I installed a French cleat system on one wall of my shop three years ago. Best organization decision I’ve made – everything hangs within reach and I can rearrange things whenever I want.
The Basic Concept
Two boards with matching 45-degree bevels. One mounts to the wall with the bevel facing up. The other mounts to whatever you want to hang, bevel facing down. They hook together and gravity locks them in place.
Simple, strong, and infinitely flexible. Lift something off, move it somewhere else, done.
Making the Cleats
Rip 3/4″ plywood at 45 degrees down the middle. Each pass gives you two cleats – one wall piece and one hanger piece. I made a batch all at once so they’d be consistent.
Cut them into lengths that work for your wall – mine are in 4-foot sections so I can reach the screws easily.
Installing Wall Cleats
Find studs. These cleats will hold heavy tools, so screwing into studs is essential. I used a level and snapped chalk lines to keep rows straight.
Space rows about 12 inches apart vertically. This gives you flexibility for hanging items of different sizes.
Making Tool Holders
Attach the matching cleat to a piece of plywood, then build whatever holder you need onto that plywood. Shelves, hooks, bins, tool racks – anything you can build can hang on the cleat system.
I’ve made holders for chisels, clamps, power tools, spray cans, and sandpaper. Each one took 15 minutes or less.
Why It Works
Traditional pegboard limits you to specific hook sizes and placements. French cleats let you customize everything. Tool gets upgraded? Make a new holder. Workflow changes? Move things around.
The weight capacity is excellent too. I hang my cordless tool charger station, belt sander, and a full set of clamps without worry. The system can handle it.
Beyond the Shop
People use French cleats in garages for sports equipment, in kitchens for pot racks, in offices for modular shelving. Once you understand the system, applications are everywhere.
