How Much Does a Custom Pantry Cost to Build? [2024 Data]
Normal range: $1,100 - $2,900
The average cost to build a pantry 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, but how much will a pantry remodel cost? The price to construct a pantry is $2,000 on average, with a typical range between $1,100 and $2,900. A small reach-in pantry may cost as little as $250 to build, while a high-end pantry may cost upwards of $5,000 or more.
- Average
- $2,000
- Low end
- $250
- high end
- $5,000
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:
Type
| 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:
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.
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.”
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.
Size
| 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).
Materials
The amount of shelving you need will impact the number of materials needed to put them together. Using the previous example, here's how much you can expect to pay for materials for 50 linear feet of shelving:
Pine shelving: $300–$400
Support wood strips or brackets: $40–$100
Steel screws: $50
Drywall: $100 (if extending a room)
Sanding block: $10
Paint: $400–$750 (250 square feet worth of paint at $1.50 to $3 per square foot)
Total: $860–$1,310
You may have to pay more than this for extras such as trim, a door to hide your pantry, and any basic tools you don't currently own (if you’re doing it yourself).
“We put a pantry in a very tight space, so instead of installing a traditional interior door, we put in a sliding barn door,” says Tschudi.
Labor
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 Features
Modern pantries feature more than just shelving and storage capabilities. You can expect to pay between $300 and $5,000 or more to add a wine fridge, custom cabinets, hardware, backsplash, countertops, flooring, plumbing, and lighting. With the average kitchen remodel cost running between $14,600 and $40,600, you can expect a pantry with a smaller footprint to mimic these costs on a smaller scale.
Building a Custom Pantry Yourself vs. Hiring a Pro
What our customers are saying:
"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
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. Adding a 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 if you’d like to save on the cost of real wood.
Repurposing an Existing Room
The most expensive pantries are the ones where you have to demolish walls, build additions, and do a lot of painting and drywall installation. Instead, repurpose a room you already have, and then your main cost will be shelving.
Choose an Area Where You Won't Need New Wiring
Choose a space that’s already wired for electricity. Hiring an electrician to go into the walls and wire the room can add a lot of additional expenses to your project.
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 skip it this time. You can always add that feature later to enhance your pantry.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, a new pantry can add value to your home. Up to half of the money you spend on a new pantry could go straight into the value of your home. 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.
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.
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.