come in a wide range of materials. Common options include wood, plastic, metal, and even other options like wire. The style you pick is going to depend on your aesthetic tastes. - Size and Capacity
For the home, most people aren’t going to pick a large oversized magazine rack as it can overpower a room. But they’ll still want to ensure that the rack can hold a decent amount of items depending on how frequently they buy or receive magazines or newspapers in a month. For commercial and educational spaces, a larger magazine rack with dedicated slots may be more practical since these venues typically receive several magazines or newspapers a week.
