How Much Does a Custom Pantry Cost to Build? [2025 Data]

Cost by Pantry Type

Custom pantries usually come in three types—reach-in, small walk-in, and large walk-in. Here are the associated costs:

Reach-In

You can expect to pay between $250 and $1,500 for a custom reach-in pantry. Reach-in pantries are typically 5 feet wide by 2 feet deep—although you can make it shallower, depending on the amount of space you have. Reach-in pantries are a great option if you want to add a pantry to a small kitchen.

Small Walk-In

Small walk-in pantries cost $750 to $2,000. These are usually 5-by-5 feet. Many small walk-in pantries mix shelving and cabinets and have unique storage spaces. Sometimes small walk-in pantries are an extension of your kitchen—complete with matching floors, cabinets, lighting, and kitchen hardware. 

Large Walk-In

On average, you can expect to pay between $2,000 and $3,500 for a large 100-square-foot walk-in pantry. Many large walk-in pantries have custom amenities, such as a sink, cabinets, countertops, backsplash, bar, wine fridge, or cellar, and extensive storage capabilities.

Custom Pantry Cost per Square Foot

On average, a new pantry will cost between $20 and $40 per square foot. If you don’t need to install new wiring or knock down any walls, then the cost would be on the low end of this range. This frees up more money to spend on extra features. However, if you’re planning on building a high-end pantry, the potential range is between $50 and $450 per linear foot. 

The size of the pantry makes a big difference because it determines how much surface area you need to paint and how many linear feet of shelving you’ll need. For example, in a room that measures 50 square feet (10 feet long by 5 feet wide), you would need 50 linear feet of shelving for two layers of shelves on all three walls (the two walls on the side and the back wall).

General Contractor Costs

The labor cost for this job, if you hire a local general contractor or handyperson, is about $20 per square foot. For a room measuring 50 square feet, labor would cost $1,000. However, at the high-end, you can expect to pay about $2,000 for labor. If you need to call an electrician near you to wire your pantry, it will cost about $6 to $8 per square foot. 

Additional Custom Pantry Cost Factors

When designing your pantry and setting your budget, you’ll need to consider several cost factors. These factors include the type of pantry, wall removal, shelf installation, electrical work, permits, pantry size and dimensions, materials, labor, and additional features. Here are the breakdowns of each custom pantry cost factor:

Walls

The average cost to remove a non-load-bearing wall is about $300 to $1,000. This is the bare minimum to install a reach-in pantry. If you want to extend the pantry beyond the existing walls, you're probably going to have to pay a lot more—at least another $5,000. You'll also need to budget a few hundred dollars to repair drywall.

Shelves

You're likely to spend between $400 and $750 on plywood for shelving. How much you need is dependent on how big of a pantry you’re building. Other than the walls, this is your biggest size-dependent cost. An alternative is wire shelving, which will cost about the same as plywood. 

“We recently put in a pantry with a door and attached a built-in wire rack to the back of the door,” says Bob Tschudi, Angi Expert and Raleigh, NC-based general contractor. “The homeowner was amazed at the amount of things the door organizer could hold.”

Cabinets

Installing cabinets instead of or in addition to shelving will increase your final cost. Premade stock cabinets are available in standard sizes and are an ideal pantry option since they focus more on function and less on aesthetics. With professional installation, these cabinets cost $100 to $300 per linear foot.

Lighting

Lighting would benefit a custom walk-in pantry so you can actually see the food you're grabbing. Depending on the style you choose, installing a light fixture costs between $160 and $1,000. 

Permits

You may also need to pay for building permits—which are required for load-bearing walls in many areas and can range from $400 to $2,200.

Building a Custom Pantry Yourself vs. Hiring a Pro

If you build a pantry yourself, you’ll only need to account for the cost of tools, supplies, and materials, potentially saving you hundreds in labor costs. For instance, if you want to convert a kitchen-adjacent closet into a pantry, you could potentially do it for just the cost of the shelves.

However, if you’re planning a more intricate pantry, like adding a sink and lighting, you’ll need to hire pros for the items outside your scope. Hiring a local carpenter will cost between $35 and $100 per hour in labor. Also, if you hire a kitchen designer near you, you’ll pay between $65 and $250 per hour for a design consultation.

Cost to Remodel a Pantry vs. Building a New Pantry

The cost to remodel a pantry depends on the type of materials you use and the scope of your project. Common pantry remodels include upgrading shelving, cabinets, countertops, backsplash, flooring, painting, and lighting. 

Remodeling typically costs less than adding a pantry because you don't need to factor in the initial construction and structural costs. Here’s how much you can expect to pay for a pantry remodel:

• Shelving cost: $400–$750

• Cabinet costs: $100–$300 per linear foot

• Countertops cost: $1,850–$4,350

• Backsplash cost: $15–$40 per square foot

• Flooring cost: $12.50 per square foot

• Painting cost: $2.75 per square foot

• Lighting cost: $500–$2,000+

Tips to Reduce the Cost of Building a Pantry

If you’re working with a relatively tight budget, knowing where you can cut costs will help you make your dream pantry a reality. Here are a few tips for where to save. 

• Use less expensive wood: You may have a more elegant wood type in mind for your pantry shelves, but painted plywood will work just fine.

• Repurpose an existing room: You can save on demolition and construction costs.

• Avoid wiring: Choose a space that’s already wired for electricity so you don’t have to hire an electrician. 

• Skip the extras: You probably have lots of ideas for fancy extras like a top-of-the-line wine rack, but if you're worried about budget, it may be best to add it later.

Does a Custom Pantry Add Value to a Home?

A custom pantry offers a great return on investment (ROI) of 50% to 75%, which can slightly increase the value of your home. Most buyers are looking for the additional storage space that comes with any kind of pantry. In fact, the National Association of Home Builders reported that 83% of home buyers wanted a walk-in pantry—so adding one gives you a leg up on the competition in the housing market.

How Angi Gets Its Cost Data

Home is the most important place on earth, which is why Angi has helped more than 150 million homeowners transform their houses into homes they adore. To help homeowners with their next project, Angi provides readers with the most accurate cost data and upholds strict editorial standards. We extensively research project costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We rely on reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects. 

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