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Pinball Machine Storage: The Best Way

The best way to store a pinball machine is indoors in a climate-controlled space with steady temperature and humidity. If you can keep it in the house, that is usually the safest option by a wide margin.

That matters because pinball machines do not fail from one dramatic mistake as often as they suffer slow damage from moisture, heat swings, dust, pests, and condensation. If you are also trying to figure out whether a machine is worth the space and upkeep, it helps to know what pinball machines cost before you commit to long-term storage. It also helps to understand pinball machine how much do they cost.

In this guide, you will see where a pinball machine should be stored, what humidity range collectors usually aim for, how to prep it before putting it away, and what to check before you power it back on.

The short answer: store it indoors if you can

If you only remember one thing, make it this: stable indoor storage is best. A room in the house, a finished game room, or a properly climate-controlled storage unit is far better than a garage, shed, or basement that changes temperature and humidity every week.

Collectors and hobbyists tend to agree on the same practical rule: humidity swings cause more trouble than cold storage alone. One long-running arcade museum forum discussion puts that advice into the same general range many owners use in practice, with roughly 45% to 50% relative humidity often treated as a sensible target.

You do not need to chase a perfect number to the decimal point. What matters most is avoiding damp air, condensation, direct sunlight, and big seasonal swings.

What makes a storage spot safe or unsafe?

Storage location	Usually a good idea?	Why
Inside the home	Yes	Stable temperature, lower moisture risk, less dust and pest exposure
Climate-controlled storage unit	Usually	Better than an ordinary unit if the machine cannot stay at home
Attached, insulated garage	Sometimes	Can work if humidity and temperature stay steady
Basement	Sometimes	Only if it stays dry and does not flood or sweat with condensation
Detached garage, shed, or attic	No	Too much temperature swing, moisture risk, and pest exposure

If the room smells damp, gets musty after rain, or feels like it changes from hot to cold every few days, it is not a great storage spot for a pinball machine.

How to prepare a pinball machine for storage

Before you put the machine away, take a little time to prep it properly. A few simple steps can prevent corrosion, grime buildup, and unpleasant surprises when it comes back out of storage.

1. Clean the machine first

Dust, grit, and sticky residue are much easier to deal with before storage than after months in a closed room. Wipe the playfield, glass, cabinet surfaces, and coin door area. If there is loose dirt in vents or around the legs, clear it out now instead of letting it sit there. A closer look at why do Switch controllers break easily can help here.

A clean machine is also easier to inspect later. If rust, battery leak, or cabinet swelling happens while it is stored, you will spot it faster on a machine that started clean.

2. Remove batteries on newer machines

If your machine has batteries for memory or settings, remove them before storage unless the manufacturer specifically recommends otherwise. Battery leakage is one of the most common avoidable forms of damage on older electronic pinball machines.

That warning matters most on solid-state games with board-mounted batteries or battery holders. Older electro-mechanical machines may not have the same issue, but they still benefit from a careful inspection before they are stored.

3. Power it down the right way

Unplug the machine, shut it down cleanly, and make sure all balls are out of the playfield. If the machine is being moved, lock down anything that can shift, and avoid leaving loose parts rattling around inside the cabinet.

If you are storing the machine because you are moving house or rearranging a game room, this is also the moment to make sure the cabinet, backbox, and legs are protected from scratches and impact.

4. Cover it, but do not seal it in plastic

A clean moving blanket or a breathable dust cover is a better choice than tightly wrapping the machine in plastic for long-term storage. Plastic wrap can trap moisture, and that is exactly what you do not want in a closed environment.

For a short move, temporary wrapping can make sense if it is removed soon after. For long-term storage, keep the cover breathable so the cabinet and electronics are not sitting in their own humidity.

When a garage or basement can work

A garage or basement is not automatically a disaster, but it needs to be the right kind of garage or basement. An insulated space with stable humidity and little seasonal swing is very different from a leaky, unheated room that bakes in summer and sweats in winter.

Collectors who store machines in garages usually rely on a dehumidifier, good insulation, and keeping the machine off the floor. If the space is truly controlled, that can be acceptable for storage. If not, it is a gamble.

What to do if you must use a garage or basement

Keep the machine off the floor on a pallet, scrap wood, or another raised platform.
Use a dehumidifier if the room tends to run damp.
Avoid placing it near a wall that leaks, sweats, or collects condensation.
Check for rodents, insects, and water intrusion before and during storage.
Do not store it where sunlight can fade the cabinet or backbox art.

Floor contact is a bigger problem than many new owners expect. Even if the room never floods, concrete can wick moisture and cold into the cabinet over time.

Why backglasses and display parts need extra care

Backglasses, screened glass art, and other fragile display pieces deserve special attention because repeated temperature changes can stress them. Community advice from long-term storage discussions often recommends bringing delicate glass art indoors rather than leaving it in a cold, variable garage for months at a time.

If your machine has a backglass or any artwork on glass, do not lean heavy objects against it, and do not let it sit where temperature swings are severe. These parts are not as forgiving as a bare cabinet shell.

This is also where a dry, stable room matters most. Cold itself is not always the problem; condensation after the temperature changes is often the real damage maker.

What not to do

Do not leave a machine in a shed, attic, or uninsulated garage for long-term storage.
Do not put it directly on a damp floor or concrete slab.
Do not wrap it so tightly that moisture cannot escape.
Do not leave batteries inside and forget about them.
Do not store it in direct sunlight.
Do not assume a dry-looking room is safe if the humidity swings a lot.

One of the most common mistakes owners mention after buying a stored machine is assuming “it was indoors” automatically means “it was stored well.” A room can still be too damp, too hot, or too inconsistent even if it is technically inside the house.

How to inspect a pinball machine after storage

Before you plug in a machine that has been sitting for a while, give it a careful inspection. This is especially important if it was stored in a garage, basement, or anywhere near moisture.

Check the battery area for corrosion or leaked residue.
Look for rust on metal parts, legs, brackets, and hardware.
Inspect the cabinet for swelling, soft spots, or water staining.
Look over wiring for rodent damage or chewed insulation.
Check rubber parts for cracking or hardening.
Watch for condensation on glass or inside the backbox if the room is cold.
Make sure no loose parts shifted during storage.

If the machine smells musty, feels damp, or has visible corrosion, stop and deal with that first. Powering up a questionable machine without checking it can turn a small storage issue into a much bigger repair.

Buying advice if the machine was already stored poorly

If you are looking at a machine that sat in storage for years, do not judge it by the cabinet art alone. Moisture and battery problems often show up where they are easy to miss: under the playfield, in the backbox, around connectors, and near the bottom edges of the cabinet.

Ask whether it was stored in climate control, whether batteries were removed, and whether the machine ever sat on a concrete floor. If the seller cannot answer those questions, assume a closer inspection is needed.

That does not mean you should automatically pass on every stored machine. A dry, well-kept example can still be a good buy, especially if you are comparing it with a machine that needs a lot of cosmetic and electrical work. But storage history matters, and it often explains the difference between a simple cleanup and a full restoration. That makes more sense once you compare jukebox investing are jukeboxes a good investment.

FAQ

What is the best humidity level for pinball machine storage?

A practical target is usually around 45% to 50% relative humidity, with more importance placed on keeping the number stable than hitting one exact figure. Avoid damp rooms and big swings.

Can you store a pinball machine in a garage?

Only if the garage is insulated, dry, and climate controlled enough to stay stable. An ordinary garage is risky for long-term storage because temperature and humidity change too much.

Should you cover a pinball machine during storage?

Yes, but use a breathable cover or clean moving blanket. Avoid tightly sealed plastic wrap for long-term storage because it can trap moisture.

Do older pinball machines need the same storage care as newer ones?

Yes, but newer electronic machines often need extra attention around batteries and boards. Older machines can still suffer from humidity, rust, cabinet swelling, and dirty contacts.

Is a basement better than a garage?

Sometimes, but only if the basement stays dry and does not have flooding, heavy condensation, or pests. A finished, climate-controlled basement is usually safer than an unfinished garage.

Final thoughts

The safest way to store a pinball machine is simple: keep it indoors, keep the humidity steady, keep it off the floor, and keep it away from heat, water, and direct sun. If you have to use a basement, garage, or storage unit, climate control is the difference between a reasonable stopgap and a slow repair bill.

Take a few minutes to clean the machine, remove batteries, and cover it the right way. That small amount of prep is usually what keeps a stored pinball machine from turning into a restoration project later.