The Best Storage Options for Blu-ray and DVD Collections

The ultimate guide to organizing your Blu-ray and DVD movie collection with storage solutions for every budget and situation.

If you're a fan of physical media like me, you know the struggle that comes with trying to store a movie collection. Whether you want to display your collection and show off or just maximize space efficiency, there are storage solutions at every budget level and for every situation, and I have tried most of them first hand. Here’s a breakdown of the best shelving and storage options, from budget-friendly choices to high-end custom solutions, and everything in between.

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Budget Shelving: Atlantic Media and Prepac

For collectors looking to store a large number of movies without breaking the bank, Atlantic Media and Prepac are two companies that offer some of the best options. When I was younger and had a tighter budget, these two were my go-to brands. Even now, I still have Atlantic Media and Prepac solutions as backups for my main storage. Here are a few of the options I have tried and can vouch for as solid storage solutions on a budget.

Atlantic Media Drawbridge – These shelves are a smaller option (only 3 feet tall) that can hold 132 Blu-ray discs. They are simple and easy to assemble, and they can also be stacked or put side by side for a clean look. I have purchased several of these and still have a few. Quality wise, they are on the cheaper end and a few didn’t survive my last move, but if you can find them around $35-$40 on sale they are a good option, especially for smaller rooms.

Atlantic Media Elite XL - This was my go-to shelf for many years before I upgraded my storage. Standing at 6 feet tall and 3.5 feet wide, this shelving system can hold over 600 Blu-ray discs. The shelves are not very deep, shallower than a Blu-ray package, so they can be placed up against a wall without cutting into the space. The Blu-rays will overhang the shelf just a tiny bit, but it actually makes them easier to pull off the shelf when things fill up. These shelves are a bit flimsy for their size and I would definitely recommend securing them to the wall, but for a cheaper option (under $100 is a good price) they can hold a lot of movies.

Prepac Media Shelving – If you are looking for a minor step up in quality, but with tons more configurable options, check out the PrePac store on Amazon. PrePac builds all sorts of storage solutions, from large 3 bay shelving systems to revolving media towers, locking cabinets, and everything in between. The prices will be a bit higher, but the quality is better than Atlantic Media if you want a slightly thicker particle board system with better hardware.

I personally have two of their 4-sided revolving media shelves and have loved them. I recommend upgrading the Lazy Susan (the part that allow the shelves to spin) to a metal option from the default plastic, but I can’t say enough good things about the space savings with the revolving shelves. Taking up just about 1 square foot of floor space, you can fit more than 800 Blu-rays. Those towers were a lifesaver for me in my smaller spaces before I moved.

The downside of all budget shelving is durability. While these shelves can last a few years, they typically don’t hold up well to multiple moves or heavy use over time. If you leave them be and treat them well you might be okay, but if you need to shift them around or move houses a lot, these are probably not a great option.

Mid-Tier Shelving

For collectors who want something more visually appealing and adaptable, IKEA’s Billy Bookcase system is a great mid-tier solution. The Billy system is highly customizable, allowing you to fit shelves to your space and even modify them to add more storage capacity. Billy bookshelves have been used by collectors for years and there are all sorts of neat “hacks” out there to make them look like built-ins, increase the storage space, and enhance the look of the shelves from mid-tier solution to something that looks custom and expensive. You can even get corner pieces and curve these around a wall for a really clean, wall-to-wall look.

Some of my Billy Bookcases in my home office

Personally, I use Billy Bookcases in my home office where I store a large portion of my favorite movies that I want to keep on display. I also have a ton of memorabilia on the shelves as well, and have customized each section for my space. The shelves are a little deep for Blu-rays and DVDs, but I don’t mind. I have found that putting small collectibles in front of the movies or pulling out specific releases makes for a really cool “library” look. The deeper shelves also allow you to double up media rows if you would like. If you do buy a Billy bookcase, especially the larger variants, make sure you get extra shelves so you can space them out in smaller sections to maximize the movie storage!

While sturdier than budget options, Billy shelves still have weight limitations because of their material. It is a higher quality MDF than the budget options, but it is still MDF. Overloading them can lead to sagging over time, but with proper care, they can last for many years.

High-End Shelving: Custom Solutions and Modern Shelving

For collectors who want the best long-term solution, custom shelving is really the way to go. Whether it’s high-quality hardwood shelving or Modern Shelving’s custom metal solutions, custom can’t be beat for both functionality and look.

Hiring a carpenter or building your own custom wood shelving can be a premium option that can be built to perfectly fit your space and accommodate the exact dimensions of your space. If you build these yourself, it will be a labor of love and take some time, but you will save a few bucks on labor. Either way, the material cost is going to be high and this isn’t a cheap option, but it can be one of the best-looking options. It is nice to be able to choose the wood you want to use and stain it or paint it to any color you want Plus, hardwood shelving is incredibly durable and can last decades.

Personally, when I wanted something higher end, I went with a custom metal shelving solution from Modern Shelving. Modern Shelving offers custom shelving solutions for all sorts of situations, but I first partnered with them on media shelving made for Blu-rays and created a new collection on their site based on my original design.

A snapshot of my personal Modern shelving setup

The shelves are all made of aluminum, which will last forever, and they look great on the wall. The huge benefit of getting a custom solution was the ability to build the shelves specifically for my space. I had a very shallow space about the depth of a Blu-ray, and they custom built a three-bay system to the exact width, height, and depth I needed for my basement. I assembled them all myself in a couple of hours - super easy, and really efficient for my limited space.

If you want to check them out you can get 5% off your order with my link, and you can also check out my YouTube video showing some of the assembly below.

The biggest drawback of custom shelving is cost, but if you’re serious about collecting and want a long-term solution, it’s worth the investment.

Alternative Storage Solutions

Not everyone has the space to display their entire collection. Some people just don’t care and just want the discs. If you’re limited on space or just want a more discreet way to store your movies, there are still a few options for you.

Drawer Storage Systems

A creative solution is using a filing drawer system, where movies are laid on their sides and stored in drawers. Some people use these as TV stands or office furniture so they blend right into a room. They may not be cheap if they are custom for media storage, but even repurposed file cabinets could work if you get creative.

Disc Binders

For those who want to save the most space, disc binders are a fantastic option.

High-capacity binders (available for around $20 on Amazon) can hold up to 400 discs per binder. I have several of these for the discs I wanted to keep but didn’t necessarily need or want to display. On some other versions, you can even fit in some of the paper artwork or other items to enhance the binder organization. Personally, I just alphabetize and catalog each one so I know where things are.

This method also works well for those who are backing up their collections to a NAS (Network Attached Storage) or media server. While digitizing your collection is a gray legal area, it is widely accepted that personal backups are fine as long as you own the original disc. Keeping the physical discs in a binder ensures you stay compliant while also having a backup of your media, because you can never have too many backups!

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Whether you want a large, beautiful display or a compact storage solution, there’s an option for every collector. Budget options like Atlantic and PrePac are great for maximizing storage on a dime, mid-tier choices like IKEA Billy bookcases offer flexibility and a clean look, and high-end custom shelving provides the ultimate long-term solution designed specifically for your space. For those with limited space, drawers and disc binders offer excellent alternatives without sacrificing the quality of your physical media collection.

No matter which route you choose, the most important thing is finding a system that works for you. At the end of the day, we all just want to keep our collections safe, accessible, and aesthetically pleasing to each of us.