French cleat

A French cleat is a simple mounting system made from two strips of wood or metal, each cut at a matching angle, usually 45 degrees. One strip is fastened to the wall and the other to the back of a cabinet, tool holder, or shelf, and the two angled edges interlock so the hanging piece is held in place by gravity rather than by screws going directly into the item itself.

The advantage over a single hook or bracket is that the wall-mounted strip can run the full width of a workbench or tool wall, letting you hang and rearrange multiple cabinets, jigs, and organizers along the same cleat without drilling new holes for each one. It is a favorite in workshop setups precisely because the layout can evolve over time.

As with any wall storage, the cleat strip needs to be fastened into studs to carry real weight, since the strength of the whole system comes from that one horizontal mounting line. A common mistake is cutting the angle inconsistently between the two mating pieces, which leaves a wobbly fit instead of the tight, self-locking joint a French cleat is supposed to provide.