How To Store Vinyl Records

Knowing how to store vinyl records is crucial while building a collection. We’ll do our best to answer by covering a variety of storage options and tips. Let’s start by outlining the recommended guidelines for how to store vinyl records.

The leading professional in media storage is the United States federal government. They have one of the largest collections of records in the world. Its safely nestled in the remarkably dust-free archives of the Library of Congress.

We reached out to the workers and utilized their guide to storing audiovisual materials.

Records are the most stable physical format developed to date.

However, dust, foreign matter, heat, and pressure can cause distortion and surface noise in playback. Also note that although vinyl records are relatively hardy, record covers are not. Keep in mind the fragility of the sleeve as much as the record itself.

Household Vinyl Record Storage

The four tenets of sound vinyl storage are heat, light, humidity, and pressure.

Heat: For household collections, room temperature or lower is preferable. Room temperature is between 59 to 77 °F (15 to 25 °C). Make sure you keep those vinyl records clear of radiators, vents, and kitchen appliances.

Light: Minimal exposure to light and no exposure to direct or intense light. Vinyl records are most susceptible to ultraviolet light, which can damage records in just a few minutes. Also, avoid storing vinyl records near windows, grow rooms, or tanning beds.

Humidity: Collectors should store vinyl records in a relatively dry environment (about 35% to 40% relative humidity). Hygrometers are cheap and efficient tools that measure humidity.

Pressure: Stack items on your records can damage them. This means to also not stack your records on other records. Avoid storing your records too tightly together. Best practice is to allow enough space to flip through the records.

There are a few other factors to consider when storing vinyl records.

Vibration: Strong vibrations can comprise a vinyl record’s structural integrity. Keep the records a safe distance from speakers, washers and dryers. Here’s a complete guide to reducing vibration.

Store Records Of A Similar Diameter Together: Don’t tuck your 12-inch records next to your 10-inch records. Separate records of a different diameter with a divider.

Best Record Storage Options

Now that you know the requirements for the location, let’s talk a bit about what vinyl records should be stored in.

Collectors should store their records in their original sleeve. They should place them in a static-free polyethylene liner. This helps to avoid print-through from the original sleeve.

In addition to storing records in a plastic sleeve, you should store record covers in a plastic sleeve. To recap: put the record in a plastic sleeve and the album cover in a plastic sleeve.

Ensure your shelving can hold the weight of vinyl records, which average 35 pounds per shelf-foot. All formats concentrate weight on the centerline of a shelf, which can cause some shelving to collapse.

To reduce static, opt for wood vinyl record storage containers instead of metal.

Once the records are properly on a shelf, store them with sturdy dividers. This recommendation is one that we rarely see used in the wild. Dividers also help with have organizing a vinyl record collection.

Overflow and Long-Term Record Storage

For those who cannot trim their collection, overflow storage becomes a necessity. Whether it’s a basement, attic, or storage unit, there are some precautions you can take to ward off potential disasters.

Avoid any place susceptible to water damage (like your basement). Have you heard the story of what happened to Eyebeam Art and Technology Center in Hurricane Sandy? Though the vinyl itself is relatively resistant to water damage, record covers and labels are certainly not.

Avoid extreme temperatures and places where temperature fluctuations of more than 35°F (19°C) in 24 hours. , no matter what kind of container, records will be vulnerable to warping because of the temperature.

You’ll want to ensure air circulation. This means you need to avoid storing your records in a sealed container of any kind, including plastic bins with lids or taped-up cardboard boxes.

Sealing your records can lead to the creation of a damaging micro-climate and makes it more difficult to monitor their condition. Take care when using mobile vinyl crates. Once you’ve made it to your destination, either open the box or remove the records from the case.

As a rule of thumb, attics, basements, and non-climate-controlled storage units are typically not the best places to store vinyl records, though there are exceptions. Try to find a place that is relatively clean, cool, and stable.

Record Handling Tips

Now you know the cardinal rules to follow while storing records. While you’re here, jot down some notes — or refresh your memory — on how to properly handle vinyl records.

Wash your hands before handling vinyl records. Those dirty paws of yours contain oils that can promote fungal growth on records and sleeves.

Handle any grooved discs (78s, 45s, LPs, lacquer discs, picture discs, even those Star Wars creature-shaped ones) by the edge and label areas only. This takes practice to get good at.

Keep your machines clean and well maintained. Make sure your mat is dust-free and replace your needles when they start to get worn folks. We’ve got more guides on best record-cleaning solutions.

Resources

Discogs would like to give credit to the Library of Congress and Reference Librarian, Harrison Behl, for assisting with this post. They were a huge help in leading to informative resources and answering specific questions. If you’re curious about the work they do or have questions that weren’t answered above, check out the Recorded Sound Research Center, where you can read more and reach out to librarians for assistance. For those that are interested, some resources we used are listed below:

Gilles St. Laurent’s article: Written 20 years ago and still a standard today.

ARSC Guide to Audio Preservation: A collaboration between the Association of Recorded Sound Collections (ARSC) and the Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR) contains chapters on care and handling of many different audio formats, as well as storage and digitization information. Geared toward archival professionals or the general public seeking an introduction to audio preservation.

ARSClist: A great resource for specific questions related to the care of audio collections. Beware, by g up for this forum, you will get dozens of fascinating, but technical questions in your inbox.

The ARSC Journal: Archive of a popular journal that contains a wealth of detailed information on a wide range of topics, including preservation and care of audio materials.

The International Association of Sound Archives (IASA): They produce a journal and other publications related to the study of vinyl record storage.

Feature image courtesy of Koeppel Design/Facebook. Article originally published in 2018. Last updated in 2024.