Walk-In Closet Floor Plan
A walk-in closet floor plan comes down to two numbers: the depth of the storage and the width of the aisle you stand in. Once those work, you choose which walls to line. This page gives typical sizes, the main layouts, the depths of hanging and shelving, and where a closet fits next to a bedroom. The example is a 2.2 × 2.6 m (7 × 9 ft) closet with storage along both long walls.
A two-sided walk-in closet
Drawn to scale. The links open this room with the same furniture, ready for you to add doors and windows and resize anything.
Typical walk-in closet sizes
| Metric (typical) | Imperial (typical) | Fits | |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-sided | 1.2 × 1.5 m to 1.5 × 2.1 m | 4 × 5 ft to 5 × 7 ft | Hanging and shelves along one wall |
| Two-sided | 1.8 × 2.1 m to 2.2 × 2.6 m | 6 × 7 ft to 7 × 9 ft | Storage on both long walls |
| U-shaped or dressing room | 2.4 × 2.4 m and up | 8 × 8 ft and up | Three walls of storage, room for a bench or mirror |
How to work out the width
Add the storage depth on each lined wall to the aisle. One wall of hanging (about 60 cm, 2 ft) and a 60 cm aisle make a 1.2 m (4 ft) closet; hanging on both sides with a 75–90 cm (30–36 in) aisle needs about 2.0–2.1 m (6′ 6″–7 ft). The length is however much rail and shelving you need.
On the plan, remember that the editor measures to wall centre lines: a closet drawn 2.2 m wide has about 2.05 m between the wall faces with the default 15 cm walls.
Walk-in closet layouts
One wall
Storage on one long wall and the aisle beside it. Fits a narrow space next to a bedroom.
Two walls
Storage facing across the aisle. The example plan uses this layout.
U-shape
Storage on three walls with the door in the fourth; needs a wider room so the corners stay usable.
Walk-through to the bathroom
Bedroom, closet and bathroom in a line. Keep the aisle wide and both doors on the same line.
Door, window and light
The door usually goes in a short wall so both long walls can be lined. A hinged door swinging into the closet takes aisle space and blocks the storage behind it; an outward-opening, sliding or pocket door, or a plain opening, keeps the inside free.
Most walk-in closets have no window, which is fine for clothes. If there is one, keep it on the wall without hanging, and note that direct sun fades fabrics.
Hanging depth and aisle width
Clothes on hangers need about 60 cm (24 in) of depth; shelves for folded clothes and shoes need 30–40 cm (12–16 in). An aisle of about 60 cm (24 in) is a usual minimum and 75–90 cm (30–36 in) is more comfortable, especially with drawers that pull out into it.
In the example, the aisle between the two runs is about 85 cm (2′ 9″) in meters and 78 cm (2′ 7″) in the 7 ft version.
Closet storage in the library
The library has closet storage at common sizes: wardrobes 60 cm (2 ft) deep, which matches a typical hanging depth, plus shoe racks, garment racks and chests of drawers. There is no rail-and-shelf system item.
Wardrobe
120 × 60 cm (3′ 11″ × 2′). Use one per run of hanging space and resize the width to fit.
Shoe rack
90 × 35 cm (2′ 11″ × 1′ 2″). Shoe shelving at a shallow depth.
Garment rack
100 × 50 cm (3′ 3″ × 1′ 8″). Open hanging for a run without doors.
Chest of drawers
90 × 45 cm (2′ 11″ × 1′ 6″). Folded clothes, or a small island in a dressing room.
Rug
200 × 140 cm (6′ 7″ × 4′ 7″). For the aisle in a dressing room.
Where a walk-in closet goes
Most walk-in closets open off the main bedroom, often between it and the en-suite bathroom so you can dress on the way out. A closet on a wall shared with a busy room doubles as a sound buffer.
Keep the route from the bed to the bathroom short and clear if it passes through the closet: a walk-through closet needs a full aisle, not the minimum.
Common walk-in closet mistakes
An aisle too narrow for drawers
Drawers and doors pull out into the aisle. Measure from the drawer front fully open, not the cabinet face.
Wasted corners
The corner where two runs of hanging meet is hard to reach. Shelves or a short return work better there.
A door that eats storage
An inward-swinging door blocks the wall behind it. Consider a sliding door or an opening.
Planning only for hanging
Shoes, bags and folded clothes need shallow shelves. Mix depths along the runs.
Plan your walk-in closet in the editor
Draw it next to the bedroom
Add walls with W off the bedroom; the closet becomes its own room with its own area.
Add the door
A narrow door saves aisle space; set its width in the properties panel. For a sliding door, use an opening and add a text label.
Line the walls
Place wardrobe and shelf items along the walls and resize them to each run.
Check the aisle
Measure between the two runs with the measure tool (M).
Related templates, examples and tools
- 4-bedroom templateFour bedrooms to add closets to.
- Bedroom layout examplesBedroom plans showing where wardrobes and storage fit.
- Clearance in front of wardrobes and drawersThe floor space to leave where doors and drawers open.
- Room dimension calculatorA width and length for the floor area you are aiming for.
- Furniture layout plannerCheck that chosen pieces fit with a walkway gap before you draw.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum size for a walk-in closet?
With storage on one side, about 1.2 m (4 ft) wide works: 60 cm (2 ft) of hanging and a 60 cm aisle. With storage on both sides, about 1.8 m (6 ft), and more if the aisle should be comfortable.
How wide should the aisle be?
About 60 cm (24 in) is a usual minimum; 75–90 cm (30–36 in) lets you open drawers and turn around comfortably.
What is the difference between a walk-in closet and a dressing room?
Mostly size: a dressing room has space beyond the storage and aisle for a bench, mirror or island, typically from about 2.4 × 2.4 m (8 × 8 ft).
What door is good for a walk-in closet?
One that does not swing into the aisle: an outward-opening, sliding or pocket door, or a plain opening. Draw a sliding door as an opening with a text label.
Can I plan a closet inside a bedroom plan?
Yes. Draw the closet walls inside or beside the bedroom; the editor detects the enclosed space as a separate room.