Storing Vinyl Records Horizontally

Any warping will change the way a record sound and can make it unplayable.

Storing vinyl records horizontally. Vinyl records should be stored in a vertical position to maintain their shape. Vinyl records are most susceptible to ultraviolet light. When vinyls are piled high or horizontal in this case it can cause the shelving to collapse like a pack of cards. Pack your records tight enough that they cannot slant or lean but with enough wiggle room to be able to remove individual records.

Store your records in their liners and turn the open end of the liner towards the inside of the sleeve if possible. Indeed we see it a lot in movies and magazines. A strong and sturdy shelf wins the vinyl storage race. Apple boxes and wine cases are okay.

Keeping a flashy record collection horizontally on a shelf looks cool. However horizontal storage is not the best option for vinyl longevity. Unlike your indoor greenery vinyl records should be stored in a relatively dry environment about 35 40 relative humidity or rh. Over time the vinyl can warp and become misshapen.

But for long term storage or for collector s items i would definitely go with the extra protection of a vinyl record bag. 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. For best results don t store your records in a bright window a grow room or a tanning bed. Use suitable shelves or crates boxes for vinyl storage.

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. Which can damage records in just a few minutes.