Bins that fit a pantry shelf

A pantry is a set of shallow shelves, usually 12 to 16 in (30 to 40 cm) deep, with 10 to 14 in (25 to 35 cm) between them. Things get lost at the back. Bins fix that by turning each shelf into drawers you can pull forward, but only if the bins are the right depth: shorter than the shelf, not longer.

Measure and plan

• Shelf depth: front to back. Bins should be 1 to 2 in shorter so you can grip them.
• Gap between shelves: bins with handles need a little extra height above them. In a cabinet pantry with fixed shelves, measure each gap; they are rarely the same.
• Width: plan the row. Two 6 in (15 cm) bins and one 4 in (10 cm) bin fill a 16 in (40 cm) shelf edge to edge.

Which bin for what

• 4 in wide, 12 to 14 in deep: cans and soup packets in a single row.
• 6 in wide: pasta, rice, cereal boxes on their side.
• 8 to 10 in wide: snacks, chips, baking supplies. Also the size for a "grab and go" bin.
• Low bins, 4 in high: for the top shelf, where you cannot see over the rim anyway.

Clear plastic wins for pantries as it does for fridges: see the contents, wipe the spills. Lazy susans handle corners better than any bin.

The search below is set to plastic bins between 3 and 12 in wide and up to 16 in deep, which covers most pantry shelves.