The 6 Best Bookshelves You Can Buy Online

Ladder-style shelves became popular a few years ago because they achieve that polished look without commanding attention. Plus, the shelves of varying depths are handy for storing a variety of items. In the case of this West Elm set, for instance, you can fit records on the bottom shelf and trinkets on the top.

We also appreciate the thoughtful construction of this bookshelf, which has solid wood legs for sturdiness and engineered wood shelves, which cut down on cost. Moreover, there’s a slew of matching furniture from West Elm that’ll make your living room or bedroom look put together from the jump.

While we don’t recommend ladder-style shelves for storing a massive library—the open sides and differing shelf depths make it a poor use of the space—this is a great option if you want to store books alongside blankets, toys, or knick-knacks.

If you need to fit your bookcase under a window sill or beside a child’s bed, this Isabelle & Max shelf is a great pick. It’s made almost entirely of solid pine wood, which is surprising considering the affordability. And at just over 2 feet tall, the bookshelf has enough room for a small library—just keep in mind that the shelves are only 9 inches deep. That’s plenty deep for the average paperback but might get tight for hardcovers, coffee table books, or picture books if you’re placing this in a kid’s room.

We love that you can buy a few of these to create a long, low bookshelf across an entire wall, but the visible hardware on the sides is a bit disappointing.

This affordable bookshelf is made entirely of solid wood—plus it folds flat for moving or storing. The Thelen is an excellent option if you have an awkward corner and nothing to do with it, and you can even stack two of them if you take care to set the wall anchors up properly.

Although it only has three shelves, the low height means you can use the top surface to store a plant or some extra books. We like the natural wood grain on this bookshelf, but you can get it in black, too.

For a classic bookshelf style, this Camaflexi is a solid option. It has an attractive finish despite this being pine, and the closed back and sides are great for storing many books without them falling. This shelf comes in several heights, which is nice for furnishing an entire room with multiple shelves.

The design itself is modern, and Camaflexi urges customers to try putting a few of these next to each other for that library-like feel. It also comes in white, and each bookshelf has four adjustable and two fixed shelves.

It’s unfortunate that Article furniture is so often on backorder, because it really is a good deal for what you get. This mid-century modern design is eye-catching and upscale, but still rings in under $1,000—impressive considering it’s solid walnut.

With plenty of room for books and other items, this shelf is as attractive as it is functional. We love the guardrails along the side to keep your books in place, and while none of these shelves are adjustable, that isn’t necessarily a drawback considering the simplistic and symmetrical design.

If you’re into the industrial look, this bookshelf is probably right up your alley. It has a visible metal pipe frame, which makes it look homemade but also elegant, and the deep shelves are ideal for large items like records and blankets.

While the open back is a negative for some, since it means smaller items can fall behind the shelf, it does make for a sleek look that lets your wall color come through. Most importantly, this shelf is incredibly sturdy because of its heft and the cross-banded supports on the back.