Storing Vinyl Records Horizontally

This is where vinyl record storage guidelines part ways from indoor plant care.

Storing vinyl records horizontally.

Indeed we see it a lot in movies and magazines. Apple boxes and wine cases are okay. When vinyls are piled high or horizontal in this case it can cause the shelving to collapse like a pack of cards. Keeping a flashy record collection horizontally on a shelf looks cool.

Vinyl records are most susceptible to ultraviolet light. Storing them horizontally risks having them dish warp from the weight of the records on top. For large collections invest in blank or pre labeled record dividers to make things easier to sort and navigate. When choosing furniture or a crate box to store your records in it is important to make sure that it lets us store the records upright give at the records good support and room air to breath.

Any warping will change the way a record sound and can make it unplayable. Over time the vinyl can warp and become misshapen. Storing them horizontally or one on top of another may cause warping. Pack your records tight enough that they cannot slant or lean but with enough wiggle room to be able to remove individual records.

Look for shelves with long horizontal rows and short columns about 1 to 2 inches 2 5 to 5 1 cm taller than your largest album size allowing you to store more records. But for long term storage or for collector s items i would definitely go with the extra protection of a vinyl record bag. Use suitable shelves or crates boxes for vinyl storage. However horizontal storage is not the best option for vinyl longevity.

A strong and sturdy shelf wins the vinyl storage race. Store your records in their liners and turn the open end of the liner towards the inside of the sleeve if possible. Unlike your indoor greenery vinyl records should be stored in a relatively dry environment about 35 40 relative humidity or rh.