Renovating or building a new storage space can feel like an impossible undertaking. Do you want to extend or create a closet in your house but don't know how deep it needs to be? Is there a minimum depth and height for a closet? Luckily, we'll cover these questions and more below.
The standard minimum depth for a closet is around 24 inches. If your space is 22 inches or shallower, it won't be able to hold hanging clothes, which makes it useless.
Additionally, the standard minimum height for a closet is eight feet, so that's another measurement to remember while planning.
As we start, we will cover all things closets and discuss how small one can be. Whether you have a small space you're working with or are curious; we're here to offer some help. With that said, let's dive right into this topic and answer some questions!
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How Deep Should A Closet Be?
Depending on your space, the depth of a closet can vary. A standard closet will generally be at least 24 inches deep, although this will fall on the smaller side.
As we said above, a closet that is smaller than 22-24 inches won't be able to hold hanging items, which is what you mainly put in the space. You also want to consider your shoes and other belongings, so leaving enough room is imperative.
Furthermore, if a closet is too shallow, it won't be technically considered one, so that can affect your resale value. For example, if only cleaning supplies, like a broom or vacuum, fit into the space, you can't advertise it as a full-size clothing closet.
For this reason, we recommend giving your space at least 2-3 feet of depth so there isn't any confusion. Again, it's better to have too much storage than too little, especially in today's market.
How High Should A Closet Ceiling Be?
A closet will usually be at least eight feet tall. Figuring you plan to hang clothes and store other items below, your closet design needs to leave enough vertical space.
According to Designing Idea, most interior designers go with a comfortable eight or nine-foot closet, the standard measurement in homebuilding.
Having a closet be high enough can affect how many rods (if any) you can install. For example, you typically want to place your tallest rod about 80 to 82-inches up from the floor.
You also want to place your second lower rod about 40 inches from the floor.
However, if you only want one rod, you can have it be roughly 60 inches from floor level. You need at least 24 inches of depth for both of these plans, so that is imperative.
Think of your closet as a spot where you want to fit the most things, using the least space. That is especially true for those in smaller homes, apartments, or townhomes, which tend to lack adequate storage areas.
Also, having a big closet can improve your home's resale value and grab a buyer's attention, so there are many benefits to having one.
What If My Closet Isn't Deep Enough?
If you don't give your closet enough space, don't expect it to hold much. As we mentioned, the standard depth of a closet is 24 inches (two feet), while the height is around eight feet.
Failing to meet these minimum dimensions can result in a lack of proper storage and affect your home's ability to sell in a competitive market.
Moreover, too shallow of a closet can mean your hanging clothes won't fit, which deems it essentially meaningless. Ideally, you want to leave between two and three feet of depth or as much as four to five.
For height, it's easy to run your closet from the floor to the ceiling, so that's an easy one.
What Can You Do With A Shallow Closet?
For anyone dealing with a super shallow closet, there are some ideas to remedy the situation. If you aren't ready to demolish your current structure, you can always try installing/rearranging your space.
A few interesting ways to add storage in a small closet include:
- Install shoe drawers or hangers
- Install a double/second rod
- Use a coat rack
- Place clothing in mesh baskets
- Utilize the door of your closet
- Install clothing hooks
One of the best ideas for increasing storage in a shallow closet is making the most of unconventional areas. For example, having a back-door shoe rack or hanging dividers can store bulkier items, which may not usually fit in your space.
Organizing baskets are also popular for dorm rooms, so who says you can't use a few in your house? Regardless, you want to keep your items off the floor and out of sight, so you may have to get creative.
SimpleHouseware Over The Door Hanging Shoe Organizer
This over-the-door organizer holds 12 pairs of shoes, is clear, fits standard size doors, works on open and closed doors, increases storage, and comes in various colors.
How Deep Should Closet Shelves Be?
Now that you have an idea of how deep a closet should be, it's time to focus on the inside shelving. Generally, the shelves in a closet should be at least 14 inches deep.
That measurement will hold everyday items like shoes, handbags, jewelry, and folded clothing. Of course, this can vary depending on how deep your closet is, so you may want to have your shelves cover more territory.
Additionally, most closet organizers will fit a 14-inch deep shelf, so keep this dimension in mind if you plan on using one. Even if a closet is deep, if the shelves aren't spacious enough, you might as well skip them entirely.
How Wide Should A Closet Shelf Be?
Moving to width, a standard closet will have shelving as wide as 30 inches. Again, this can depend on how long your wardrobe is, so you may be able to have more ample shelving.
According to Closet Works, the standard dimensions for a walk-in closet shelf is around four feet deep x 72 inches wide, so your shelving can be up to 72 inches wide in that situation.
On the other hand, if your closet is closer to three or four feet wide, you can run your shelves that entire width as well. Similar to the rods, your shelves can fill the closet space, which may even be a more structurally sound choice.
How Big Is A Master Closet?
If you're building a master closet, this will be significantly bigger than a standard option. Typically, a walk-in primary bedroom closet will measure around seven by ten feet.
Furthermore, this closet space should be nearly 100 square feet, so leave enough room.
Leaving this space will allow for two or three walls with shelves, cubbies, and rods, which should be enough to hold your belongings.
You also want to have plenty of elbow room, so you aren't crushed inside your closet, so the more space, the better. Remember, people want a lot of room to get ready and organize their clothing in a master closet, as this is a luxury addition.
With that in mind, you may even want to make your closet bigger, so the choice is yours.
Does Adding A Walk-In Closet Increase A Home's Value?
Yes, adding a walk-in closet to your home will increase its overall value. In general, homeowners can expect to recoup nearly 56% of their investment, considering that a walk-in closet adds about $2,000 to a home's current value.
Of course, building a closet isn't always cheap, but it could be worth it long-term. As we previously mentioned, the more storage in a house, the better.
Some designer's also recommend adding closets (walk-in or not) to extra rooms/office spaces, as this is another way to increase your property value.
The key here is maximizing the spaces in your home, whether it's a master closet or just one more in a shared room. Adding a customized wardrobe to a closet-less room can make it feel more bedroom-appropriate, all for under a few thousand dollars.
How Big Does A Closet Need To Be To Fit A Washer And Dryer?
For those wanting to put a washer and dryer inside their closet, it will need to be a bit bigger. With that said, your closet design will need to measure roughly 29 inches wide, 80 inches tall, and 32 to 34 inches deep to fit these appliances.
However, if you decide to stack your appliances, your closet won't need to be so wide, but that won't always work for every washer/dryer.
You can also try to place your washer and dryer in a walk-in closet, which would give you more space to access them while you're doing the laundry.
Regardless, ensure proper ventilation around your appliances inside the closet to prevent a fire or other structural damage.
How Deep Is Too Deep For A Closet?
Although there isn't technically a closet measurement "too deep," you don't always need such a vast design. Considering that the average closet will be around two feet deep, having yours be triple or quadruple isn't always necessary.
Furthermore, you want to consider what your closet needs to hold. If it's simply clothing, shoes, and accessories, it doesn't need to be so deep.
However, if you want to double this space as storage for equipment, furniture, or anything else, having it be super deep may be an advantage.
Again, this is entirely up to you.
To Finish Up
Knowing the correct dimensions is essential whether you want to redo your closet or build one. The standard depth for a closet is around 24 inches from what we found.
Your closet should be at least eight feet tall for height. We recommend fitting it to the ceiling of your room, which will make the process easier.
Regardless, make sure to leave plenty of room for rods and shelving, and don't be afraid to try alternatives if your space is smaller.
Made it to the end? Check out these helpful related home posts below!
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