Plant Shelf: Size, Light and Load Guide

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Check three things before you buy: the footprint on your wall or in your corner, whether you need a built-in grow light, and the weight each shelf is meant to carry. The three shelves compared here take very different shapes. The Bamworld is a 34 inch wide wooden shelf with 10 levels and a grow light. The BACEKOLL is a 29.5 inch wide, 7-tier shelf with a grow light and a metal frame. The Yzosvki is a 6-tier corner shelf that is 43.31 inches long and 15.75 inches deep. The listings disagree with themselves on weight, so confirm it on each product page before you buy.

Quick compare: the products in this guide

Sizes come from the Amazon listings as we read them; check the product page for the current details before you buy.

Product	Listed details	Link
Bamworld Plant Stand with Grow Light Plant Shelf for Mutiple Pots Large Plant…	34 × 11.8 × 47.5 in; 10 levels	See details on Amazon Affiliate link
BACEKOLL Plant Stand Indoor with Grow Light, 7 Tier 49″ Lighted Plant Shelf	29.5 × 11.8 × 48.9 in; 7 levels	See details on Amazon Affiliate link
Yzosvki Corner Plant Stand Indoor 6 Tiered Corner Plant Shelf	43.31 × 15.75 × 22.27 in; 6 levels	See details on Amazon Affiliate link

What a plant shelf does well

A plant shelf puts many small pots at different heights in a single spot. That helps in a small room because the floor under the shelf is the only floor you give up, and the rest of the height is free for pots. A shelf also lets you group plants by their need for light: sun lovers on the top, shade tolerant plants lower down.

A shelf is not a substitute for a window. Plants on lower tiers get less natural light than plants on top, and a shelf set far from a window may need a grow light. Two of the shelves here include one.

The three plant shelves we compare

Bamworld wooden plant stand with grow light, 10 levels

The Bamworld shelf is listed at 34 inches long, 11.8 inches deep and 47.5 inches high, in brown eucalyptus wood, with 10 levels. The weight is listed as 4.7 kilograms. The listing contradicts itself on size and load. The structured data gives a load capacity of 180 pounds, while a bullet says it bears up to 150 pounds, and another bullet describes 30 x 11.8 x 42.5 inches, which does not match the 34 by 47.5 inch figure. Because of these conflicts we do not rank it by load or by height. The bullets say it holds 11 to 25 regular pots and recommend heavier pots on the lower shelves. The listing describes three light modes for the grow light, and says the shelf can also be hung. Read the listing for the details of the light and the hanging hardware.

BACEKOLL 7-tier plant stand with grow light

The BACEKOLL shelf is listed at 29.5 inches long, 11.8 inches deep and 48.9 inches high, in rustic brown and black, made of iron and wood, weighing 15 pounds, with 7 levels. The listing describes a full-spectrum grow light with adjustable brightness and a timer. It has a tree-shaped design and a 0.85 millimeter thick iron pipe frame. The listing says you can combine two stands. The structured load capacity reads 18 pounds, and the listing does not say whether that is per shelf or in total, so check the listing before loading it with heavy pots. It comes with furniture straps, which is useful for a tall shelf.

Yzosvki 6-tier corner plant stand

The Yzosvki shelf is listed at 43.31 inches long, 15.75 inches deep and 22.27 inches high, in rustic brown with a black metal frame, with an engineered wood and metal build and 6 levels. It weighs 9 pounds. The L-shaped design is meant to sit in a corner, with plants displayed at different levels. The listing recommends putting heavier pots at the bottom. It does not give a load rating in the listing data, so check the listing. It has no grow light listed. It is the lowest of the three, which suits a spot by a window or a corner where a tall shelf would block the view.

Wall shelf or corner shelf

The footprint tells you where the shelf can go.

• Straight shelf against a wall (Bamworld, BACEKOLL). The narrow depth, 11.8 inches on both, makes them easy to fit beside a window or along a hall. At 47.5 and 48.9 inches high, they use vertical space.
• Corner shelf (Yzosvki). The L-shape fills an otherwise wasted corner and keeps the middle of the room open. It is lower, at 22.27 inches high, so it holds plants that stay small.

A tall, narrow shelf can tip if it is loaded unevenly. Keep the heavy pots low, keep the shelf on a level floor and use any wall straps that come with it. The BACEKOLL listing mentions furniture straps, and the Yzosvki listing says to put heavier pots at the bottom.

Grow lights: do you need them?

A grow light is useful where the shelf is far from a window or in a room that faces north. The Bamworld and BACEKOLL both come with lights. The Yzosvki does not, so plan to place it by a window or add your own light.

Lights add a cord. Plan where the plug is before you pick the spot, and check whether the listing says the light works on a timer. The BACEKOLL listing describes a timer function. For the Bamworld, the listing describes several light modes; check the listing for how to switch them.

Worked example: a 96 inch wall

One room, one wall: the wall is 96 inches long, and we place a shelf against it. We check only the direction along the wall.

Bamworld, 34 in long. 96 in minus 34 in equals 62 in of wall left in total. If we center the shelf, the 62 in is the TOTAL for both sides, so we split it: 62 in divided by 2 equals 31 in on each side.

BACEKOLL, 29.5 in long. 96 in minus 29.5 in equals 66.5 in of wall left in total. Centered, 66.5 in divided by 2 equals 33.25 in on each side.

Two BACEKOLL stands side by side. The listing says two stands can be combined. 29.5 in plus 29.5 in equals 59 in of shelf. Then 96 in minus 59 in equals 37 in left in total. Centered, 37 in divided by 2 equals 18.5 in on each side.

Check each result by adding back. 31 in plus 31 in plus 34 in equals 96 in. 33.25 in plus 33.25 in plus 29.5 in equals 96 in. 18.5 in plus 18.5 in plus 59 in equals 96 in. All three add up.

The lesson is that two stands use well over half the wall, so keep a doorway, a window or a radiator in mind. If the wall has a door at one end, push the shelf to the other end instead of centering it, and all the leftover space goes to the open side.

Pots, weight and loading

Pot weight is the part people underestimate. A pot with wet soil is much heavier than the same pot dry. Ten pots add up quickly. The listings give very different numbers:

• The Bamworld structured data says 180 pounds, while a bullet says 150 pounds. We would plan on the lower number, 150, until the listing is clear.
• The BACEKOLL says 18 pounds for load capacity. If that is the total, it holds only a small number of light pots. If it is per shelf, it is more generous. The listing does not say which, so check.
• The Yzosvki does not give a rating in the listing data.

Put heavy and wet pots on the lowest tiers and light pots on top. Keep a tray under any pot that drains, since water on the shelves can stain wood and metal. Check the listing for whether the shelves are sealed. The Bamworld listing describes the wood as carbonized for water resistance, and the Yzosvki listing describes the MDF and metal frame as waterproof and rust-proof. We would still use trays.

Light and position

Plants on top of a tall shelf get the most light from the room. Plants at the bottom get the least. Put small succulents and sun lovers on the top tiers or on the tier closest to the window, and place shade tolerant plants lower. If you use a grow light, point it at the tier that needs it most.

A shelf near a window blocks the light for plants behind it. An L-shaped shelf in a corner by a window lets plants on the long side get light from the glass.

Who should buy a plant shelf

• Apartment plant owners who have run out of window sill space.
• People with a dark corner who want a shelf that includes a light.
• Anyone with a collection of small pots and a short wall.

Who should skip it

• Households with pets or children who climb. A tall shelf can tip if pulled on, so anchor it or skip it.
• People who want to hold heavy planters. Check the load figures, which are unclear on two of these shelves.
• Renters who cannot drill. Straps often need a wall screw.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Ignoring conflicting load numbers. Two of the listings contradict themselves or leave the unit unclear.
• Putting heavy pots on top. Keep weight low.
• Forgetting the plug. A lighted shelf needs a nearby outlet.
• Skipping trays. Water ruins finishes.

Checklist before you buy

• Measure the wall or corner and subtract the shelf size, as in the example.
• Decide whether you need a built-in grow light.
• Check the load figure and whether it is per shelf or in total.
• Plan where the cord goes.
• Plan trays for each draining pot.

Keep reading

These guides cover related picks and sizing checks for a small space.

• Shelf for Window Plants: 3 Types Compared
• 3 Tier Corner Shelf: Size, Load and Tip Check
• Wall Mounted Plant Shelf: How to Choose

Frequently asked questions

How much wall does a plant shelf need?

The straight shelves here are 29.5 and 34 inches long and 11.8 inches deep. Subtract the length from your wall and split the leftover between the two sides to see what remains.

Do I need a plant shelf with a grow light?

If the spot gets little natural light, yes. The Bamworld and BACEKOLL come with lights. The Yzosvki does not, so it suits a place near a window.

How much weight can a plant shelf hold?

It depends on the shelf, and the listings are unclear. The Bamworld lists 180 pounds in one field and 150 in a bullet, the BACEKOLL lists 18 pounds, and the Yzosvki gives no number in the listing data. Check the listing before loading.

Is a corner plant shelf better than a straight one?

A corner shelf uses dead space and keeps the room open. A straight shelf is taller and holds more tiers. Choose by where you have room.

Can I put a plant shelf outdoors?

The Bamworld listing says it can be used indoors and outdoors, with slightly shorter outdoor durability. The Yzosvki listing mentions a garden among its places. Check each listing for weather use.

Products worth checking

We have not tested these products. Sizes and features come from the Amazon listings as we read them; where a listing does not say, we say so.

Specifications come from the Amazon listings as we read them for this guide. Product details and availability can change, so confirm on the product page before you buy.

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