How to Measure Your Closet Space To Get The Perfect Modular Closet Organizer

Measuring a closet is actually super easy. We took the time to write down a detailed How To Measure guide to help you. It includes some important and often overlooked tips from professionals.  

There is a handy measuring grid diagram available to download here. On the grid, each square represents a 6” by 6” space.

What Type Of Closet Do You Have?

There are two basic closet types: Reach-in closets and walk-in closets. We usually classify anything that has a depth narrower than 42’’ as a reach-in closet. This is because all our Modular Closet organizer pieces are 14’’ deep and we always recommend leaving a minimum of 10’’ of space in front of the unit for accessibility. That’s 24’’. If you wanted to then put either closet drawers, closet shelves, or hanging space in front of that, on the side wall, you would need an additional 18’’ of space (10+14+18=42).  The way to measure both reach-in and walk-in closets is ultimately the same, with the walk-in closet usually having just a few more things to mark off.

Measuring Your Closet

For clarity, we always like to label the walls. Starting with the front of the closet, whether it has wall space in addition to the doors or just an opening, we will call that “Wall A”. Moving clockwise, we continue. Next sidewall is “wall B”, back wall is “wall C” and last sidewall is “wall D”. If you have additional walls, you do the same, remembering to go clockwise and in order.

#ModularSuperTip: Always measure at three different heights as many walls tend to be slightly uneven.

Now measure each wall from corner to corner and jot it down. When measuring wall A, in the inside of your closet, also measure from the edge of the door frame molding to the wall. We recommend using our handy grid to draw a sketch with measurements.

It is important to mark down if there are any obstructions on the wall and where they are. You can include that in your sketch. Here are some common, and some not so common ones: Light switch, electric outlet, air conditioner and heating vent, window, thermostat, alarm keypad, safe, electric fuse box, water meter, pipes, sprinklers, smoke alarms, picture of your spouse’s great -grandma…

...the point is to look around your closet for anything that will not be removed. 

Closet Doors

When measuring and designing closets, walk-in or reach-in, it is important to take note of the closet doors. The type of closet door that you have or plan on having can make a difference in your Modular Closet design. There are many types of closet doors; we created a small list of the most common used closet doors and how they affect your closet space. (photos from trustile.com)

1.       Swinging Single Closet Door:

This probably is the most common closet door type and the only thing to take note of, besides the actual width of the door and its’ frame moldings, is which way the door swings. An outward swinging door won’t affect your closet space. The only reason people wouldn’t have it opening into the room is if the space in front of the closet is needed. If your door opens into your closet, it is important to note two things: Which side of the door the hinges are on (to know which way the door swings). And how far the closet door opens into the closet. That can easily be determined by measuring the door itself.     

2.       Swinging Closet Double Doors:

Swinging double doors almost never will open into the closet and won’t have any effect on your closet design.

3.       Bypass Closet Doors:

Bypass closet doors are sliding doors that are suspended from a track, and may have a floor track as well, and overlap to bypass each other. The only thing to make sure to consider, is the middle point where the doors meet when closed, because will be the hardest part of the closet to access, and you probably would not want to put closet drawers there.

4.       Pocket Closet Doors:

Pocket doors are sliding doors that slide into a pocket in the wall. With pocket closet doors, there is an often-overlooked issue. You cannot use the return walls to install any closet organizer units because the pockets are hollow and have no studs to support them.

5.       Bi-fold Closet Doors:

Bi-fold doors are either two panel or four panel doors with each panel connected to a different panel with hinges. You should make sure to measure how far into the closet your doors extend when open. Also, remember that with accordion doors you will not have full use of the opening of the closet.

6.       Barn Door:

An extremely popular closet door, the barn door is a sliding door that has the doors suspended on a wheeled track. If this is on the outside of your closet as most prefer, congratulations! You maximized your closet space. If it slides inside the closet you will not be able to use the wall that the door slides along.