Capacity tells you how big a record console needs to be. Your room tells you what shape it can be. The same 800 or 1,000 records can live in a long, low console, a tall tower, or a bench by the door, and each one changes the room in a different way.
Here is how we think about fitting record storage to a space, using the real dimensions of the pieces we build.
Measure three things first
- Wall width. Leave some breathing room on each side. A console that fills a wall edge to edge looks built in, which can be great, but plan for it on purpose.
- Height under whatever is above it. Windows, art, a TV, a thermostat. This is often what decides between a low console and a tall one.
- Depth you can give up. Our record pieces are 12 to 18 inches deep. In a walkway or a hallway, every inch counts.
Long and low: under a window or a TV
Low consoles keep sightlines open and give you a long top for a turntable, speakers or art. The trade-off is capacity.
- Bakewell Vinyl Console: 76"W x 20"H x 16"D, 240 LPs
- Braca Media Console: 76"W x 20"H x 16"D, 140 LPs
- Heath Vinyl Console: 52"W x 24"H x 16"D, 375 LPs
- Emerson Vinyl Console, 2 Drawer: 94"W x 30"H x 13"D, 935 LPs
The Emerson is the one to look at if you want low and big. At 30 inches tall and only 13 deep, it runs 94 inches long and still holds more than 900 records.
Classic console height: the listening station
Around 31 to 35 inches tall, a console puts your turntable at a comfortable height to drop the needle while standing. This is the most common shape we build.
- Sesto Vinyl Console: 65"W x 31"H x 14"D, 950 LPs
- Mullins Vinyl Console: 65"W x 31.75"H x 14"D, 960 LPs
- Bainbridge Vinyl Console: 56"W x 34.25"H x 14"D, 810 LPs
- Couzens Vinyl Console: 45"W x 34.25"H x 14"D, 630 LPs
If you need more room on the same shape, the Sesto also comes 82 inches wide, holding 1,220 LPs.
Going up: when floor space is tight
A taller piece gets you more records on a smaller footprint. These pieces stand at a height where the top is more of a display shelf than a turntable surface, so many people pair them with a separate stand for the deck.
- Okopal Vinyl Console: 56"W x 48"H x 14"D, 1,250 LPs
- Smith Vinyl Console: 45"W x 48"H x 14"D, 990 LPs
- Knodler Vinyl Console: 40"W x 61.75"H x 14"D, 1,160 LPs
- Vissing Vinyl Console: 56"W x 61.75"H x 14"D, 1,620 LPs
For a narrow wall or a corner, the Vaughn Vinyl Tower is 20 inches wide and 81 inches tall and holds 540 LPs. The Mullins Vinyl Bookcase, at 22 inches wide, holds 530.
A whole wall
For big collections, a full-height piece turns records into the architecture of the room. The Danielson Vinyl Console is 78"W x 79.5"H x 16"D and holds about 2,060 LPs. The Arden Offstack Bookcase, 68 inches wide and nearly 82 tall, holds 1,610.
Somewhere unexpected: benches
Records don't have to live in the living room. Our storage benches put a few hundred LPs at sitting height in an entry, under a window or at the foot of a bed. The Warner Foyer Bench holds 350 at 52"W x 18"H x 16"D, the Pease Storage Bench holds 270 at 40 inches wide, and the Waters Vinyl Bench runs 108 inches long for 550 records.
Don't forget the gear
If the console will also hold an amplifier or a receiver, think about cords and air. On many of our consoles you can choose an open back or a back panel, and on several we'll cut cord holes wherever you need them. Tell us what equipment you have when you order.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good height for a turntable console?
Most of our listening-height consoles are 31 to 35 inches tall, which puts the turntable at a comfortable height for most people standing.
What's the best record storage for a small room?
Go vertical. The Vaughn Vinyl Tower is 20 inches wide and holds 540 LPs, and the Knodler holds 1,160 on a 40-inch footprint.
Can you build a console to fit an exact space?
Yes. Most pieces can be built wider, taller or in a different wood. Start a custom design with your measurements.
Ready to plan yours? Compare every piece by capacity and size, or start a custom design.
