Design Guides
Pantry Design Guide
Updated 2 min read
The short answer
The mistake in most pantries is depth. Shelves deeper than about 350mm swallow their contents — things go to the back and are forgotten until they expire. Shallow shelving that you can see across in one glance holds less per shelf and far more in practice, because you actually use what is on it.
Working dimensions
| Element | Dimension | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Shelf depth (cans, jars, packets) | 250–350mm | Deeper and items disappear behind each other |
| Shelf depth (bulk, appliances) | 450–600mm | Use pull-outs at this depth |
| Shelf spacing (standard goods) | 250–300mm | Adjustable — contents change |
| Shelf spacing (small appliances) | 400–450mm | The dimension everyone forgets |
| Shelf spacing (bulk / large boxes) | 350–400mm | |
| Walk-in pantry width | 1500mm min. | Shelving one side plus standing room |
| Walk-in with shelving both sides | 2100mm min. | Same as a walk-in closet |
| Door-back storage depth | 100–150mm | Spices, wraps, small jars |
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Design decisions that matter
- Measure your tallest small appliance
- Stand mixer, food processor, air fryer. Then add clearance to lift it out. This single dimension determines one shelf and it is almost always forgotten.
- Pull-outs for anything deep
- A deep fixed shelf is a black hole. A pull-out at the same depth is fully accessible. The cost difference is real but so is the difference in use.
- Adjustable, always
- What you store changes constantly. Fixed shelving in a pantry is a guarantee of wasted space within two years.
- Heavy things low
- Bulk flour, cases of drinks, appliances. Not on a shelf above your head.
- Door-back storage
- A shallow rack on the back of the door holds spices and wraps and costs almost nothing.
- Power inside a cabinet pantry
- If a coffee machine or toaster is going to live in there and be used in place, it needs an outlet — and that means an electrician.
Answers
Frequently asked questions
- Is a walk-in pantry better than a cabinet pantry?
- Not automatically. A well-designed tall cabinet pantry with pull-outs is often more usable than a small walk-in, because everything comes to you rather than requiring you to step in and reach past things. Walk-ins win at larger sizes and when they double as small-appliance storage.
- How deep should pantry shelves be?
- 250–350mm for everyday goods. Deeper than that and items disappear behind each other. If you have more depth available, use pull-outs so the whole shelf comes to you, or run two shallower banks.
- What is the most commonly forgotten pantry dimension?
- The height needed for small appliances. A stand mixer needs 400–450mm of clearance plus room to lift it out, and standard 300mm shelf spacing does not accommodate one. Measure your actual appliances before the shelving is set out.
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