Under Stairs Storage Ideas: Cabinets, Sizes & How to Plan

What is the best storage for under the stairs?

Match the storage to the slope. Use tall cabinets or a closet at the high end, base cabinets with deep drawers in the middle, and short cabinets or shelves at the low end. Drawers and pull-outs work best, because they bring the deep back of the space out to you.

Work with the slope: tall storage at the high end, base cabinets in the middle, shelves at the low end.
Drawers beat doors in deep spaces, because they bring the back of the space to you.
Measure the height every 12 inches to map exactly where each cabinet fits.
Base cabinets are 34-1/2" high before a top; tall utility cabinets are 84" to 96" high.
Safety: no flammable liquids under stairs; enclosed under-stair space usually needs gypsum board (IRC R302.7).
Popular uses: pantry, coat and shoe drop zone, cleaning closet, office nook, wine storage.
Lily Ann fit: Colorado White Shaker base cabinets come in 12", 15", 18" and 21" reduced depths for tight spaces.

What Is the Best Way to Use the Space Under Stairs?

The best under stairs storage uses the space's shape: full-height cabinets or a closet at the tall end, base cabinets or deep drawers in the middle, and short cabinets, shelves or baskets at the low end. Pull-out drawers work best in deep spaces because they bring the back of the space to you.

The space under a staircase is often the most wasted spot in a home. It is deep, oddly shaped and hard to reach, so it tends to fill up with things nobody can find. The good news is that standard cabinets can turn it into real storage. You just need to match each part of the space with the right kind of cabinet.

This guide covers 10 under stairs storage ideas, which cabinet sizes fit where, how to measure, and a few safety points to check before you build.

10 Under Stairs Storage Ideas

1. A Built-In Run of Base Cabinets

Line the open side of the stairs with base cabinets, the same kind used in a kitchen. Doors and drawers face the room, and the countertop on top becomes a spot for a lamp, plants or a charging station. Keep the tallest cabinets toward the high end and step down to shorter storage as the stairs drop.

2. Deep Pull-Out Drawers

The space under stairs is often much deeper than it is tall. Drawers solve that problem because you pull the back of the space out to you instead of crawling in. A 3-drawer base cabinet works well for shoes, board games, gift wrap and tools.

Tall pull-out pantry cabinet with shelves that slide forward on runners

3. A Tall Pull-Out or Utility Cabinet at the High End

If the tall end of your staircase has enough height, a tall utility cabinet can hold brooms, a vacuum, cleaning supplies or pantry overflow. Check the height first. A tall cabinet only fits where the underside of the stairs is higher than the cabinet itself.

4. An Under Stairs Pantry

Walk-in storage under a staircase with white shelves stepping down as the ceiling slopes

If the stairs are next to the kitchen, the space beneath them makes a natural pantry. Open shelves that step down with the slope, like the space above, keep food and supplies easy to see. For a closed look, use cabinets with doors on the tall side and shelves or baskets under the lowest part. Our pantry cabinet ideas have more layouts.

5. A Coat and Shoe Drop Zone

Entryway with white storage cabinets, a drawer base and wall hooks

Stairs near the front door are a good place for a mudroom-style drop zone. Hooks go on the tall wall, a low cabinet or bench holds shoes, and upper cabinets store hats and gloves. See our mudroom ideas for more ways to set one up.

6. A Closet With a Door

The simplest option is a closet: frame in the space, add a door on the tall end, and fit shelves or cabinets inside. It hides clutter completely. The trade-off is that the back of a deep closet is hard to reach, so put the things you use least at the back.

7. A Small Home Office Nook

If the tall end has enough headroom to sit, a desk-height countertop on top of base cabinets makes a compact office. Drawers hold paper and supplies, and a shelf above keeps the desk clear. Plan for an outlet and a light, since this space is usually dark.

8. Wine and Bar Storage

Wood wine rack shelves holding rows of bottles

Wine racks fit neatly into the lower, stepped part of the space, and a base cabinet with a countertop gives you a place to pour. Keep bottles away from heat sources like a furnace or water heater if the stairs are in a basement.

9. A Laundry and Cleaning Closet

Cleaning supplies, a step stool, the ironing board and extra paper towels all fit well under stairs. Tall cabinets hold long items, and base cabinets keep chemicals behind a door. If you have small children, use a cabinet lock. Our laundry room cabinet ideas show similar setups.

10. Basement Stairs Storage

Basement stairs often have the largest open space under them. Graduated shelving, pull-out units on casters, or cabinets set on feet all work. Because basement floors can get damp, keep anything that touches the slab raised off the floor. Our guide to basement storage ideas covers moisture and layout in more detail.

Which Cabinet Sizes Fit Under Stairs?

Most under stairs cabinet projects use standard kitchen cabinets. The key is matching the cabinet height to the height under the stairs at each point. These sizes come from our Colorado White Shaker product listings (checked Sep 17, 2026).

Part of the space	Cabinet type	Lily Ann sizes
Tall end	Utility / pantry cabinets	18", 24" or 30" wide; 84", 90" or 96" high; 24" deep
Middle	Base cabinets	34-1/2" high, 24" deep; widths from 12" to 42"
Middle, shallow space	Reduced-depth base cabinets	34-1/2" high; 12", 15", 18" or 21" deep (for example 12"W x 12"D)
Narrow gaps	Full-height door base cabinets	From 9" wide, in depths from 9" to 21" (for example 12"W x 9"D)
Low end	Short wall cabinets	12" deep; heights include 12", 15", 18", 24" and 30"

Diagram of a base cabinet with one drawer at standard depth beside the same cabinet made shallower

Reduced-depth cabinets are especially useful under stairs. A standard 24"-deep base cabinet can be too deep where a wall or the stair framing gets in the way, while a 12" or 15" deep version still gives you drawers and shelves. For the full list of standard sizes, see our kitchen cabinet dimensions guide.

How to Measure Under Stairs for Cabinets

Stairs are all different, so measure your own space before choosing any cabinet. Here is a simple way to do it.

Measure the full length of the open side, from the wall at the tall end to the point where the stairs meet the floor.
Measure the depth from the front edge to the back wall. Measure at the top and bottom too, since walls are not always straight.
Measure the height under the stairs every 12 inches along the length. Write each height down. This gives you a map of the slope.
Mark where base cabinets stop fitting. A base cabinet is 34-1/2" high before a countertop. Find the point where the height under the stairs drops below the cabinet height plus your top and a little clearance. Base cabinets go on the tall side of that mark.
Plan the low end separately with short wall cabinets, open shelves, or bins.
Check for obstacles such as outlets, light switches, air vents, pipes and the electrical panel. Keep access to anything that needs service.
Allow for fillers. Cabinets come in set widths, so leave room for a filler strip where cabinets meet a wall.

Not sure how it will fit? Our free design service can help plan the layout.

Doors, Drawers or Open Shelves?

Option	Best for	Watch out for
Drawers	Deep spaces, shoes, tools, games; easy to reach the back	Each drawer holds less height than a shelf
Cabinet doors	Hiding clutter, tall or bulky items, cleaning supplies	Items at the back of a deep cabinet are hard to reach
Pull-out units	Pantry goods, bottles, narrow gaps	Need enough clear space in front to pull out
Open shelves	Books, baskets, display, the lowest part of the slope	Show dust and clutter

Mudroom bench with storage beneath and hooks above

Safety Points to Check Before You Build

Fire protection. The International Residential Code (section R302.7) requires enclosed, accessible space under stairs to have its walls, under-stair surface and any soffits covered on the inside with 1/2-inch gypsum board. Check with your local building department, since local codes vary.
Do not store flammable liquids like gasoline, paint thinner or propane under stairs. Stairs are often the main way out of a home in a fire.
Keep the stairs themselves clear and do not cut into stair framing to gain space without advice from a builder.
Add light. A battery or plug-in light makes the back of the space usable.
In basements, raise cabinets off the floor on feet or a base so a small leak does not reach the cabinet box.

Building Under Stairs Cabinets With Lily Ann

You do not need custom furniture to use this space. Standard cabinets, in the right sizes, give you a built-in look for less work. Our Colorado White Shaker cabinets are a good example: the product listing shows a birch wood species, a 1/2" solid plywood box, 5/8" dovetailed solid wood drawers, soft-close hinges and full-extension soft-close drawer glides. Base cabinets in this line also come in reduced depths, which helps in tight spaces.

Order free samples to see the color in your hallway light, and ask our designers for a free 3D design to plan the layout before you buy.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is a good idea for under stairs storage?

Built-in cabinets are one of the most useful ideas, because they turn an awkward space into closed storage that looks finished. Pull-out drawers, a pantry, a coat and shoe drop zone, a small office nook and wine storage are also popular. Pick the idea based on the room next to the stairs: a pantry by the kitchen, a drop zone by the front door.

2. How can I maximize storage space under my stairs?

Use every height zone. Put tall cabinets or a closet at the high end, base cabinets or drawers in the middle, and short cabinets, shelves or baskets at the low end. Drawers and pull-outs make the deep back of the space usable, which is where most under stairs storage goes to waste.

3. Can you buy ready made under stair storage?

Yes. Standard kitchen cabinets work well under stairs because they come in set widths, heights and depths you can mix to fit the slope. Base cabinets, reduced-depth base cabinets, wall cabinets and tall utility cabinets are all ready made. Freestanding shelves and rolling drawer units are another option.

4. Is it worth converting under stairs to storage?

In most homes, yes. The space is already there, and turning it into cabinets or a closet adds storage without adding square footage. It also makes a hallway or basement look more finished. It is most worthwhile when the space is deep enough for drawers or tall enough for a closet.

5. How do you build under stairs storage?

Measure the length, depth and the height under the stairs every 12 inches. Then choose cabinets that fit each height zone, assemble them, level them, and fix them to the wall. Add fillers where cabinets meet a wall and trim to close gaps. Check local code first, since enclosed under-stair space usually needs gypsum board on the inside.

6. What is storage under stairs called?

It is often called an under stairs closet, an understairs cupboard (the common British term) or simply under stair storage. Built-in cabinets there are usually called under stairs cabinets. A small closet under the stairs is sometimes called a cubby.

7. What can be stored under stairs?

Good choices include coats and shoes, cleaning supplies, a vacuum, pantry overflow, board games, holiday decorations, wine, luggage and sports gear. Things you use often should go near the front, and seasonal items at the back. Avoid storing flammable liquids under stairs.

8. What is a good cabinet for under a staircase?

Base cabinets with drawers are usually the most useful, because drawers reach the deep back of the space. Reduced-depth base cabinets help where the space is shallow, tall utility cabinets fit the high end, and short wall cabinets fit the low end. Mixing these types lets you follow the slope of the stairs.

9. How do you make under stairs look nice?

Make it look built in. Use cabinets that match nearby cabinetry or trim, run a countertop across the top, and close gaps with fillers and molding. Add a light, simple hardware and a few decorative items on top. Painting the cabinets the same color as the wall makes them blend in; a contrasting color turns them into a feature.

10. What should not be under stairs?

Do not store flammable liquids such as gasoline, paint thinner or propane under stairs, because the stairs may be your way out in a fire. Do not block the electrical panel, shut-off valves or air vents. In a basement, avoid storing anything that would be ruined by a little water directly on the floor.