Food Pantry Shelves

Tara Gosselin Interior Design Expert

Tara is a San Antonio-based award-winning landscape architect, writer and educator, passionate about eco-friendly solutions and growing her own food. She knows all it takes to help you create a sustainable backyard retreat that combines blissful charm with a modern take on landscaping.

Updated 24/04/2021

A pantry is such a wonderful thing to have. The cupboards fill up so fast, and there is never any room on the counters, so having a pantry is an absolute necessity in many households. And sometimes, some extra shelves are needed. For your shelving needs we give you food pantry shelves. Now you have the space to store just about anything.

Buying Guide

What is the best shelving for a pantry?

When you’re selecting food pantry shelves, you need to consider what you are going to put in your pantry. Think of the types of canisters, cans, boxes, and bowls that you typically put in your pantry. Then, you’ll need to subdivide the amount of height you have in your pantry by shelves and shelf sections that are at least as tall - preferably, with a 5” or so buffer - as the items you will need to store.

Ideally, you’ll be able to have a mix of different types of shelving, so, if in the future you need to store something tall or bulky, you’ll be able to. Finally, consider adding in built-in drawers or vertical dividers in yourselves to store pot lids, storage container lids, or other smaller items. It’ll reduce visual clutter and help you keep things well organized.

How do I organize my food pantry?

Here are some practical tips to organize your food pantry shelves:

Start by running an inventory of all the products and foods you have or the ones you’re planning on stocking on a regular basis: that way you’ll know how much room or how many shelves you can allow for each category
Keep the ones that you use almost every day at easy reach, reserving the highest or lowest shelves for food that you only pick up occasionally
Use the right containers for your inventory. For an aesthetically pleasing result, consider buying matching canisters and sets
Psst. See-through models will make it easier to keep track of the items you use more often

What is the best depth for pantry shelves?

The best depth for food pantry shelves is between 16” - 20” deep. If your pantry is exceptionally small, you can opt for just one food pantry shelf. These are typically 4” - 5” deep and are useful for storing essential items such as spices, sugar, tea, and coffee.

If you have too deep shelves, you may need to frequently reorganize and restack them to avoid letting items become out of date. Sticking to the perfect depth of around 16 - 20” allows for easy visibility of your kitchen inventory and enables easy storage.

Alternatively, invest in several clear plastic Lazy Susan trays or plastic bins to store your items to prevent your deep pantry shelves from becoming cluttered.