Ask almost any family building a new home in Cache Valley what they want more of, and the answer is storage. Ask what room they would add if they could, and a walk-in pantry is usually near the top of the list.
Most pantry inspiration online focuses on matching jars and pretty labels. A pantry succeeds or fails on the floor plan: how big it is, how it is shaped, and where it sits in relation to the kitchen, the garage, and the dining room. Those decisions are made at the drafting table, long before anyone buys a shelf. This guide covers the main pantry types, the dimensions that actually work, and the placement choices we recommend to clients.
Key Takeaways
- A reach-in pantry, a walk-in pantry, and a butler’s pantry solve different problems, and many homes benefit from more than one.
- A usable walk-in pantry generally needs at least five by five feet, with a clear aisle of about three feet.
- Shelf depth matters more than total size; shallow shelves keep food visible and easy to reach.
- The best pantry location is between the garage entry and the kitchen work zone.
- Outlets, lighting, and ventilation must be planned on the drawings, not added after drywall.
The Three Main Types of Pantry
Reach-In Pantry
A reach-in pantry is a tall cabinet or shallow closet within the kitchen, usually 24 inches deep and 18 to 36 inches wide. It is the most space-efficient option and works well in smaller homes or as a supplement to a larger pantry elsewhere.
Walk-In Pantry
A walk-in pantry is a small room lined with shelves. It holds bulk groceries, small appliances, paper goods, and the overflow that clutters kitchen counters. Common layouts include a single wall of shelves, an L-shape, or a U-shape that wraps three walls.
Butler’s Pantry and Scullery
A butler’s pantry is a pass-through space, traditionally between the kitchen and the dining room, with counters and upper cabinets. Today many clients use it as a beverage station, a coffee bar, or a place to stage food when entertaining. A scullery, sometimes called a working pantry, goes a step further with a second sink, dishwasher, and room for countertop appliances, so the main kitchen stays clean when guests arrive.
Walk-In Pantry Dimensions That Actually Work
Size is where most pantry plans go wrong. Too small, and the pantry becomes a closet you cannot turn around in. Too large, and you simply lose square footage that would serve the family better somewhere else.
Minimum Size
For a walk-in pantry with shelves on one or two walls, plan for at least five by five feet. A U-shaped pantry with shelves on three sides typically needs around six by seven feet or more to keep a comfortable aisle.
Aisle Width
Leave a clear aisle of about 36 inches between shelves. If two people will use the pantry at once, or you want room for a step stool and a stack of grocery bags, 42 to 44 inches is better.
Shelf Depth and Spacing
Shallow shelves are the secret to a pantry that stays organized. Twelve-inch shelves keep cans and boxes in a single row so nothing gets lost in the back. Deeper shelves, around 16 to 20 inches, belong near the floor for bulk items, cases of water, and large containers. Spacing shelves 12 to 15 inches apart works for most groceries, and adjustable shelving lets the pantry change as your family does.
Counter-Height Work Surface
One of the most useful features is a section of shelving set at counter height, about 36 inches, with outlets above it. It becomes a permanent home for the stand mixer, toaster, air fryer, and coffee maker, which frees up the main kitchen counters.
If you are still deciding how much total space to allocate to each room, our room-by-room guide to how many square feet you actually need is a good starting point.
Where to Put the Pantry in Your Floor Plan
Placement is the single decision that matters most, and it is the hardest to change once the house is framed.
Between the Garage and the Kitchen
The ideal path for groceries runs from the car, through the mudroom, past the pantry, and into the kitchen. When the pantry sits along that route, unloading takes one trip instead of several. This is why we often design the pantry, the mudroom and laundry room, and the garage entry as one connected zone. Our post on garage design and layout covers the other half of that connection.
Close to the Kitchen Work Zone
The pantry door should be a few steps from the refrigerator and prep area, not across the room. In an open plan, a pantry door tucked behind the kitchen keeps the storage hidden while staying convenient. Read open floor plan vs traditional layout for more on how room arrangement affects flow.
Away From Heat and Sunlight
Food keeps best somewhere cool, dry, and dark. Avoid placing the pantry on a sunny west or south wall or next to the furnace or water heater. Utah State University Extension recommends storing food at roughly 40 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit, away from direct sunlight.
Planning for Utah Food Storage
Many Utah families keep a longer-term supply of food and water, and a kitchen pantry is rarely large enough to hold it. A dedicated basement food storage room is often the better answer, because basements stay naturally cool. We frequently include one when designing a daylight basement, with sturdy shelving, a floor drain where practical, and good access from the stairs. USU Extension’s emergency preparedness resources are a helpful guide to how much space a family supply really takes.
Details to Put on the Drawings
These items are cheap to include on paper and expensive to add later:
- Outlets at the counter-height section for small appliances.
- Bright LED lighting, ideally on a door switch or motion sensor.
- A dedicated circuit and space for a second refrigerator or freezer. If you add one, an ENERGY STAR certified refrigerator keeps operating costs down.
- Ventilation, especially when appliances run in an enclosed room.
- The right door: a pocket door saves swing space, a barn door adds character, and a hidden cabinet-front door keeps the pantry out of sight.
Industry standards from the National Kitchen and Bath Association planning guidelines are useful when planning storage and clearances across the whole kitchen. For the bigger picture on kitchen layout and finishes, see our 2026 kitchen design trends for Cache Valley homeowners.
Common Pantry Mistakes to Avoid
- Shelves so deep that food disappears in the back.
- A pantry door that swings into the kitchen walkway or hits the refrigerator.
- No outlets, which leaves appliances back on the counter.
- A pantry placed on the far side of the house from the garage.
- Using pantry square footage that the family would rather have in the mudroom or kitchen.
Many of these show up in our list of custom home building mistakes Utah homeowners regret, and they are all easy to prevent during design.
Adding a Pantry to an Existing Home
You do not need a new build to gain a pantry. A deep coat closet, an underused hallway, or part of a formal dining room can often be converted. In one Smithfield remodel featured in our before and after floor plan transformations, moving the refrigerator into a new pantry wall freed up counter space and improved the whole kitchen. If the changes are significant, our guide to remodel vs rebuild in Cache Valley helps you decide which path makes sense.
Frequently Asked Questions
How big should a walk-in pantry be?
Most families are well served by a pantry between five by five and six by eight feet. Larger households, or families who buy in bulk, may want more.
Is a butler’s pantry worth it?
If you entertain often or want to hide small appliances and dirty dishes from guests, yes. For many families, a combined walk-in and butler’s pantry gives the best of both.
How much does it cost to design a pantry?
In a new home, the pantry is simply part of the plan. Our drafting is priced by the square foot, explained in our custom home design cost guide.
Plan the Pantry Before You Plan the Shelves
A great pantry starts with the right size, the right shape, and the right location in the floor plan. Get those right, and organizing it becomes easy.
Poulsen Home Design has drafted custom homes in Cache Valley since 1997. Mont and Mary-Ellen Poulsen spent years as general contractors before turning to design, so every pantry we draw is planned around how families really cook, shop, and store food. Explore our home drafting services, learn about new home construction, or browse our home plans.
Ready to design a kitchen and pantry that work together? Call or text (435) 512-5852 or contact Poulsen Home Design for a free consultation.