How to Hang a Bike in a Garage

Co-authored by Peter Salerno

Last Updated: February 17, 2021

Hanging a bike or bikes in your garage is an excellent way to free up some space. It is also easier to do than it might seem. You can hang a bike from your garage’s ceiling with either ceiling hooks or a more elaborate rope and pulley system made specifically for bikes. Whichever method you choose, you’ll be able to have your bikes hanging up in no time!

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Hanging with Ceiling Hooks

1
Locate a ceiling joist. Standing on a ladder or other stable, raised surface, knock on your garage’s ceiling to find a ceiling joist. If you knock and hear a hollow sound, there is no joist there. If you hear a solid sound, however, you’ve found a joist. You can also use a stud finder to find a ceiling joist.^{[1]
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- If you’re unsure whether you’ve found a ceiling joist, you can nail a small nail into what you think is a joist. If the nail encounters a lot of resistance, you’ve found a joist.
- Always use caution when standing on something.
2
Drill a small pilot hole where you want the first hook. The pilot hole should be slightly smaller than the threads on the screw hooks. You should drill the pilot hole where you want one of the wheel centers to be.^{[2]
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- Use a cordless electric drill fitted with a drill bit to drill the pilot hole.
- Always be careful to use a drill safely.
- When drilling into the ceiling, wear safety glasses to prevent debris from falling into your eyes.
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3
Measure the distance between the two wheels’ centers. Once you’ve drilled your first pilot hole, use a tape measure to measure the distance from one wheel center to the other. Be sure to be as precise as possible.^{[3]
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- Measure more than once to make sure you have an accurate measurement.
4
Drill the second pilot hole in the same ceiling joist. Now that you’ve measured the distance between the wheel centers, drill your second pilot hole that same distance from the first pilot hole in the same ceiling joist. In other words, the distance from the second pilot hole to the first should be the same as the distance from the center of the back wheel of your bike to the center of its front wheel.^{[4]
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- For an adult bike, the length should be somewhere in the range of 48 inches (120 cm).
5
Screw heavy duty, vinyl-coated J-shaped hooks into the pilot holes. Once you’ve drilled both of your pilot holes into the ceiling joist, screw in the heavy duty, vinyl (or rubber) coated hooks. Use a wrench to make sure the hooks are securely twisted into the joist.^{[5]
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- These heavy-duty hooks are available at most home improvement stores.
- Purchasing hooks with plastic coating is important because the coating will prevent the hook from scratching your bicycle.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Using a Rope and Pulley System

1
Locate a joist in your ceiling. Begin by knocking on your garage ceiling around where you’d like to hang your bike. Move your fist side to side as you knock. If you hear a hollow sound, there is no joist there. A solid sound, however, indicates that you’ve found a joist.^{[6]
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- If you are going to be standing on a ladder for this step, ask a family member or friend to hold it steady for you.
- You can also use a stud finder to find a joist in the ceiling.
2
Use an impact driver to screw the first pulley bracket into the ceiling. Once you’ve found a joist, use a cordless drill to drill a ¹⁄₈ inch (3.2 mm) pilot hole in the middle of the joist. Drill the hole where you want to put one end of one of your pulley brackets. Then screw the first pulley bracket into the ceiling.^{[7]
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- Use the screws and any other materials that come with the rope and pulley system.
- You can find a bicycle-specific rope and pulley system at most home improvement stores and bicycle shops.
- The pulley bracket should run parallel to the joist.
3
Measure the distance between your bike’s seat and handlebars. Once you’ve screwed your first pulley bracket into the ceiling, use a tape measure to measure the length from the back of your bike’s seat to the front of the handlebars.^{[8]
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- It is a good idea to measure more than once, just to make sure you have an accurate measurement.
4
Position the second pulley bracket on the same ceiling joist. Make sure the distance from the middle of the first bracket to the middle of the second bracket is the same as the distance from the back of your bike’s seat to the handlebars. Once the second bracket is in position, drill ¹⁄₈ inch (3.2 mm) pilot holes where the screws will go.^{[9]
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- The two pulley brackets should run parallel to the ceiling joist to which they’re attached and together should form a straight line.
5
Thread the rope through the hole in the second bracket. Before screwing your second bracket into the ceiling, thread the rope through the proper hole in the bracket. Every rope and pulley system is slightly different, so follow the manufacturer’s directions that were included with your specific rope and pulley system.^{[10]
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- When tying a knot in the rope, a standard figure-eight knot will work fine.
6
Mount the second pulley bracket onto the ceiling joist. Use an impact driver to screw the second bracket into the ceiling in the same way you screwed in the first bracket. Pull on the bracket to make sure it is secure.^{[11]
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7
Thread the rope through the pulleys. Now that your two pulley brackets are fastened to the ceiling, it is time to thread the rope through the pulley brackets and hooks that will hoist up your bike. Every pulley system is different, so closely follow the manufacturer’s directions included with the specific model you’re using.^{[12]
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- Screw a cleat into a nearby wall stud, so you’ll have a place to tie up the loose end of the rope and keep it out of your way.
- Be careful not to tangle up the rope. Any knots in the rope will interfere with the pulley system.
8
Raise your bike to the ceiling with the rope and pulley system. Put one of the hooks under the seat and the other under the handlebars. Then, pull on the rope to raise the bike up to the pulley brackets. Once the bike is up, let go of the rope slowly, and tie it up on a cleat on a nearby wall.^{[13]
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- An anti-slip mechanism on the pulley bracket will prevent the bike from falling when you let go of the rope.

Expert Q&A
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Question

How do you attach a bike pulley to a garage ceiling?

Peter Salerno
Installation Expert
Peter Salerno is the owner of Hook it Up Installation, a professional installation company, which has been hanging art and other objects around Chicago, Illinois for over 10 years. Peter also has over 20 years of experience installing art and other mountable objects in residential, commercial, healthcare and hospitality contexts.

Peter Salerno

Installation Expert

Expert Answer

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Installation may vary between pulley systems. If you have high ceilings, a pulley system will help you get the bike all the way off the floor. However, be sure to read the instructions before you install it. You don't want to just put up a line and a couple of nails in your garage.