Pantry Cabinets: Reach-In, Walk-In and Butler's Pantries Planned Right

A good pantry is less about size and more about being able to see and reach what you have. A small, well-planned pantry often works better than a large one with deep shelves where things get lost. This guide covers the main pantry types, the dimensions that matter and the fittings that make a pantry easy to use.

The four kinds of pantry

Tall pantry cabinet

A full-height cabinet in the kitchen run, usually 84 to 96 inches tall and the same depth as the base cabinets or the uppers.

• Good for: kitchens without space for a separate pantry.
• Make it work: pull-out shelves or roll-out trays so you can reach the back, or doors with shelves on the inside.

Reach-in pantry

A shallow closet with doors, where you stand outside and reach in.

• Good for: a closet near the kitchen, or a wall where a walk-in won't fit.
• Make it work: keep shelves fairly shallow so nothing hides at the back, and use the door backs for spices and small items.

Walk-in pantry

A small room you step into, with shelving on one, two or three sides.

• Good for: large households, bulk shopping and storing small appliances off the counter.
• Make it work: leave a clear aisle in the middle (about 36 inches is comfortable) and combine shallow shelves with a few drawers or baskets.

Butler's pantry

A pass-through space between the kitchen and dining room, with cabinets, a counter and sometimes a sink or beverage fridge.

• Good for: entertaining, serving, and keeping the coffee bar or bar setup out of the main kitchen.
• Make it work: treat it like a small kitchen run, with base cabinets, a durable counter and upper storage or open shelves for glassware.

Shelf depth is the most important number

Deep shelves look generous but waste space, because items line up in rows and the ones at the back disappear.

• Cans, jars and spices: about 6 to 10 inches deep is plenty; one or two items deep.
• Boxes and dry goods: about 12 to 16 inches.
• Small appliances and bulk items: about 16 to 20 inches, ideally on lower shelves or in deep drawers.

A common walk-in layout uses deeper shelves on the lower part of the wall and shallower ones above eye level.

Shelf heights

• Leave about 12 to 15 inches between shelves for most food items.
• Plan a taller space for cereal boxes, bottles and appliances, about 15 to 18 inches.
• Keep the most-used items between hip and shoulder height, and heavy items low.
• Adjustable shelves let you change the layout as your needs change.

Fittings worth adding

• Roll-out trays or drawers in lower sections, so you pull the shelf out instead of reaching in.
• Door-mounted racks for spices, small jars and wraps.
• Baskets or bins for snacks, potatoes and onions, and loose items.
• Vertical dividers for trays, cutting boards and baking sheets.
• A counter or landing shelf in a walk-in pantry, to set bags down and to park small appliances.
• Outlets at counter height if you plan to use appliances in the pantry.

Light and ventilation

• Lighting: a ceiling light in a walk-in is a minimum; LED strips under the shelves make labels easy to read. A door switch or motion sensor is convenient.
• Air: keep produce like potatoes and onions in a ventilated basket, and avoid placing a pantry against a hot wall such as the back of an oven.

Materials and finish

Pantry shelves and cabinets take a lot of daily wear. Durable, wipeable finishes on shelves make cleanup easy, and solid, well-supported shelves won't sag under cans and bulk items. In a butler's pantry, the counter is often the same stone as the kitchen, or a contrasting one to set the space apart.

Quick planning checklist

1. Choose the type: tall cabinet, reach-in, walk-in or butler's pantry.
2. Measure the space, including door swings and the clear aisle for a walk-in.
3. Plan shelf depths by what you store; keep most shelves shallow.
4. Set shelf heights, with the most-used items at hip to shoulder height.
5. Add roll-outs, door racks, bins and dividers where they help.
6. Plan lighting and any outlets.

Bring a sketch of your pantry space and a list of what you store to one of our showrooms. We can plan the layout with you, and our own shop builds pantry cabinets and shelving to fit.