Bookcases & Bookshelves

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Of all the furniture pieces in an office, bookshelves might be some of the most useful. A bookshelf or a set of shelves adds surface space for storing books, papers, and miscellaneous items that don't fit anywhere else. By stacking shelves in columns, bookcases impose an automatic organizational plan, as high-priority items naturally drift toward the middle shelves and less-often-used materials find a home near the top or bottom levels. Shelf sets can be purely functional or highly decorative, and there's almost no limit to the potential arrangements of shelves and spacers to create unique storage areas.

Large Versus Small Bookshelves
Large bookshelf sets offer a lot of room for books and files and are ideal for areas that have large quantities of floor and wall space to offer. Floor-to-ceiling cases can inhabit entire walls and provide space for complete library collections. These are popular choices for common areas, such as meeting rooms and conference halls, because they hold reference books, technical manuals, and binders full of company policy materials, which are helpful reads for employee education.

Shorter shelves might only be a few feet tall and offer two or three levels. They may range from 1 or 2 feet in length to several feet. These work well in tight spaces and individual work areas. Their limited space is not an obstacle when only one or two people use them in private offices or shared cubicle spaces.

Bookshelves Vary in Materials and Design
The materials and designs of shelves make a difference in how useful they become in spaces. Standard storage cubes are usually the simplest, typically made from laminated MDF panels. Most ship in pieces for convenient assembly in the office. Etagere shelves are more delicate and usually have an open, flow-through design appropriate for exposed spaces away from the walls.

Divided horizontally as well as vertically, cube cases create a cubby effect. Corner cases have backs cut at right angles to nestle into corners, ideal for cubical-styled offices. Scaffold designs usually feature multiple shelves in a staggered configuration, bound at the sides by tubular metal scaffolding. Any of these may have MDF, wood, glass, or metal in their designs, allowing users to get decorative with them.

What Can You Keep on Bookshelves Aside From Books?
Which designs work in given spaces depends on what the needs are for the shelves. Books and binders do well enough in standard cases, while document boxes belong in cubbies. Delicate items, such as picture frames and keepsakes, complement etagere shelves. Scaffolds work well for books, antiques, merchandise, or -- in the case of wood-and-steel warehouse shelving -- heavy boxes and tools.

How Strong Are Bookshelves?
Shelves can be either very strong or too delicate for heavier items. Wooden and MDF shelves tend to have a higher load tolerance than glass shelves, but even short glass shelves can carry significant weight if properly braced. Some bookcases have lightweight shelves near the top that only store small or light items, and lower levels that hold much more. Always check the manufacturer's recommendations, which should indicate a maximum weight tolerance.

Do You Have to Assemble Bookshelves?
Some shelf sets arrive in pieces and need assembly before use. Others, especially short, compact units, ship fully assembled. Scaffold shelving often needs assembly, and built-in shelves simply need fixing to the wall with sturdy fasteners.

The Highest Rated Bookcases & Bookshelves

Are you looking for the best bookcases or bookshelves at Staples? Compare over 751 bookcases for any type of use. The top 5 highest rated bookshelves are:

Prepac 31.5'' 2-Shelf Bookcase, Oak (ODL-3229) - 4.8 stars, 12 customer reviews
Prepac™ 2 Shelf Bookcase, Espresso - 4.8 stars, 12 customer reviews
Winsome Solid/Composite Wood 4-Tier Narrow Folding Shelf, Antique Walnut - 4.8 stars, 4 customer reviews
South Shore™ Axess Laminated Particleboard 4-Shelf Bookcase, Natural Maple - 4.7 stars, 3 customer reviews

The Top Rated Type of Bookcases at Staples

At Staples, we carry 7 bookcases to choose from and the highest rated are:

Leaning bookcases - 4.5 star average rating, 13 customer reviews
Book Displays & Easels bookcases - 4.4 star average rating, 311 customer reviews
Cube bookcases - 4.1 star average rating, 9 customer reviews

Choose the best bookcase for your needs.

The Top Rated Number of Shelves For Bookcases & Bookshelves

At Staples, we carry 11 different number of shelves for bookcases and bookshelves based on customer ratings. The top rated are:

8 Shelf bookcases - 4.5 star average rating, 1 8 shelf bookcases available
5 Shelf bookcases - 4.1 star average rating, 63 5 shelf bookcases available
2 Shelf bookcases - 4.1 star average rating, 39 2 shelf bookcases available

The Highest Rated Colors for Bookcases & Bookshelves

Out of 26 total and based on customer ratings and reviews, the top rated colors for bookcases and bookshelves are:

Orange bookcases - 4.7 star average rating, 1 bookshelves available
Beige bookcases - 4.7 star average rating, 4 bookshelves available
Cappuccino bookcases - 4.5 star average rating, 3 bookshelves available

The Best Bookcase Materials

Out of 14 bookcase materials at Staples, the highest rated based on customers who have purchased and reviewed are:

Fiberboard Bookcases - 4.5 star average rating, 3 bookcases available
Metal Bookcases - 4.3 star average rating, 4 bookcases available
Steel Bookcases - 4.2 star average rating, 22 bookcases available

What Are The Most Affordable Bookcases & Bookshelves

Are you looking for great deals on bookcases and bookshelves? At Staples, we have bookcases starting at $27.09. Compare the lowest priced bookcases and bookshelves available in our inventory:

What Are The Most Affordable Types of Bookcases?

At Staples, compare the lowest priced types of bookcases and bookshelves if you’re looking for a great deal. The most affordable online are:

The Most Discounted Number of Shelves For Bookcases & Bookshelves

It’s important to find and compare the number of shelves for bookcases and find the right one for your needs. That’s why we compiled a list of the most affordable number of shelves for bookcases including:

Most Affordable Colors For Bookshelves and Bookcases

Colors are important when it comes to bookshelves and bookcases. Compare our list of the lowest priced colors and find the best value for your money.

Orange Bookshelves - 4.7 star average rating, 3 bookshelves available
Silver Bookshelves - 4.7 star average rating, 1 bookshelves available
Cappuccino Bookshelves - 4.5 star average rating, 10 bookshelves available

The Lowest Priced Materials For Bookcases & Bookshelves

Compare the best deals on bookcase materials at Staples out of 14 to choose from. The most affordable are:

Plastic bookcases - 3.8 star average rating, 2 bookcases available
Recycled zBoard bookcases - 3.8 star average rating, 23 bookcases available
Glass bookcases - 3.8 star average rating, 5 bookcases available

The Most Popular Bookcases & Bookshelves For Sale

Out of 751 different bookshelves, we put together a list of the top 5 most popular bookshelves that are dependable for the office or home:

Hayden 2-Shelf Laminate Bookcase, Amber Grain - 4.0 stars, 467 customer reviews
Hayden 3-Shelf Laminate Bookcase, Amber Grain - 4.0 stars, 467 customer reviews
Hayden 5-Shelf Laminate Bookcase, Amber Grain - 4.0 stars, 467 customer reviews
Ameriwood Hayden 5 Shelf Bookcase, Espresso 72"H (9615303ST) - 4.1 stars, 88 customer reviews

The Most Popular Types of Bookshelves Available

At Staples, the most popular types of bookcases and bookshelves online based on ratings from customers are:

Standard bookcases - 4.0 star average rating, 3,758 customer reviews
Book Displays & Easels bookcases - 4.4 star average rating, 311 customer reviews
Wall Shelves bookcases - 2.4 star average rating, 27 customer reviews

Compare The Most Reviewed Number of Shelves For Bookcases

At Staples, we carry different numbers of shelves for bookcases and bookshelves so our furniture fits your needs. The most reviewed includes:

5 shelf bookcases - 4.1 star average rating, 1,328 customer reviews
3 shelf bookcases - 4.0 star average rating, 1,212 customer reviews
2 shelf bookcases - 4.1 star average rating, 910 customer reviews

The Most Popular Materials For Bookcases & Bookshelves

At Staples, we compiled a list of the most popular bookcase materials based on customer ratings. The most reviewed are:

Laminate Bookshelves - 4.1 star average rating, 64 bookshelves available
Wood/Veneer Bookshelves - 3.9 star average rating, 56 bookshelves available
Steel Bookshelves - 4.2 star average rating, 22 bookshelves available