Pantry Dimensions
A walk-in pantry needs at least about 5 × 5 ft (1.5 × 1.5 m): 12 in (30 cm) deep shelves on two or three walls and a 36 in (91 cm) aisle in the middle. A comfortable walk-in pantry is 6 × 8 ft or more. Where there is no room for a walk-in, a reach-in pantry closet 24 in deep or a tall pantry cabinet 84–96 in high holds a surprising amount.
Pantry sizes
| Pantry | Size | How it adds up |
|---|---|---|
| Pantry cabinet | 18–36 in wide, 12–24 in deep, 84–96 in tall | One tall cabinet in the kitchen run |
| Reach-in pantry closet | 2–4 ft wide, 24 in deep | Shelves behind a door |
| Small walk-in (one wall of shelves) | 4 ft wide | 12–16 in shelves + 36 in aisle |
| Standard walk-in (L or U) | 5 × 5 to 6 × 8 ft | 12 in shelves on 2–3 walls + 36 in aisle |
| Large walk-in | 8 × 10 ft or more | Shelves, a counter, room for appliances |
| Corner pantry | 4 × 4 or 5 × 5 ft, door across the corner | Shelves on the two back walls |
| Butler's pantry | 4–5 ft wide passage | 24 in base cabinets + 36–42 in aisle |
Pantry shelf depth and spacing
| Shelf | Depth | Space above |
|---|---|---|
| Cans, jars, spices | 10–12 in (25–30 cm) | 8–12 in |
| Boxes, cereal, baking | 12–16 in (30–41 cm) | 14–18 in |
| Small appliances | 16 in (41 cm) | 16–20 in |
| Bulk and bins (bottom) | 16–24 in | on the floor or a low shelf |
The standard pantry shelf depth is 12 in: a can or jar is never more than two deep, so nothing hides at the back. Make the bottom shelf deeper and the top shelves shallower. Shelves longer than about 30 in need a support in the middle or a stiff edge strip; check them with the shelf sag calculator.
Walk-in pantry dimensions in detail
- Aisle: 36 in (91 cm) is comfortable, 30 in the minimum for one person; 42 in if two people use it at once.
- Shelf height: the top shelf at about 72–84 in, the lowest 18–24 in above the floor.
- Door: 24–32 in wide, opening out of the pantry so it does not block the shelves.
- Counter: a 36 in high counter, 16–24 in deep, makes room for a microwave, a coffee machine or a mixer.
Corner and butler's pantry dimensions
A corner pantry uses the space where two cabinet runs meet: about 4 × 4 or 5 × 5 ft, with a door set across the corner at 45° and shelves on the two back walls. A butler's pantry is a short passage between the kitchen and the dining room, with base cabinets and a counter on one or both sides, so it needs 4–5 ft of width for one side and 7 ft for two.
Pantry cabinet height
Tall pantry cabinets are 84, 90 or 96 in tall to line up with the wall cabinets, 12, 15 or 24 in deep and 18–36 in wide. A 24 in deep pantry needs pull-out shelves or door racks, or things vanish at the back. See standard cabinet height.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum size of a walk-in pantry?
About 5 × 5 ft (1.5 × 1.5 m): 12 in deep shelves on two or three walls and a 36 in aisle. With shelves on one wall only, 4 ft wide works.
How deep should pantry shelves be?
12 in (30 cm) for cans, jars and boxes; 16 in (41 cm) for small appliances and bulk packs. Deeper than 16 in, things get lost at the back.
How far apart should pantry shelves be?
10–12 in (25–30 cm) for cans and jars, 14–18 in for cereal boxes and small appliances, and the lowest shelf 18–24 in off the floor so bins and bulk items fit below.
How tall is a pantry cabinet?
84, 90 or 96 in (213, 229 or 244 cm), matching the top of the wall cabinets, 12–24 in deep and 18–36 in wide.