20 Best Book Shelves (Jan 2023 Update)

I can't believe so many people are describing this book shelf as "high quality" It's cheap, the edges aren't nice, I had to use a black sharpie to hide some of the edges where you can see the mdf. there big visible seems on the extremely thin and flimsy backing which is basically cardboard, and not enough nails provided to fasten it sufficiently. The pieces were so dusty from the mdf being cut at the factory that I had to wipe it all down before even starting assembly. The 8 screws used to hold it together stick out on the sides because the pre-drilled holes aren't recessed… making the black stickers useless because you're better off leaving the screws exposed. shelves are bending from the weight of my books. I will be flipping them over periodically to help prevent this. It looks good enough and will do the trick but lets be honest, it is not good quality….mr.novac

Purchased two bookcases, and finished assembling yesterday. Very disappointed! The quality is poor, each is a lot of work to assemble [it also helps to have two people], and they’re not sufficiently sturdy to hold books. Check out the photos. The name is “5-shelf Bookcase” [Model 414235]. The assembly instructions in English are the first 19 pages of the manual; the manual itself is well-written. Step 14, page 19, includes the load per shelf. Three shelves hold 30 pounds, one holds 40 pounds, and the bottom holds 50 pounds. It would have been great to see this information before purchasing them for books. For the first time ever, I needed to organize my books by weight, not category, author, etc; the shelves are half empty. I purchased them to replace two Sauder bookcases I purchased more than 12 years ago, and had moved 3 times, so I thought I’d gotten my return on that investment. The downgrade in quality was a huge surprise, and I would not have ordered them had I known. Last night I dreamed they collapsed. Tomorrow I’m going shopping to replace them.Dianne

I like how nice and sturdy this bookcase is and how easy it is to put together. I purchased this bookcase for my daughter as an early Christmas present, in order for her to get all her books out of 6 milk crates. I like the finish of the Lintel Oak, and I also like that Sauder included an anchor to attach to the wall (optional use) We used it so it won't topple over with all c of her heavy books. The one slight criticism I have is that the front finishing pieces (see the first 2 photos) dont go flush to the side and has a small amount of space. To my daughter and I it's not a big issue but this being improved by Sauder would be a benefit and I feel obligated to let others know of this minor defect/imperfection. Other than that (and it varies shelf to shel as to the space , the 2 photos I'm sharing of this defect are the ones most noticeable) this bookcase is very well made and extremely sturdy. If you've got children, or are placing this on top of carpet, I do recommend using the anchor to secure it to the wall to prevent injuries from toppling over. Highly satisfied with how fast it was able to be assembled. Was assembled in under 1 hour by my son after reading the step by step instructions and following them.MiddleburgMommaM

We love this bookcase! It's so hard to find bookcases that are actually meant for books. I own a LOT of books, and most are too deep and the shelves are too high. This was surprisingly easy to assemble, and because there are only two screws at the top, it's easy to install and in a lot of different places (including the wonky walls in our old house). It was very well packed, everything came out of the box looking pristine. We're already thinking about buying more to use elsewhere.Anonymous

This shelf was an excellent buy. It was packaged extremely well and arrived within a week of ordering it. I was very impressed by the shelves. I thought they would look very fake, but they looked like wood with texture and variation in the wood tone. I only gave it four stars since it was a little tricky to install it so that the side didn't have a little lean, but we got it to be close enough. Overall, I would highly recommend the product. We were looking at the similar looking shelf by Crate and Barrel but couldn't get over the cost plus shipping. This was a much better buy.Julie H

I love these shelves and would buy them again. The shelves are solid, the color matches my other furniture, they were easy enough to install, it all went without a hitch. They're really heavy though, so I had to unpack the box on the sidewalk out front and bring it in piece by piece! The only thing I wish were different is that at least one of the shelves have a different height. They're all exactly the same distance apart, so if you have some taller books or knickknacks, they won't fit. But at the price I got them for, I am not complaining!Clemence

I am SO glad I purchased this!! I am into essential oils for healing, cleaning, diffusing, and massage, and needed a place to pull everything together in one place. I have little wooden boxes with the EO bottles in (5 boxes, 25 bottles each), plus all of my carrier oils and misc. supplies to make my "magic potions"! This fits in my small bedroom perfectly and looks really classy. Easy to assemble and I am 65 yo., added a coat of white paint, and voila! Functional and beautiful and VERY inexpensive!Deb

This was very easy to set up and pretty too. But I could not get it to line up with the wall correctly so that I could insert the top screw to the wall for stability. The second shelf down stuck back too far and I would have had to drill new holes and plaster some of the original holes. I needed something that I could just 'go' with, and this was too much effort on something brand new. Also the labels for the shelves were not mentioned in the assembly instructions; thought maybe the labels should face forward, but still the second shelf set everything away from the wall too much. I tried reversing the shelf; same problem. It did not fit the wall as pictured.Sheryl

Just the right size for my space. I sprayed mine white before assembly then gave each piece a quick sanding with 600 grit paper. Perfect! I was careful assembling the piece. I hand tightened the screws to make sure I didn't split the wood. It tooks about 15 minutes. I used a ratchet wrench instead of the one provided in the packaging. That would have made for sore hands. The shelf stands properly against the wall and on the floor. Overall, super happy with my purchase!Veronique

Would definitely buy again! Went to buy more for the 3rd order but they are out. Nice shelves, easy to assemble, holds things nicely and sturdy. We have at least 16 of these shelves for a retail store and they work fantastic.Nikibunny

Beautiful and sturdy it’s a lot nicer then I thought it would be and much heavy. I put it together myself in a couple hrs just taking my time. Some of the holes didn’t line up but with a little work it turned out perfect.PattiC

Very nice looking shelf. The only issue I had with it was there is a small damage area on one of the shelf's which I didn't notice until after putting it together. I called to see if I could get a small credit/refund and I was told no. I was told I had to return it. Well I wasn't going to do that after putting it together.joe

DO NOT BUY THIS BOOKSHELF – IT IS NOT WORTH THE TROUBLE. I initially ordered two of these bookshelves. The packages that arrived were HEAVY. Though there was a lot of packaging, of the four outer walls of the bookshelves, three were cracked beyond repair. I requested replacements, and even asked for extra packaging (the customer service team was very kind), and was sent four more of the parts I needed. I was then able to build two of the bookshelves. I had one outer piece left over. This is where I made my mistake. In my quest for a library wall, I mistakenly decided this first experience was a fluke and I ordered two more bookshelves. This time, two of the outer pieces were broken. Fortunately, I saved the extra piece from before and so used it to build one bookshelf. I then requested an extra part, again, but was sent the same part that I already have (and with a corner slightly damaged), so as I write this, I am still unable to build the final bookshelf. I am SO frustrated and SO tired of unwrapping and disposing of a TON of packing, only to find more broken particleboard. Please save yourself the headache and DO NOT BUY THIS.FRUSTRATED

The bookcase is great. It is sturdy, and for the most part easy to put together. I would have given it a 5, but 2 things were not quite right with it. First the back panel should be packaged between the longest pieces. Then it wouldn't arrive damaged. (I bought 2 different sizes and they were both damaged. I was in a rush to organize so I put them together anyway. I didn't even try to replace the back because one is becoming a doll house and I am "wall papering" the inside so the damage won't be seen. The other will be full of books, so hopefully won't be seen either.) I also had to cut small notches in the upper and lower corners of the back panel so it would clear the thick banding that ran across the dado. Glad I had a clue how to fix the problem. Other than this, they are a great size, the finish seems durable, and most importantly they didn't off gas chemicals into my home. I Would definitely buy them again.Wendy

I bought 2 of these bookcases. The drilled holes lined up well, but I was disappointed that there were gaps left along both crown moldings when I screwed them to the top and bottom panels. Trying to connect the crown molding pieces together was frustrating. But I was most annoyed with trying to keep the back panels unfolded and not buckling while I attached the top and bottom pieces. Since the back panel pieces came folded in the box, a seam is visible in the finished product, which I don't like. With that exception, the overall final piece looks nice. However, I can see where liquids would easily ruin the piece.CSIGirl

First impressions – the box was super heavy, but well packaged for shipping. Starting setup – it doesn't say to, but its easy if you put it face down and kind of unwrap the box, it's easier than sliding the pieces out. Unboxing – Minimal internal packaging, found extra parts, everything intact and no major issues. Hardware – screws are good quality overall. Magnetic plate screws are copper and soft, so stripping is easier. Handles for doors are really light and feel cheap, but turned out to be strong. The circle retainers that go in the big holes are very sub-par for the rest of the hardware and I had to stop myself from breaking one on accident. Materials – panels are press board with the fancy facing, but they are more than the standard 1/2 inch for some pieces and some seem to be more dense than the others, so the hardware varies in difficulty to screw in. Glass is 1/8 inch thick. There was a big con here and it's that the glass isn't mounted tightly. There's a good half inch of play in each directing for the glass so you'll here it moving as you build. Construction – Directions are almost all pictures and there were points I wished there was more info, but building furniture from other places has prepared me enough for the process. Some of the holes were difficult to find because somehow the decorative laminating folds back over the holes after they were drilled. Construction took me a good 45 minutes. Post construction – The glass doors are the heaviest part and they make the cabinet unstable. You can pull the cabinet forward with only a finger or two with the doors open and a litttle more effort will get it to tip with the doors closed. I added some furniture feet pads to lean it back, huge difference, no more issues. Lining up the doors was tricky, but trial and error proved the key, just be patient. Used amonia free glass cleaner or the glass streaks. Overall – I looked all over for a product like this and passed up places like Ikea and more expensive retailers for the ability to have this delivered to my door and I am pleased with the result. Thanks to the reviews here I anticipated the lighter color and wasn't suprised. I'm thinking about buying another to put more stuff in.IReviewEverything

I like it arrived fairly quick, I ordered it March 16 and was delivered yesterday, but disappointed when I tried to put it together, the hole on A board was not lined up right with the hole on G board and the bracket wouldn't screw on straight kept going crooked to the left and the wood chipping and breaking and scratching easily and a cam lock wouldn't screw right and tighten and when I tried it to get it out of the hole a metal piece snapped off, why don't they bookshelves like they use to!? Good quality and good strong wood! It's like the customer doesn't matter anymore! I am not blaming walmart it's not their fault they didn't make it, they just sell it for another company. Do not waste your money on it!Tamara

We have now purchased six of these cabinets over time, and still can't find a better cabinet for the money. We have done the pick up at our local store and also had shipped to home, in both methods, we have had no damage. They come very well packed and the directions are clear and easy to follow. You can put a cabinet together in less than 2 hrs by yourself, but once assembled it is best to have someone to help move into place as they are somewhat heavy. It is laminated particle board, so you need to take a little care in assembly. Once built, they are a sturdy and very good looking cabinet, and the glass doors help keep contents almost dust free. The door hinges are slotted and you can adjust for the proper clearance and easy door closure to the magnet catches. The center shelf is fixed and it has two adjustable shelves, one below and one above the fixed center shelf , and when evenly spaced each shelf is approx 26-1/2" long x 13-1/2" deep and 11-1/2" high.BKinWV

This is the most shoddy, cheap piece of furniture I have every bought. I would get it if the item was $15, but it is so flimsy for something that I spent $50 on. The back of the bookshelf is a piece of folded up cardboard slightly thicker than a piece of paper. When unfolded and put against the back, it looks terrible because there creases where it was folded are all cracking. The bookshelf itself sways from side to side because the hardware to put it together was so cheap. I dont even know how to return it because I put it together already. I am definitely returning the second one I bought. Do not waste your money on this piece of trash. Because I Am sure that is where this one will end up shortly.Stacy

very satisfied with the shelves. It was easy to put together. It recommends two people but I put it together myself. Using it in my utility room. It looks good.jo

I'm a book worm and always in need of more bookshelf space. These were perfect to display all my decorations without having to clutter my other bookcases. I'll more likely get another set (2) as I'll be getting more books by the end of the summer.Gabriela

I am very pleased with the purchase. I especially appreciate the packaging with the reinforced corners and edges; this is where shipping damages usually occur. Product quality was outstanding and I am very pleased with the final appearance.Harold

Promptly shipped. Arrived with no damage and very easy to put together. This small bookcase once put together looks expensive. Nice outer finish and very solid and sturdy. I would purchase this product again.Anonymous

These bookcases are elegant and gorgeous. They look fancier than the reasonable price would suggest. The instructions were well written and they were easy to assemble. I bought two and they come together perfectly in the space without any gaps between them, and they're the perfect height for putting level or just below my study window.Paul

Very pleased with this purchase! I wanted the perfect bookcase for my home office but was on a budget. This was well packaged to prevent any damage. Instructions were so easy , it took me no time to put together. And it looks even better than it did in the picture. Very sturdy and looks way more expensive than the price. I absolutely found the perfect bookcase !casey

I purchased this bookcase after looking everywhere and this was the best deal and nicest case for the money. The size was perfect for what I needed. It was relatively easy to put together if you have a good hour and a half to work on it.Dave56

its a heavy bookshelf unit, shelves can be adjusted. the directions are a bit to follow, so it requires patience and time, but once built, its' very handsome, substantial and looks like real wood. in fact, i brought another one for the piano room to store my books as this one is in the living room for the dvd's and paperweights. sauder makes good furniture. Will say they packed it super well that nothing was scratched.casey

Looks like the picture. Easy to install, but time consuming. Once you put expensive looking pieces on the shelves, this comes to life.Toni

This product arrived on time and was simple to put together on my own. Only added difficulty was that I needed a drill to secure it to the wall. Looks great!BBB Customer

Good value for the price. This etagere has a slim profile, perfect for adding height to small spaces. Easy to assemble, although some of the screws were a little harder to screw in. Very happy with this purchase. Have seen brass etageres that cost much more. This looks expensive to me. Would purchase again.H Mis

Very nice book shelf. Putting it together took some time, when I finally got it done, it was beautiful! The down-fall was that it was to heavy for the wall. The two hooks just wasn't enough to keep the shelving stable. It ended up falling from the wall and caused a hole in my wall. I had to return it. But overall it's a nice shelf, you just have to find other methods to hang it securely!Tae1

Pleasantly surprised at how beautiful this bookshelf turned out to be. I actually bought two units to make a 4 tier bookshelf rather than 3 and it was very easy to do, I just took the middle shelf from the second unit and put it in between the middle and top shelf of the first unit. If anyone else is considering doing the same it comes out to just under 79” high, I had to do some math to make sure it wouldn’t be too tall before I ordered so I thought I’d save someone else the trouble. Also a couple of the legs did have some minor damage too them, mostly just surface level scratches/scuffs which wasn’t a problem to hide, I just put those pieces to the back of the bookshelf.CTL

The "wood" for the bookshelf chips and splits very easily. It is extremely heavy. When assembled, the top shelf sways back and forth to the point of falling apart. The unit is put together using GLUE and very short dowels. Assembly was a nightmare! When filled completely with books, the bookshelf is not attractive. Better for a few items than filled with books. The whole experience was one big headache. Stay away!fatimah

Pass if you can find a similar piece with more money with better quality. DESIGN: Cute and easy(ish) to put together but it is not the best quality even for the price. COLOR: Pink is more like peachy pink which I didn’t mind—it smells like paint spray once you put together. TIPS: don’t tighten in between wooden rods too tight before putting the next piece (square shelf). You’ll have to tighten that and it connects to the rod so it could crack if it’s too tight already.H

I Love, love, love this shelf! I was searching for a shelf for awhile, that was a certain size, and not just a 'bookshelf'. Finally came across this and loved it. Was a bit more than I was expecting to pay, but was able to use a great BBB coupon with it! The ONLY complaint I have is that two of the holes weren't pre-drilled deeply enough to sink the pegs into, and it started to push through the side when I put it together… Which, I noticed the hole depth, and should have went with my instinct to trim the peg beforehand (which was easily done with a pocket or carpet knife :/ and I did for the second hole that wasn't drilled deep enough and had no problem) Its a very small bummer, in my opinion, but I can do something to cover it. That being said, I love that I can display some books, pictures and decorative items on the shelf. And looks great in my make over bedroom. It recommends 2 people, I did do it by myself, bc I'm stubborn, but 2 ppl would be a little quicker, and definitely to help stand it up, it's heavy! I needed help! Don't forget to attach the bottom 'kickplate' before attaching the bottom shelf to the sides. Much easier! The 2 back panels do have a very strong smell to them and I left them outside to air out for a bit, but still choose not to put them on right now, as I have a light colored wall where its at. Would definitely check out the other models in this line if, and when, I'm in need for another shelf.ToolTimeTammy

Flaws: The first steps have you attaching angle brackets to the frame pieces for the front of the bookshelf. The zoomed out image shows 4 pilot holes per bracket, though there are only two and they attach in about the middle of the board. The zoomed in image shows the brackets lined up on the edge of the board which would make assembling the frame impossible. Some of the pilot holes were not the proper distance apart to match the angle brackets, and pilot holes only exist on the outer frame, not the main shelf. Two steps in a row indicate that you should attach the footer board to the frame, using the same screws each time. The screws indicated are too short to go through the board. I assume we were supposed to use angle brackets here too, although that is never indicated. The angle brackets are all adjustable, and it is entirely up to you to make sure the outer frame lines up properly. As you tighten screws, it is very easy for the frame to become misaligned. The same goes for the footer board. You have to apply pressure to get the screws in, but that will cause it to become misaligned with the front of the shelf. It would be better to attach that bracket before aligning it on the shelf, but the instructions have you attach it directly. The feet have recesses for a nail that is too small for a hammer, so unless you use something thin to help pound them in, the feet will barely be secured. Some of the screws in the sides wouldn't go in all of the way which prevents the covering stickers from attaching properly. The dark wood print on the exterior is very shallow, so any scratches leave very obvious bright markings. My shelf came with a big scratch in the front of one of the outer frame pieces. Part numbers are printed on the parts themselves and cannot be removed (like stickers),and some of the parts have no way to hide the part number from the finished assembly. Overall, I'm surprised this shelf is being sold, was there no quality assurance?Brandon

Pros – I absolutely love that the shelves are different sizes – shelves are somewhat deep and can fit a lot of things – sturdy and easy to move – tall, narrow size; great for small rooms/spaces – 100% worth the money and would purchase again Cons – Setup was difficult bc the labels were not clearly identifiable; mid-setup, I found that the number labels were stamped onto different parts of the boards – Some pieces don't fully connect with each other (a small gap is visible between parts of the shelf) – When drilling the screws into the wood, some parts splintered or the screws wouldn't fully be able to go into the woodBriahna

Love it! I had been searching for a corner bookshelf with this particular height and have been unsuccessful until now. It is a spacer as well…matches my furniture very well.catebr

This is a great bookcase for a small space. It holds a lot more books than it appears to in the picture. It is perfect for a child's room or nursery. I ordered one for my 4 year old granddaughter's room at her home and will be ordering another one for her room at my home. The bookcase is very sturdy and not cheap looking.joyces2441

this shelf is smaller than I thought but thats okay because its being used in my 1.5 year old daughters room. it's the perfect height for her. I have it laying on its side so she can reach her toys and water (spill proof contigo cup) on top of the shelf.Kathleen

It's a good value for the money when compared to the cost of most bookshelves. It's lightweight which I expected because they correctly advertised the type of wood product used in construction. It's not the centerpiece of the room and looks good as an accent.SaugatuckMom

Context: I currently use them for the following purposes: entertainment center (pseudo built-in look), kitchen pantry (food storage), bathroom storage (linens and bathroom essentials), bookshelves (cause….yeah) PROS: super versatile if you can use your imagination, easy to assemble (at this point I no longer need to read the instructions), good price for quality, easy to disassemble and move. CONS: the weight limit on the shelves is not a joke! (Do not over do the shelves. They WILL break. Spread out college texts books or put them on the structural shelves that are not adjustable!), moderately common manufacture errors (I have had to return a few due to holes not being drilled right and screws coming through the boards rendering it structurally deficient. Local store has been a champ at returning them and letting me replace them though!) TIPS: Like I said, don’t overdo the weight. Also, follow the instructions exactly. Don’t skip steps. Especially placing the cardboard on the back. This cardboard backing provides all the horizontal stability. Use all the tracking nails they provide. You can algo get longer ones to give it a little extra grab. They are HEAVY! If you are a 5’2” female they might be a challenge to get on your own. The box is large and heavy and awkward go hold onto. OVERALL: GREAT BOOKSHELVES! Versatile is use and function. Good quality for your money. Easy to assemble. I personally use a million of them in my rental home so that all my things go with me when I decide to move on from here.Ka

It's not a $100 bookcase. So you can expect some tiny specks of areas at the edges where the paint is not 100%, and sometimes the bottom wobbles a teeny bit, and you need to put a tiny drop of cardboard under it to straighten out that 1 cm where one side is shorter than the other side. With that said, I absolutely LOVE these short bookcases – I now have 4 in my room! These are great for maximizing space in a walk-in closet in the wasted space under the hanging shirts etc and using that space for your piles of books and stuff. For about $25 apiece, these are absolutely AMAZING and really very worth it and elegant for someone like me who lives on a tight budget and wants to also have a neat room with bookcases that look nice. They basically assemble like IKEA furniture (as in, they come flat packed and you put it together with a hammer and some included hex tools and included screws and wood pellets), so if you've had a positive experience and like IKEA furniture like I do, then this bookcase is for you!Aaron

I almost didn't order this because some reviews mentioned poor quality and shelf height that was unworkable. I ordered online and delivery was through a delivery service, so it was more or less like I picked it up myself at the store. Item was in excellent condition, no dents, knicks, scratches or drippy paint job. If they ship it Fedex in the box it comes in (without double-boxing it), I can see how it might not fare the travel well. But, condition was fine. I'm a 60-year-old woman and had no issues putting it together. I took my time and all went well. Cardboard back seemed a tad bit too small, but I just moved the nails in a scoche and made sure they were centered in the wood before hammering them in. No biggie. Item was a lot sturdier than I ever imagined I'd get for $22. I was immediately struck by the weight of the box, and the thickness of the shelves was a pleasant surprise. I put larger books on the bottom and next size in the middle … I'm going to need to lay books down on the top shelf, but for the price I can live with that. I've got a few of my big coffee table books and notebook-size journals on that shelf. As a side point, shelves are more than amply deep. That's my experience. Might get another.8Mark29

This is the largest bookshelf I have ever owned and it is a very attractive and versatile piece of furniture. There is plenty of room to space out the books and intersperse photo frames, vases, and anything else. It is large so it needs a good wall to be up against. The mango wood and dark walnut finish are also well-crafted and contribute to making it visually striking.Ravee

I’ve had this shelf for almost 6 months and I’m still in love with it! It holds a ton of books with room to display other items as well. It is very sturdy and well made. I hesitated a little at the price but it was worth it. I did have to send back the first one (during delivery) because one of the iron pieces was bent. It was annoying to deal with a second delivery but C&B was super helpful throughout that process. Just make sure to check for that before it’s built!Decoratingnewhouse

Like a great built-in, this etager bookshelf works WITH your home. Straddling the line between Mid-Century and contemporary furniture (between past and future), it will be at home it a range of homes now and for years and years to come. The silhouette is streamlined down to the bones of a book shelf–steel supports, wooden shelves–to serve as a stage where your books and other display pieces are the stars. Other etager bookshelves have no lip, so it is a challenge to keep books on the shelf from falling over, but the Beckett has a lip that holds them in place while still letting your eye see THROUGH the bookshelf to the wall, which helps to integrate this piece with your space. My Beckett holds books, bookends, bowls, and a lamp. Don't be scared of the fact that you will need book ends (or some books on their sides), because this will force you to arrange your books creatively rather than in monotonously upright rows. The ability to place a lamp or plant at several height levels adds another layer of versatility. As my book collection grows over the years, I think I will have fun rearranging things to fit.Lyrid21

Looks awesome! Not the most sturdy and the backing was missing a bunch of the holes needed so you’ll need a drill to properly put this together. Overall, a solid shelf and not too tough to build if you have the right tools.Ace

It was relatively simple to set up. Looks great. We bought it to match our new desks. Only had it for about a week, we haven't completely filled it with books yet but so far so good!Lesley