# mini-rack: Jeff Geerling's Curated Guide to 10-Inch Miniature Homelab Racks

> mini-rack is a community hardware reference maintained by Jeff Geerling that documents 10-inch rack equipment for compact and portable Homelabs, covering racks, PDUs, UPSes, patch panels, network gear, SBC shelves, and 3D-printable systems. It is a living catalog, not software: the repository is a GitHub Pages site organized by hardware category with tables of specific products.

**geerlingguy/mini-rack** — Miniature rack builds, for portable or compact Homelabs.

- Repository: https://github.com/geerlingguy/mini-rack
- Website: http://mini-rack.jeffgeerling.com/
- Stars: 3,981 · Forks: 104
- Language: Unknown
- License: GPL-3.0
- Published: 2026-09-23 · Updated: 2026-09-23 · Language: en
- Canonical page: https://hysenlabs.com/projects/geerlingguy-mini-rack

## What mini-rack Is and What It Covers

A 10-inch mini rack is a half-width server rack enclosure. Standard data center racks are 19 inches wide between mounting holes; mini racks use the same 1U height unit (44.45mm) but shrink the width to roughly 236.525mm between screw holes, which the README describes as an absolute maximum of about 220mm of horizontal clearance. In practice, gear should fit within 210mm to allow for manufacturing tolerances.

Project MINI RACK is a reference guide for building these smaller enclosures, maintained by Jeff Geerling. The repository is a Jekyll-based GitHub Pages site at mini-rack.jeffgeerling.com. The content covers the complete hardware stack: rack enclosures, power distribution units, uninterruptible power supplies, patch panels, network switches and routers, 3D-printable mini rack systems, mini PC and single-board computer shelves, disk shelves, blanking panels, and cable management.

The README explicitly states that the guide focuses on gear available to a US buyer. Many vendors sell 10-inch gear only in the UK or parts of Europe, which the README links to a Reddit post documenting. This is a material limitation for non-US readers: the catalog is useful as a reference for product categories and specifications, but specific product availability varies by country.

## The 10-Inch Standard: Dimensions and Hardware Conventions

The README notes there is no worldwide published standard for what constitutes a mini rack. However, the README states that most of the industry has settled on the same 1U height standard as 19-inch racks (44.45mm) with a width of 236.525mm between screw holes. Gear should fit within 210mm of horizontal space to allow tolerance.

For fasteners, manufacturers vary between threaded square holes for cage nuts and standard 10/32 or 12/24 screws. Vertical spacing follows the same specification as 19-inch racks, meaning standard 1U-height accessories should transfer between rack sizes.

The README links to a Wikipedia image comparing 19-inch and 10-inch rack dimensions for visual reference, and points to an open GitHub issue for further discussion about mini rack dimensions.

This informal standard means compatibility is not guaranteed. Before purchasing, verify that a given product lists its exact mounting dimensions and that its horizontal width fits within the rack you are using. The README's hardware tables include products from Delock, GeeekPi/DeskPi, Digitus, Middle Atlantic, NavePoint, and several others, each with specific unit heights and notes on whether they are open-frame or enclosed, locking, and wall-mountable.

## Hardware Categories and What the Tables Document

The README organizes gear into these categories: 10-inch mini racks, PDUs, UPSes, patch panels, network gear, other gear, 3D-printable mini rack systems, mini PC and server shelves, SBC shelves, disk shelves, shelves and blanking panels, and cable management. There is also a build showcase section and a software section.

Each hardware category appears as a markdown table with product name, unit height, and additional information such as whether a rack is enclosed and locking, open-frame, or wall-mountable. For example, the 10-inch racks table lists the GeeekPi/DeskPi RackMate T1 as 8U open design, the Delock 10-inch Network Cabinet as 4U, 6U, or 8U enclosed with a locking glass door, and the MikroTik SolidRACK 5 mini as 5U open design and under-desk mountable.

The 3D-printable systems section is notable for portable builds: it lists community-maintained designs such as a DIY laser-cut mini rack. These are GitHub repositories rather than commercial products, so dimensions and compatibility depend on the design's documentation.

The README carries affiliate link disclosures for Amazon links. Some links are affiliate links that provide a commission on qualifying purchases. This is the mechanism by which Geerling funds the ongoing maintenance of the project.

The software section of the README is separate from the hardware catalog and lists software useful for homelab management, though this portion is not expanded in the available source.

## Community: GitHub Issues as Build Forum

The README directs community interaction to the GitHub Issues tracker rather than a separate forum. Issues are divided into three labeled categories: help-me-find for locating specific equipment, build-showcase for completed or nearly complete builds, and website-issues for problems with the site itself.

This structure makes the Issues page a searchable record of community builds and equipment questions over time. Looking at existing build showcases gives a realistic view of what 10-inch rack builds look like in practice, including which products tend to coexist well and what cable management approaches work in confined spaces.

For discussion outside GitHub, the README recommends Reddit's r/minilab as the companion community for mini racks and the broader topic of compact Homelabs.

The README notes that availability of mini rack gear varies significantly by country. This means community members in the UK, Europe, and Asia often recommend products that are not listed in the repository's tables. The GitHub Issues search and r/minilab are better sources for region-specific gear than the README's tables.

## Limitations: Geographic Scope and Living Catalog Maintenance

The README is transparent about its geographic limitations: it covers equipment that Jeff Geerling can acquire from the US. It links to a Reddit post noting that many vendors sell only in the UK or parts of Europe. Teams or individuals outside the US will find the catalog useful for identifying product categories and specifications but may need to find local suppliers independently.

As a community-maintained reference, the tables are only as current as the most recent contributions and edits. The last push to the repository was on 2026-08-31. Product availability and links change over time: a product in the table may have been discontinued or replaced since the entry was added.

The repository does not attempt to cover 19-inch standard racks. For anyone building a full-size server rack, other resources are better suited. The README's scope is specifically compact builds where space is the primary constraint.

The closest alternative to this repository as a community resource is Reddit's r/minilab. The sub covers the same hardware territory with a broader geographic range of contributors and no product-link affiliate structure. The difference is format: this repository provides a structured table-based catalog with stable links, while r/minilab is a discussion forum where recommendations change over time and older posts may be outdated.

## License and Repository Structure

The repository is licensed under the GPL-3.0. The project is maintained by Jeff Geerling, who lives in the US as the README notes. The repository structure is minimal: a `README.md` holding the entire content, a `_config.yml` for Jekyll configuration, a `CNAME` file for the custom domain, an `assets/` directory for images, a `.github/` directory for GitHub configuration, and a `LICENSE` file. There is no build step to run and no software to install. Contributions are made through pull requests to the README content. The last push to the repository was on 2026-08-31.

## Conclusion

mini-rack is worth bookmarking for anyone planning a compact 10-inch homelab or portable network rack. The hardware tables are specific and regularly updated, and the GitHub Issues section functions as a community forum for build showcases and equipment questions. The main limitation is geographic: the README explicitly states the guide focuses on gear available to a US buyer, and many vendors list products only in the UK or Europe. Readers outside the US should treat the catalog as a starting point and cross-reference with r/minilab for region-specific availability. The repository does not contain software and requires no installation.

## FAQ

### What is the purpose of a mini rack?

A mini rack, typically a 10-inch rack, is a compact equipment enclosure that holds 1U-height networking and computing gear in less horizontal space than a standard 19-inch rack. They are used for portable setups, compact Homelabs, desk-side builds, and RF battlestations where a full-size rack would be impractical.

### What is the best mini server rack?

The mini-rack repository does not rank products but lists several options with specifications. The GeeekPi/DeskPi RackMate T1 (8U open design) and the Delock 10-inch Network Cabinet (4U, 6U, 8U enclosed with locking glass door) are among the models documented. The best choice depends on whether you need an enclosed or open-frame design, your unit count, and where you are located, since many vendors sell only in specific regions.

### What is a mini rack?

A mini rack is a half-width server enclosure that uses the same 1U height standard as 19-inch racks but has a width of about 236.525mm between screw holes instead of 19 inches. The mini-rack repository documents the hardware ecosystem around this form factor for compact Homelab builds.

### Mini rack vs full rack: which should I use for a Homelab?

A full 19-inch rack offers more hardware options and higher density for standard rack-mount equipment. A 10-inch mini rack fits in tighter spaces and costs less but limits you to gear designed or adapted for the smaller width. The mini-rack repository covers the 10-inch ecosystem specifically and notes that much 10-inch gear is region-specific in availability.

## Sources

- [geerlingguy/mini-rack on GitHub](https://github.com/geerlingguy/mini-rack)
- [Issues](https://github.com/geerlingguy/mini-rack/issues)
- [License: GPL-3.0](https://github.com/geerlingguy/mini-rack/blob/master/LICENSE)
- [Project website](http://mini-rack.jeffgeerling.com/)
- [README](https://github.com/geerlingguy/mini-rack/blob/master/README.md)

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Hysen Labs editorial analysis, written from the project's own repository and release notes. Cite the canonical page: https://hysenlabs.com/projects/geerlingguy-mini-rack