There are four main types of coat racks.

·        Standing Coat Racks—These includes standard coat racks and coat trees. Coat trees usually have four feet or legs that support the stand which vary in design. Common descriptors used are bun, baluster, and ash feet, and curved, cabriole, and Queen Anne legs. The arms of the coat tree can also vary in design. They can point outward like branches, or have an “s” hook design. Usually these are stationary arms, but there are a few that offer swinging hooks for greater ease in hanging and retrieving coats. Another design technique to suit this same purpose involves a twistable main post that allows you to rotate the top of the tree to find a specific item.

 

Standing coat racks range in height from 68”-72” tall with a diameter ranging from 13”-20” with 17” being the most common size. Prices for these average between $59-$139, though they can be found as low as $25 or as high as $300.

·        Wall Coat Racks—Wall coat racks, or coat hooks, are just as they sound—hooks that hang from the wall. These are an especially good option if you have a limited amount of space in which to keep an additional piece of furniture, but extra wall space available. They can come as individual hooks, or in sets of multiple hooks on a board, or as pegs on an expandable system that allows for extra flexibility. You can even find coat racks to hang over the back of your door if wall space is at a premium as well. Sizes on these vary from as little as a couple of inches to very big for decorative hooks and the prices vary just as much from $3 for an individual hook to several hundred dollars for a designer decorative piece.

·        Hall Trees—Hall trees are large pieces of furniture and should be reserved for entryways with ample space. They are usually constructed out of wood and often have bench seating and a mirror. The coat hooks can be spread out along the top of the hall tree, or placed at the top corners. Though the dimensions on these can vary greatly, a common height for hall trees is 70”. You can find them in about any width to fit your entryway needs. The price for wrought iron hall trees start at around $85, while wooden hall trees start a little higher, at about $200 for an inexpensive piece and going as high as $1,000. If you find a nice antique piece, you can expect to pay even more.

·        Rolling Racks—Rolling coat racks are perhaps the least thought of/needed coat rack for home purposes, but their usefulness cannot be denied, especially if yours is a home that entertains on a frequent basis. If this is the direction you want to go in, then you need to be on the lookout for sturdy parts. Rolling carts can be found with plastic wheels and thin gauge metal, but these materials tend to bend and break easily. A good rack will have an industrial grade type of caster, which has metal housings and rubber wheels. They can be found in heights from 5’-7’ and can be as simple as one rod, two rods, or even have shelves attached to the top. Prices on rolling racks begin as low as $20 and go up to $200.