The average custom pantry cost ranges from $1,100 to $2,900, with a national average of $2,000. Expect to pay more for a large walk-in pantry or custom features.
For those feeling overwhelmed by a lack of kitchen storage, a pantry is a lifesaver. A custom pantry costs $2,000 on average, with an overall range of $250 to $5,000. A small reach-in pantry will cost on the lower end to build, while a high-end pantry with lots of extras will drive up costs far more.
| Pantry Type | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Reach-in | $250–$1,500 |
| Small walk-in | $750–$2,000 |
| Large walk-in | $2,000–$3,500 |
Custom pantries usually come in three types—reach-in, small walk-in, and large walk-in. Here are the associated costs:
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 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.
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.
| Pantry Size (Sq. Ft) | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| 10 | $200–$400 |
| 20 | $400–$800 |
| 30 | $600–$1,200 |
| 40 | $800–$1,600 |
| 50 | $1,000–$2,000 |
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).
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.
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:
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.
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.”
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 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.
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.
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.
"I was blown away by the experience of working with a pro who is honest down to their bones, cares about the quality of their work down to the smallest details, is a phenomenally good carpenter with a small crew of stellar, hard-working people they trained themselves, was spot-on with every time estimate and cost estimate—and for all of this is relaxed and warm at the same time."
— Suzanne S., Boulder, CO
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+
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.
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.
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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Make sure your shelves are no more than 12 inches deep. Any deeper and it will become hard to access items towards the back of the shelf. Yet, for larger walk-in pantries, homeowners may prefer 15- to 18-inch shelving to make room for larger appliances and cookware.
Ideally, your pantry should have a ventilation system in addition to your kitchen vents to keep your food items cool and dry. Since pantries are often near the kitchen, there is potential for heat and moisture to build up in that area of the home. Humidity can cause your food to spoil sooner.
If you have a high-end walk-in pantry, it's wise to install wall or ceiling ventilation. But if you simply have a small closet-style pantry, a grill in the door, or shortening the door height to allow airflow, is all you need.
A "reach-in pantry" is a smaller, cabinet-style pantry that allows you to grab items by simply reaching inside. On the other hand, a "walk-in pantry" is like a closet or small room that offers a larger space that you can physically enter to get your food. Walk-in pantries allow for more customizable shelving. A reach-in pantry is usually around 5 feet wide by 2 feet deep, while a walk-in pantry is closer to 5 feet by 5 feet or larger.
The main difference is size: a butler's pantry is much larger than a typical walk-in pantry. They are both primarily used for storage, however. Traditional butlers’ pantries also had private food prep and cleanup areas—complete with a sink, microwave, refrigerator, wine fridge, and countertop prep space. But, many newer walk-in pantries include the same items that make up a butler’s pantry.
There are key differences between a butler’s pantry versus a scullery. A butler's pantry, while much larger than a traditional pantry, is still a dry area primarily used for storage. A scullery, on the other hand, is basically an extra kitchen used for food prep, some storage, and dishware collection. Many sculleries have a dishwasher and sink to wash and store extra dishes, silverware, and servingware.
