The IKEA PAX wardrobe system was designed for clothes. But a few years ago, the internet collectively realised something: a PAX wardrobe is essentially a large, adjustable, door-equipped cabinet that costs significantly less than purpose-built kitchen storage. And it makes an absolutely outstanding pantry. The IKEA PAX pantry hack has become one of the most popular kitchen organisation projects precisely because it delivers a lot of storage for a very reasonable price, with no construction skills required.
Here’s everything I know about pulling off the IKEA PAX pantry hack successfully.
Why PAX Works So Well as a Pantry
The PAX system’s genius is its modularity. You can choose frame sizes (50cm, 75cm, or 100cm wide; 35cm or 58cm deep; 201cm or 236cm tall), mix and match interiors, and add doors in dozens of styles. For pantry use, this means you can build exactly the storage configuration you need — tall sections for bottles, shallower sections with many shelves for tins, pull-out drawers for loose items. No compromise with whatever sizes happen to be available in a kitchen cabinet range.
The IKEA PAX pantry hack also gives you far more height than typical kitchen upper cabinets — floor-to-ceiling storage in a 201cm or 236cm frame, compared to the 72cm height of most upper kitchen cupboards.
Planning Your IKEA PAX Pantry Hack
Choose the Right Frame Depth
PAX comes in 35cm and 58cm depths. For a pantry, 35cm is usually ideal — it allows you to see everything at a glance without items being hidden at the back. The 58cm depth is more typical for clothes and can result in pantry items being hard to reach. Go with 35cm unless you have a specific reason for the deeper option.
Choose the Right Width Configuration
A single 100cm frame gives you a good-sized pantry. Two 50cm frames side by side give you the same width with more flexibility for different interior configurations. Many people doing the IKEA PAX pantry hack use one tall frame for general pantry storage and a second narrower frame for a specific purpose like a spice section or appliance storage.
Plan the Interior Before You Buy
IKEA’s online planner lets you configure the interior before purchasing. For pantry use, I’d suggest:
- Fixed shelves (not just the floor) at various heights to suit different item types
- Wire baskets or pull-out drawers for loose items like potatoes, onions, or snack packets
- Shallow shelf inserts for spices
- Door organisers on the PAX doors themselves for additional small-item storage
The Door Question
Doors are optional on the PAX system but highly recommended for a pantry. Closed doors keep light out (extending the life of stored food), keep dust out, and look significantly neater in a living space. The BERGSBO solid door is popular for the IKEA PAX pantry hack because it’s completely opaque and looks clean and neutral. GRIMO frosted glass doors are a popular alternative if you want to see the contents without opening the doors.
Where to Put It
The IKEA PAX pantry hack works best positioned adjacent to or near the kitchen — a dining room wall opposite the kitchen door, a utility room, or a hallway adjacent to the kitchen. If you put it in the kitchen itself, consider whether the extra depth (35cm) intrudes on the workflow. In most kitchens, a PAX against a non-workflow wall works perfectly without disrupting the kitchen triangle.
The Total Cost of the IKEA PAX Pantry Hack
- Two PAX frames (50cm × 35cm × 201cm): approx. £80–100 each
- BERGSBO or GRIMO doors (2–4 doors): approx. £40–70 each
- Interior shelves and accessories: approx. £50–100
- Total: approximately £300–450 for a two-frame pantry
Compare this to the cost of purpose-built fitted kitchen storage at £800–2,000+, and the IKEA PAX pantry hack is remarkably good value. Add a set of matching airtight storage containers and the finished result looks genuinely impressive.
One Practical Tip: Secure It to the Wall
IKEA PAX frames must be secured to the wall using the supplied fitting — this is non-negotiable for safety, especially at the full 201cm or 236cm height, and especially if you have children. The fixing takes about two minutes and uses a single screw into a stud or masonry anchor. Don’t skip this step.