Closet layout calculator
How many feet of hanging rod and shelf a wardrobe needs, and how much wall that takes.
Wall needed
0 ft
How it works
Count what goes in the closet, and each item turns into inches of rod or shelf. The figures below are rules of thumb for adult clothes on slim hangers. Bulky hangers and winter clothes take more.
short hang rod = short items x inches each x (1 + room to grow) long hang rod = long items x inches each x (1 + room to grow) shelf = folded items and shoes x inches each x (1 + room to grow) wall width = short hang / 2 + long hang + shelf / shelves per tower
Short hang is halved because it goes on double hang: two rods, one above the other, usually at about 82 and 41 inches. Long hang needs a single rod at about 66 to 70 inches so dresses and coats clear the floor. Shelves stack in towers, so the wall they take is their total length divided by the number of shelves in a tower. Six shelves about 12 inches apart fill an 84 inch tower.
Inches per item
| Item | Goes on | Rod or shelf for each |
|---|---|---|
| Shirts and blouses | Short hang | 1 in |
| Trousers folded over a hanger | Short hang | 1 in |
| Skirts | Short hang | 1 in |
| Jackets and blazers | Short hang | 2 in |
| Dresses | Long hang | 1.5 in |
| Long coats | Long hang | 3.5 in |
| Folded sweaters | Shelf | 2.4 in |
| Folded T-shirts and tops | Shelf | 1.5 in |
| Folded jeans | Shelf | 2.4 in |
| Pairs of shoes | Shoe shelf | 8 in |
Depth
Hanging clothes need about 24 inches from the back wall, and folded clothes sit on shelves 12 to 16 inches deep. A reach-in closet less than 24 inches deep can still take shelves and drawers, or a rod that runs from front to back.
Price the whole job in ClosetTools
ClosetTools lays out each wall with Elfa, ClosetMaid, IKEA PAX and BOAXEL or Easy Track parts, checks the rod heights and spans, and prices the parts and the install.
Want someone to do the job?
Tell us where and when, and we'll put you in touch with a closet installer near you. No account needed.